Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-29
THURSDAY ...AUGUsT %. 1895
South Carolina.

a singular condition Of things exists IN
South Carolina. We might say an uh-
paralt.led condition 4 things. The re
cent elections in that state secured the
attention Of the general public Tor one
Say. and then passed out Of the minds
Of men outside OF the State. The consul
tutional Convention assemblies next
month, however. and may induce the peo-
cle everywhere 70 turn their eyes to-
wards the Palmetto state for WhAe'
We cannot but admire the candor win
which the Charleston News and Courier
tells what IS expected to be done by the
Constitutional Convention.
First. the results q the late election
seem TO be unknown out Idle Of south
Carolina. II IS estimated, however N.it
the Constitutional Convention will con-
eist Of 20 Conservatives IS Conservative
Reformers and y Tillrnan Reformers.
Besides. there will be a. col1red Gelega-
lion from Beaufort. ana one Republican
from GEORGETOWN county. II is not In
POSSIBLE that the Conservatives and the
Conservative Reformers VIII act to-
gether upon some Of the most important
questions which viii Pc before the Con-
Jiitut.onal Convention.
Notwithstanding what we have just
ta!d. II IS reported that majority Of
the members Of the new convention will
BE- "Tilmauite Rcformers." In spite OF
his fact. says our Charleston contempt
rarv. the convention will be the best
political body that has assembled in South
Carolina since 1855. There Will be more
ttrong men in II. more men who have
TAI experience in public life. more men
rho are familiar with the necessities Of
The State. and who will understand the
york which will engage the attention Of
Mat body"
There has been much talk In Virginia
rs 70 the rights Of the negroes. and what
would be done with them in this State If
q convention were soon to be held 70
frame new Constitution. They viii
have no trouble in South Carolina on this
point No Constitution ever framed in
that State was referred to the people eX-
cept the carpet-bag Constitution Of i@s.
The following remarkable utterance Of
the Charleston News and Courier we
must give IN its own words. We quote:
1.-The present Constitutional Conven-
ton has been called to accomplish in q
constitutional way the overthrow Of negro
suffrage. Nobody tries 10 conceal II, no
body seeks 20 excuse IL. II Is not meant
20 disfranchise every negro in this State
there are some Of them who are qualified
by education and property 10 vote. but II
is INTENDED that every cOlOred voter who
can be disfranchised without violating the
higher law Of the United States COnsti-
tuition shall be deprived Of the right %
vote on the other hand. IL is meant 10
disfranchise no white man except for
crime If any way can be found 10 do II
without violating the United States Con-
stitution. We hope that II viii be done
without hardship or injustice 10 the col
ored people and without shame 10 the
whites"
''The higher law of the United States
Constitution" on this subject reads as
follows:
'The right Of citizens Of the United
States 10 vote shall not be denied or
abridged 10y the United States, or any
state. on account Of race, color. or pre-
vious condition Of servitude."
The negro may be disfranchised for
many reasons. but not because he IL "a
negro. To let the negroes vote on the
question Of ratifying a Constitution shat
disfranchised them would be 10 provide
for voting down the new Constitution. We
trust that South Carolina VIII succeed
in protecting herself