The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-07-27
uopk OF THE LEGIS-
LATURE.
orr. ]. Justice. EsqJ

:eel-, .n,ar kable that the Individual
) E-n.- he Democratic members
r;a1s .,s-;,ra OF, the many inpor-
u r.. presented for conSidera-
D.. d sutton could have been har-
' an md agreements reached, in
49, go iavs that the General Assem-
ssr! u r" ssss.on. The work Of the
va val have been great and the
w. ~ vsrv great benefit il there
as u ,,-I.-r done but the repeal
2'S- MS, ard unwholesome laws
ae - 1>g5 and 1897. and the leg
itH .,.asslry 10 carry on business
t-al -. ne Important demands of
US progress and growth in
s as rhan Political.
w.. VS. all done and nothing was
D. s,5,-s that was possible OF &C.
n.s,o7r ending to remove dis
p. .o~-lo- and incompetent men
'ss 's,.sI positions Of trust and re-
XIV, II IS very gratifying to
"a nasple approve all that has
a,snla, has attached to any of
80 Of the session and the re-
=. ,sn be defended.
me IMPORTANT PROBLEM.
=. most important matter demand
u, SHERATON. and the one in
Twas most interested, was how
..,r-a 70 North Carolina for the
-'~r wears freedom from negro
al the elimination of the negro
= Mites. and thereby securing to
", Carolina the honest, pure and
.,as,-l;ke administration of coun-
.own and city governments that
nauocratic party has ever given
! ne white people can always be
rsai 70 give.
-,.s could be done only by making
ra change in our constitution upon
!, Suffrage question. Realizing the
~,r-suce of giving to this matter
!. mast thorough consideration. a
,-rt--ea on constitutional amend
r--s was appointed in both branches
.5p legislature, and 1t became the
-7 Of these committees to suggest
remedy. Having been a member
he House committee 1 am famil-
with the opinions Of the members
ne subject AID am conversaET with
n history of the work resulting in
n submission 70 the people of the
k-,asel amendment which Will be
E.si On n August, 1900.
THE TWO ELEMENTS OF THE
PROBLEM.
7, sp1-oach!ng the consideration Of
n tut:es. Il was the unanimous opin-
N If the Democratic members of the
tssslarure that our party was SOL
|ral7 pledged to preserve inviolate
h. r;c5, o. every native white man
h vote. and there was not a Demo
|.ar in either branch of the General
assembly who would have tolerated
:r moment a proposition which
sriged or interferred with this
r:.i,.
Ilere was very nearly a unanimous
rl;o1 among the members of the
l--y II the majority that there were
North Carolina about hundred thou
I'D negroes to whom the right to
g:a tai been u1wiseIy given, and
Lit their voting jeopardized the in
rests OF the State, and that they
,al.d no longer be allowed the IN
:srcted right Of suffrage
ELECTION SCAN
DALS.
These two things were accomplished,
I'd 10 dishonest provision was writ
p into our law. Ii was done without
dishonesty or opening
0c 70 fraud in elections.
For the sake of the morals Of the
resent and future generations, we left
Ut Of the organic law the under
aiding clause of the Mississippi and
1u-l carolina constitutions, and all
-aer PROVISIONS which would create
le necessity or give the opportunity
II fraudulent administration Of the
ac-on laws.
Within the limits and under the
sstrctons Of the Federal Constitu.
% We accomplished the desired end
perfectly frank and honest way.
LIE OBJECT ACCOMPLISHED.
Inc sections Of the proposed amend
-7nt eAectlng this result are the Attn
ID J-h.
lIiese sections Will be found in the
neadnent printed on page ....l
WHO CAN VOTE.
CHdef these sections two classes of
.lsons can vote, if they possess the
'lsl qualifications Of voters:
l. nose who could not vote and
lose ancestors could not vote on
'AuaFy lst, 1867, Or prior therto, only
case they possess the educational
lalicatons required in section 2.
Jose who could vote, or whose an
'toFs could vote on January 1, 1867,
~ any time prior thereto, and it is
y required that they should possess
educational qualification required
section 4.
LUIS last mentioned class Of persons
~ register at any time after the
lThdmenr GOES into effect and prior
december, 1908.
. ~. 1eneral assembly at its next
, after the adoption Of the
l:At .Aent, will provide for a method
reservation. and by the provision
seelon . there Is required to be
.sla'.on prescribing the method Of
serving permanently the list of
y sIr registering under said section,
~ peihS once registered under its
',.s1ons they can continue to vote
:; anF election without again regis
NoI UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
, @ssert with perfect confidence that
proposed amendment, the material
~ OF Which are ahoua nno+od 10