The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-28
ITS WORK DONE.
South Carolina Finishes the
Constitutional Revision.
The 10000 Negro Majority IN
South Carolina
IS NOW ELIMINATED.
Fifteen Thousand White Males
Also Cannot Vote
Because of Illiteracy-HistOry
of the Work.

Columbia, s. c., Nov. 29-South Caro-
lina's constitutional convention will adj
journ sine die next Tuesday. All the
work of the convention has now been
completed except that of final revision
of the changes made in the constitution,
which is in tha hands of a committee.
The body has been in session continu.
ousiy, with the exception of a ten days
recess, since the 10th of September.
The new constitution will be different in
many respects from the one it will
supersede. The most important change
will be in the suffrage article. In round
numbers there are 100000 adult male
negroes and 100000 adult male whites
in South Carolina. The present con-
stitution was adopted in 1858
and was framed by con-
vention composed mostly OF
recently liberated slaves and northern
ers who came into the state at the close
of the war. Il was patterned after those
of Massachusetts and Ohio The great
est objection to it was against the suf-
frage article, which bestowed the fran
chise on all male citizens of the age of
21 years and upwards under certain dis
abilities pamed.
Some of the most intelligent negro
members of the convention of 1868 we're
opposed to universal suffrage and wanted
an educational qualification imposed
which would have prevented vast ma
jority of the members of their own race
from voting. The present constitution
provides natural negro majority of A.
700, which has been overcome by an in-
genious registration law and the box
light ballot law which required each
officer to be voted for in a separate box.
the voter being compelled to select the
| proper box.
The leading men of ths state have al
ways recognized thar there was possi-
biIitY of one or both of them being over
turned in the federal court This posi-
| bilitY led them to advocate the calling of
| a constitutional convention for the puT-
pose of framing a constitution permitting
| such qualification of the suffrage as
would insure maintenance of white su-
premacv. There was great objection to
the calling of the convention from
the illiterate whites and friends.
| There are about $4,000 illiterate
white males in this state. The conven-
ton could never been called had not
most explicit promises been given that
| these men would be taken care Of How
to cut down the negro majority and pre-
| serve the vote of the white man, and do
| it in such a way as to run the gauntlet
of the federal courts was the difficult
/
| the convention in which there are oEly
six negroes.
Senator Tillman, who led the fight for
the calling of the convention was made
chairman of the suffrage committee.
| The suffrage article Of the new constitu-
ton provides for an alternative educa-
tional or property qualification for voters.
Any man who can read or write,
or who pays taxes on $500 worth OF
property has the right to vote. Had the
convention stopped there, the illiterate
whites would have been disfranchised.
They are provided for in a clause
which says that any one who cannot vote
under either a property or. educational
qualification shall be given the right TO
vote for life, if he can understand sec
ton of the constitution when reaG to him
| by the registration officer.
This understanding clause is only to
be operative for two years. All males
attaining their majority after 1898, must
comply with the educational or
| property qualification in order to
be allowed to vote This
clause was fought vigorously though un-
successfully and is regarded with dis
satisfaction by large proportion Of the
citizens of the state. Doubt fs expressed
as to whether it will stand the test of re-
| view by the federal courts