New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-21
TILLMAN'S WORD is LAW.
IT'S NOT GOOD LAW. BUT 1T GOES" IN
SOUTH CAROLINA

HE DIDN'T CARE FOR THE FEDERAL CONSTR
TUITION MUCH But HIS CONSCIENCE BECAME
ALARMINGLY TENDER WHEN HE THOUGHT
HIS SEAT WAS IN DANGER.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington Sept Ex-senator Tllman. OF South
Carolina. does not scruple to violate the Constitu-
ton of the United States the dsfranchise-
ment Of thousands OF citizens OF his State Is con-
cerned. but at the same instant he Is dehca'cV
sensitive and raises hullabaloo about the propreV
Of going through a Formally in the state conVen-
tion lest he might come into conflict with some
part Of the State Constitution He was engineering
through the State convention scheme IN oirec'
violation Of a familiar portion Of the Federai Con-
st;ution. That didn't bruise his conscience out
when II came to bare possibility that tnere was
clause of the State Constitution which would inter-
his sitting in the convention MS conscience
made a coward of him. Then the nicely ana CELL
cacy Of the Caronian caused him great sohc'ude'
Therefore he made vigorous KICK aho' a' usua4'
the win OF Mr.. T1llman prevailed The convention
oath omitted for his especial accommodation
Senator Tillman was In charge Of the committee
on Rights OF Suffrage. which" the press dispatches
say means Of course the reporting OF the Missls-
sippi plan Of educational requirements with modi-
fications" Mr.. Timan was fearful that' py taxing
oath as a member Of the convention. he wouio De-
come ineligble that "if ne took the oath he would
have 10 leave the convention along with all others
holding United States Offices. for the CONSTITUTION
distinctly said that man holding Federal once
could hold State office. He was not SO conscleh-
tious In relation to that provision OF the Consttuuoh
OF the United States which forbids any state 10
make or enforce any law which shall abrioge the
privileges or immunities of citizens Of the United
States He was preparing to do that prohibited
thing His conscientiousness did not intervene 10
deter him from violating. by the new Constitution
he was engneexng through the convention that pro-
hibitory clause OF the Constitution which provides
that The right OF citizens OF the United states 70
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State account of race color or
previous condition of servtude
Whether Mr.. Humans point was well taken or
not. he might have escaped from MS oiiemma II ne
had desired on the technical point that ne is
not yet qualified" United States senator lie
Is Of several Senators whose term OF once began
falls in due form OF law have been presented IN
the Senate but who have had no opportunity TO be
quafed-no opportunity 10 take the senatorial oath
Under the law such Senators may receive their
compensation monthly from the beginning OF their
at which they can be formally qualified as Senator'S
Besides. according to long standing and accepted
officer OF the United States in the constitutional
meaning Of the term. That question arose in tne
case OF Blount, Senator from Tennessee who was
expelled from the United States Senate for hav,
ing been guilty OF high crime and misderneanor.
The question arose whether a Senator was a civil
the Constitution. and the Senate decided 'ha' lie
The outcome Of the affair in the South Carolina
Convention the other day just what Mr.: Till
man desired 1t should be. AS was said by an admlrer
OF Mr.. T1llman at the National capital: "What ben
Tillman says goes His will is law. II there Is
no law for what he wants, law for that purpose Is
wants that law is Immediately wiped out. SO 1t
in the South Carolina Convention last week
the judiciary Committee and that committee re-
ported that the taking OF an oath was not neces-
Convention and ali matter in the record in regard
the oath was ordered expunged