Birmingham state herald., 1895-10-26
TIE SUFFRAGE PROBLEM Is Now Agitating the Constitu-
 tiOnaI Convention. THE NEGROES ARE AGAINST 1T One of Them Made Strong Argument Against lt-AII the Amendments Were
 Voted Down.

constitutional convention has come to the great suffrage problem, and the debate has been opened on the article on the suffrage submitted by Senator Tilman's committee. When the article had been read at 1:30 D. m. Ex-Congressman T. T. Miller, the colored member, took the floor and moved to strike out the wholesthing. He then began an elaborate speech in behalf of the negro He made an able argument on his side and presented the claims of his race in a strong light.
 After four days debate the article on new counties and county government was adopted and clinched. The township government scheme was adopted in the following shape:
 Each of the several townships of this state, with names and boundaries as now established by law. shall constitute a body polite and corporate, but this shall not prevent the general assembly from organizing other townships or changing the boundaries of those already estab- lshed, and the general assembly also pro- vide system of township government as they shall think proper.
 When the convention reassembled the galleries were jammed to their utmost capacity with spectators, many of whom were ladies. It was decided that the ne- gro members should make their fight at the outset There are only five of them, and the convention is patiently hearing them. Miller spoke for an hour and quarter tonight, and held the closest at tention of the vast audience throughout. From his standpoint, his speech was masterly one. Miller began his defense of his race in this way:
 "As an American citizen, as one who yields to no man, in respect of the laws of the United States and South Carolina, as one who loves the past history of this dear old country, as one who wishes to see every male citizen and woman, too who is not disqualified on account Of crime or mental condition, the equal of every other citizen in the enjoyment Of inalienabIe rights, the chief of which is to have voice in the government, approach the discussion of the disfran- chisement of the common people of South Carolina, both white and black.
 MT. President, the conservative force in our state is the common people, the burden bearing people, and, sir. when you say that $500 and the capacity to read and write are the requirements to be possessed by voters, you are striking at the root of the tree of universal govern ment I ask in the name of the brother hood of man an equal citizenship of the American people. l should not be tram eled by rules making my say short one. I ask forbearance and the time necessary to discuss this all important question, and I do hope and believe that, although I am in a feeble minority, this all-poWer- full majority here will hear me, because I approach the discussion with malice toward none but with a loving hope for the final settlement of this very vexed question. May the spirits of departed patriots, who have shed their blood for the equal rights of man on this soil, bear with our condition and in some way hover over us and guide us to the right. This fight against the rights of the common people Is not a new one"
 Continuing, he said:
 And here today, MT. President, after residence of more than twenty-five years, with love, and affection for the government, after having borne our part in every struggle and answered to every call, of having proved to the world now we are conservative in thought and act, lovable in our natures, forbearing toward our oppressors, living under and by the laws at all times we are confronted at this hour, the monday of peace and unity in the nation, the monday of prosperity and hope, the monday of this magnif- cent existence of ours with this proposi- tion to disfranchise the common people. to take from them the dearest right-the right to vote. Oh, MT. President why is this to be done? Is there anybody here who can or dare deny that the sole pur- pose for which this convention was called is for the disfranchisement of the com mon people, and the negro more espe- cially? If there is such a person I ask him to read the speeches of the leaders who forced this convention upon us against the will of the people and they will be convinced that the only thing for which this convention was called is for the disfranchisement of that class of peo- pie, whose chief lot is with no hopes and but to toil Then if the speeches leave any reason to doubt, ask him to read this article of disfranchisement, the arti- cle that has been pronounced by Senator Irby as a political monstrosity, and he will be thoroughly convinced that the purpose for which the convention was called was to disfranchiSe the negro In the rice fields and his poor uneducate ted white brother. who blows the bob-tail OK or mule on the sand hills. He will be- convinced that this convention was called to disfranchise the negro in every walk of life The little innocent ifs and 'ors' may, in the hands of skilled manipu1ators of fraudulent registration officers. play havoc.
 Senator Tillman says here that it is in the manipulation of the law and not in the words by which they expect to see the negro disfranchised. He says plain ly that the negro will understand the section when read to him, because he is a negro and because the man who will judge of his understanding is white man. Is that denied? I pause for de- nial or any legislation of the language quoted"
 'Why do they say that the negro must be disfranchised? Is it because he is lawless? No. Is it because he is riotous in the discharge of the right of suffrage? No. They answer, because his skin is black he should not vote. Because his skin Is black he Is inferior. Because he did not fight for the ballot he should not have It. Because we are a conquered md hxyt tIa al government in the name of the negro he should not vote. MT. President. these are some of the reasons given by those who swear by the altar of liberty that we shall not be citizens"
 Miller's motion was promptly voted down.
 Then James Wigg, another negro del- egate took the floor and presented a sub- stitute suffrage article providing for uni versal suffrage. He spoke for nearly al