The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
PLAN TO HIT THE SOUTH.
The Republican Party Proposes
To Reduce tho SOuth's Strength in
Congress Because OF the DisfrRn-
chisement OF the Negro I'm this

COnRress Because OF the DIsfran-
chisement OF the Negro I'm this
Section.
/ New York. Nov. 1.-THE World publishes
the following:
Representative Crumpacker. Of Indiana,
gives notice that he shall press at the coming
session of congress bill looking to reduc.
tion of the representation OF certain southern
states In the house and In the electoral col.
lege because OF alleged disfranchisement ol
negroes. AS the first step toward this end he
will Introduce an amendment to the census
law requiring the director OF census TO asctr-
tain and report the voting population Of the
several states In separate table:
| "It has for some time been apparent that
the Republicans were likely TO attempt such
legislation. They claim authority under the
fourteenth amendment to the constitution,
| which says:
among the several states according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole mum.
ber OF persons In each state, excluding In
dieus not taxed. But when the right to vote
president and Vice president OF the United
States. Is denied to any of the male In
| habitants Of such state. being tWenty-one
years OF age and citizens Of the United States,
ton In rebellion or other crime, the basis OF
representation therein shall be reduced In
the proportion which the number OF such
male citizens shall bear to the whole NUMBER
such state"
I'm anticipation OF the attempt to enforce
this provision The World obtained from each
Of the former slave states summary Of its
lows:
an Alabama, Georgia. Arkansas and Vlr-
[ ginia there are no restrictions on manhood
suffrage except poll-tax requirement ana
the usual dlsfranchisement OF convicted
criminals.
"In Tennessee the poll-tax requirement. Is
the only direct restriction. But the ballot
law requirements are such that no illiterate
caly disfranchises most OF the negroes.
"ln North Carolina each voter must nave
paid his poll. for the current year and the
year preceding Any one offering to register
who cannot produce proof OF such payment is
subject to Immediate Indictment. This both
disfran chises and intimidates the negroes In
large mum bers.
IN Florida there are none but poll.tax re-
quirements, but, as In Tennessee, the ballot
law requirements In effect disfranchises 5O
per cent OF the negroes
two years in the state and one year In the
| election district. He must have paid two
years poll tax. He must register four
months before the election. He must be able
TO read and write. or to understand clause
of the state constitution when II is read 10
him, the decision as TO the "understanding'
resting with the election officers. In practical
effect these requirements disfranchise nearly
"In South Carolina, after this year, every
voter must be able to read or write: or pay
taxes upon 500 worth or real estate. This ap'
piles to blacks and whites alike.
I'm Louisiana a two years residence ls re-
Quired. Also the voter must read and write,
or in lieu thereof pay taxes upon $500 worth
OF real estate. But persons who were voters
in any state before January l, 1897, (all white
OF course). and the sops and grandsons OF such
persons, ifLhey were 2l years old or more In
1888, and all citizens naturalized before Janu.
they have been residents OF the state for five
years. In effect these provisions disftanchise
majority Of the negroes and enable illiterate
whites to vote
"As a result of these restrictions. and Of
what may be termed the moral dlSsuasion
exercised by the dominant white race to pre-
vent the negroes from taking an active par,
| In elections, some rather startling contrasts
appear In votes for congressman. For exam
"In Mississippi. according 10 the census Of
1890, there we're 27l $50 voters. The number Of
votes cast in that state for president in !s9t
| was 70.566 and for seven congressman In lS9s
only 35 600.
ain Louisiana the number OF voters In 1896
was go 563; votes cast in 1895, 10l 04G; In 1898
in the six congressional districts. only 3S.l25
1.-THE present basis OF representation In con
gress Is in round numbers l7i,0O. In New
York the average vote for represen tatlves IL
$4,000, in Iowa $4,000, in Minnesota 1900, In
California 10000, in Massachusetts $4,000, IN
Ohio $4,000.
But Louisiana elects six and Mississippi
seven representatives with a total vote less
than these and other states cast for one! The
average total vote cast for representatives, In
1898 was 4,2U0 In Mississippi, $500 In louisa
ma, l2C00 in Georgia, 10000 In Florida. lO,0Ot
in South Carolina and 1000 in Alabama.
Upon its surface this disproportion involv
ca great inequality in political power, and
In n republic inequality Is Injustice.
1.-The former slave states have now l26 repre-
sentatives In congress-. From thirty 10 thirty
four of these. IL is estimated. are due to the
colored In habtants What proportion of the
number would be lost under the proposed
legislation II IL difficult to say, but 1t wond
probably be at least one-halt.
"Candid republicans have for some time adj
United that II was political crime to enfran
chise the whole mass OF black ignorance a.
the south without any preparation for the
suffrage For this crime that party was
punished by great increase in the politica
power of the south, which, when the bayonett
were removed, became soidly arrayeC
against it. In 1867 the southern states. If CIV
en- their choice would gladly have accepted II
reduced representation in congress and ir
! the electoral college In preference to the
Immediate enfranchisement OF their former
slaves.
"Whether, having endured this for thirty
years, they should now be punished TO
attempting 10 project themselves by getiin.
around the constitution raises new question
in equity and In politics."