The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-26
NEGROES PLEAD FOR A VOTE.
CAROLINA's CONVENTION TAKES Up
THE SUFFRAGE PROBLEM.

Disfranchfsement of His Race-Hfs
Motion That the Proposed Suffrage
Article BE Stricken Out Promptly
voted DOwn-AnOther Negro Dele
gate Offers Substitute Section
Providing for Universal Suffrage,
BUT the Convention Rejects 1t.
Columbia, S. c., Oct. 25.-At last the
constitutional convention has come to
the great suffrage problem and the de-
bate has been opened on the article on
the suffrage submitted by Senator Till
mans committee. When the article had
been read, al 1:30 p. m, ex-Congressman
r. z. Miller. a colored member, took the
floor and moved to strike out the whole
thing. He then began an elaborate speech
i'm 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 gov,
ernment scheme was adopted in the fol-
lowing shape: Each of the several town.
ships Of this state, with names and boun-
daries as now established by law, shall
constitute a body polite and corporate,
but this shall not prevent the general as
sembly from organizing other townships
or changing the boundaries of those al
ready established, and the general as
sembly may provide such a system of
township government as they shall think
proper"
When the convention reassembled to-
night the galleries were jammed to their
utmost capacity with spectators, many
of whom were ladies. It was decreed that
the negro members should make their fight
at the outset. There are only five of them,
and the convention is patiently hear
ing them. Miller spoke for an hour
and a quarter tonight and held the CLOS
est attention of the vast audience through
out. From his standpoint, his speech was
a mastery one.
Miller began his defense of his race in
this way: LAS an American citizen, as
one who yields to no man in respect for
the laws of the United States and South
Carolina; as one who loves the past his
tory of our nation and the dear old state,
when that history has been for the good
and benefit of mankind; as one who has
never by word or vote committed an act
that in any way tended to destroy the
rights of any citizen, white or black; as
one who wishes TO see every male citi-
zen, and woman too, who is not disquali-
fed on account of crime or mental con-
dition the equal of every other citizen in
the enjoyment Of inalienable rights, the
government, approach the discussion of
the proposed disfranchisement of the COM
mon people of South Carolina, white and
"Nr. 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, l ask in the name of the brother
hood of man an equal citizenship of the
American people and that / should not
be trammelled by rules making my say
short one. 1 ask fOrbearance and the nee
essary time to discuss this all-important
question and 1 do hope and believe that
although ] am in a feeble minority, this
all-powerful majority here will hear me,
because l 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
witness of our condition and some way
hover over US and guide us to the right.
This fight against the rights of the com
mon people is not a new one"
Continuing he said: And here to-
day, Mr.. President, after a residence of
more than 250 years, with love and affec-
ton for the government after having
borne our part in every struggle and an
sWered to every call, after having proven
TO the world that we are conservative
In thought and action, lovable in our ma
ture, fOrbearing towards our oppressors,
living under and by the laws at all times,
we are confronted in this hour, the noon
hour of peace and unity in the nation,
prosperity and hope, the noon day of this
existence of ours, with this proposition
70 disfranchise the common people, to
take from them the dearest right the
"Oh! Mr. President, why is this to be
done? Is there anybody here who can or
dare deny that the sole purpose for which
this convention was called is for the dis
franchisement of the common people, and
the negro more especially If there is
II ue1r i'm fn
speeches of the leaders who forced this
convention upon us against the will OF
the people and they will all be convinced
vention was called is for the disfran-
chisement Of that class of people whose
chief lot has been to toll toll, toll, with
no hopes but to toll. If the speeches
leave any reasonable doubt l ask him to
read this article of disfranchisement the
article that has been pronounced by SEN
alor lrby as political monstrocity, and
he will be thoroughly convinced that the
purpose for which this convention was
called is to disfranchise the negro in the
rice fields and his poor, uneducated
white brother. who Dlows the bob-tail OK
or mule on the sandhills. He will be con-
o4sfranchtse the negro IN every walk OF
life, and the poor white boy who edits
newspaper in which he speaks fulsomely
Of the greatest of all misnomers and
Irickery is not legislation. These little
innocent ifs and 'ors' may in the hands
Hh4lltu InanlpuldlOE5 OI lTduuul6ll reg
lstratiOn 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 plainly
that the negro will not understand the
section when read to him because he is
2 negro and because the man who will
Judge his understanding is white man.
Is that denied? I pause for a denial or
any explanation of the language quoted.
Why do they say that the negro will
be disfranchised? Is 1t because he is law
less No. Is it because he is riotous in
the discharge of the right of suffra ge? No!
Ihey answer: Because his skin is black
ne should not vote: because his skin is
olack he is inferior. Because he did not
nght for the ballot he should not have it.
Because we are a conquered people, were
conquered by the national government,
IN the name of the negro, he shall not
Mr.. President these are some of the
reasons given by those who swear by the
liens"
Miller's motion was promptly voted
Then James Wigg. another negro del
gate took the floor and presented
substitute suffrage article providing for