The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21
Especial to The Messenger
SENATE.

SENATE.
Raleigh, N. c., February 1S.-The SEN
ate passed bills on third reading as fol-
lows: To incorporate the North Caro-
lima and South Carolina railway. To
incorporate Hoffman. To amend the
charter of Goldsboro.
The bill to ratify the Madison county
bond issue of 1887 was after discus
sion made a special order for Monday.
There was some debate on it and strong
declarations were made against bond
repudiation.
The great event of the day was the
special order, the constitutional amend
ment and limiting the negro franchise.
Senator Goodwin offered amendment,
that should the amendment be adopted
by popular vote, then all persons who
may thereby be deprived of the right
of suffrage shall be exempt from all
civil and military duties and from poll
tax. The roll call vote was-ayes, 6;
noes, AZ, and it was, therefore, lost
Senator Fuller (cOloreO spoke against
the amendment. He said that it had
race. He had made a study of the
senators present and had come to the
conclusion that they were the brainiest
men in the state-tOO great to Stullify
their cOnsciences by an unjust act. The
white mans party in North Carolina is
a great party. 1t has out-distanced
William J. Bryan and stands in a ratio
to his sentiments as 49 to l. 1t is not
necessary to pass the amendment, be-
cause negro domination is not possible
in North Carolina. Conditions here do
not resemble those in South Carolina
and Louisiana. The democratic party
only lost power during the past four
years because it failed to fulfill its
pledges-special privileges to none, fair
ness to all-that should be the white
mans motto. The negro is made the
object of attack, the innocent victim
of censure, when he is merely the
harmless tool in the hands of those
who work great harm. He believed the
amendment unconstitutional, apart
from it's being impracticable and i'm
polite from an economic standpoint.
Senator Campbell said that during
the last campaign the democrats in his
county (Alexander) had pledged them
selves against this measure; that if they
had done otherwise they could not have
carried a corporars guard. The great
Vance, were he here, would oppose
this measure; and he added: May God
forgive me if I ever cast my vote for
disfranchising any one.
Senator Cooley thought it unwise to
submit the amendment to the people
at this time, but he yielded his wishes
to those of his friends and votes aye.
Senator Field did not think his sec
ton needed the amendment, but for the
best interests of his country voted
''aye." We are progressive people, said
he. There must be a change in the
constitution as in other things. The
educational and economic interests of
the state demand a change in the Or
ganic law Of North Carolina, and be-
lieving this, / yield some personal feel
ing-some belief based upon the knowl-
edge that my section of country does
not need the enactment, and, for the
best interests of my country, vote
aye
Senator Frank was opposed to the
bill and voted no
Senator Glenn received an ovation
when he rose to his feet. He was loud
ly applauded throughout and the gall
leries cheered him frantically for five
minutes, when he had concluded. He
said that it was the first time he ever
rose to explain his vote and it was the
proudest vote he ever cast. The white
man had had no opportunity to en-
franchise the negro. He concluded by
saying: Il have come here to unfurl
the banner of the white race over the
capitol, and 1 vote aye"
Senator Travis argued that the
amendment was really for the negroes
best interest.
Senator Mcintyre thought the alb
stract principle of disfranchisement
was wrong, but he knew the negro and
the evils of last Red Shirt campaign
and voted AYE"
Senators Robinson and Hicks made
short earnest speeches and voted aye
Senator Wilson, of Guilford, said:
My name is last on the roll and last
on the roll of honor. This is the proud
est moment of my life, and 1 vote
AYE"
Senator Harris, populist, from North
ampton, voted aye and was loudly