The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-14

lated To defeat the general purpose
whatever If permitted, would tend 10
break up the government, 10 Introduce
anarchy, and to bring upon the people
| the innumerable mischiefs which would
follow from the destruction of public or
der.-is not only tinadnjssahle on reason.
but is proved by the consequences which
follow 10 be condemned by The great All-
thor of government 10 say chat one
whose participation in government would
bring danger To- the State and probable
disaster. has nevertheless Il right to
participate. is mott only folly in itself,
| but il is to set the individual above
| the State, and above an the manifold an
terests which are represented by II and
bound ny in It's destiny"
An examination Of this Amendment
VIII show that it is not Inconsistent with
| these principles. il provides;
"a That persons who have been guilty
of infamous crimes, and who have not
| been restored to citizenship in the man
ner prescribed by law, have not sufficient
character TO participate in the govern
ment:
|
| fixed halhtations. have not manifested
sufficient affection for the State or re-
gard for its welfare rs to be entitled 10
take part in lis government;
60 That those who are NOT patriotic
enough to pay their poll taxes, who are
not willing to bear their just part of the
burden OF government are not watchful
of the public interest. and should have
no voice in that government; and,
a That all persons must he POS
SESSED OF SUFFICIENT INTEL
ILIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE
PRINCIPLES OF THIS GOVERN
MI9NT before they can rightly exercise
the duties and privileges of the elective
franchise.
These requirements are so manifestly
just and proper that it is difficult to be-
lieve THAT any one could object to them,
land probably no one would were it not
for a misconception of tire grounds upon
which are based the provisions, in sec
tions and ;, prescribing the manner in
which the possession of the requisite
amount of intelligence may be shown
Before coming to a discussion of that
question, / desire to say, what seems
that the requirement with re-
ference to the payment Of poll taxes does
not impose a poll tax upon any one who
is not now liable therefor: in other words,
who is over fifty years of age-flll over
the age of fifty can. of course, vote with
out the payment of n poll tax.
Constitution, Article V, section 1.
Beyond question the state may require
a certain amount of intelligence, an ac
quafntance with, and an attachment to,
the principles of the Constitution, as a
condition of the right to vote
Indeed, this is required by the general
government as a condition of naturali-
Zation.
Revised Statutes, section 2165.
In re. Bodek, 63 Fed, S13, S15.
And this is what lis proposed by this
Amendments is the fact of the pos
session Of a certain amount of intelli-
gence, the faculty of self-government-
which confers the right to vote How
the fact is to be proven Is within the
discretion of the Legislature, provided
the method is at all reasonable, and
rests upon any intelligible principle. as l
wEl subsequently attempt TO show by the
decisions of the Supreme Court.
We might have provided that this fact
tor by Il personal examination: but this
was thought to be impracticable as we'll
as affording too great an opportunity for
fraud and oppression on the part of eX-
aIniners.
We have preferred a test so easy that
every person in the State could, without
difficulty, prepare himself 10 comply
with it by the time it comes unto opera
tion ON the first day of July, 1902 the
test of reading and writing any section of
the Constitution, supplemented by the
proyiso THAT all of those who are llnfver-
sally known to possess the requisite i'm
talllgence, those who have themselves
been participating Understandings in the
conduct of the government since Jamia-
ry ] 1867, or prior thereto, or the Vie
scendanfs of such persons, Of whatever
race or nationality not required
to submit to this test
But it may be urged that this excep-
tion is unfair, unjust to the negroes
This we fatty deny. In the first place,
lit may be said that every person of vot-
ding age in the State, white or black, can
easily learn to read and write within
four years; that the white people of the
State have been, considering their
means, generous in their contributions
to the public schools for negroes, ana
their purpose, as manifested in this Leg
islature. is to deal with them even more
literally. so that if any negro fails to
qualify himself ITO vote, the fault win be
an his own. a
Speaking of this subject, Judge Cooley
further says, on page 264: But ability
to read is something within the power
Of any man; it is not difficult to attain it
| and it is no hardship to require. On the
contrary, the requirement only by in