The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-14

1EA8 0GEKBA68 =
10 the state Consuenfion a Agreed u.
- ~ the Democrnnc Legislative
Caucus
Section /. That Article VI of the
Constitution Of North Carolina be, and
the same is hereby repealed, and in
lieu thereof shall be substituted the
following Article Of said Constitutions:
ARTICLE vi.
Suffrage and Eligibility to Office
Qualifications of an Elector.
Section 1. Every male person born
In the United States, and every male
person who has been naturalized.
twenty-one years Of age and possessing
the qualifications set out in this Ar
ticle, shall be entitled TO vote at any
election by the people in the state, ex-
cept as herein otherwise provided.
Section 2. He shall have resided in
the State of North Carolina for two
years, in the county six months, and in
the precinct, ward or other election
district, in which he offers to vote
four months nex preceding the cleo
ton: Provided. That removal from
one precinct, ward or other election
district, t another in the same county.
shall not operate to deprive any per-
son o. the right to vote in the precinct,
ward or other election district, from
which he has removed until four
months after such removal. No person
who has been convicted, Dr. who has
confessed his guilt in open court upon
indictment, of any crime, the punish
ment of which is, or may hereafter be,
Imprisonment in the State Prison,
shall be permitted to rot unless the
said person shall be first restored to
citizenship in the manner prescribed
by law.
Section 8. Every person Offering to
vote shall be at the time a legally reg
istered voter as herein prescribed and
in the manner hereinafter provided by
law, and the General Assembly of
North Carolina shall enact general reg
fstration laws to carry into effect the
provisions of this Article.
Section 4. Every person presenting
himself for registration shall be able
to read an | write any section of the
Constitution in the English language;
and, in addition thereto, shall have
paid on OF before the first day of March
of the year in which he proposes to
vote, his poll tax, as prescribed by law,
for the previous year, and he shall ex-
hibit his receipt therefore when he
offers to vote. Poll taxes shall be a
lien only on assessed property, and no
process shall issue to enforce the col
| ton of the same except against as
sessed property.
Section 5. No male person, who was
on January 1, 1867, or at any time prior
thereto, entitled to vote under the laws
of any State in the United States
wherein he then resided, and no lineal
descendant of any such person, shall
be denied the right to register and vote
at any election in this State by reason
of his failure to possess the educational
qualifications prescribed in section 4 of
this Article: Provided, He shall have
registered in accordance with the terms
of this Article prior to December l,
1908, and no person shall be entitled to
register under this section after that
date.
The General Assembly shall, at its
first session after the adoption Of this
amendment, provide the manner in
:" 11SA AK SldooCo VI RNAo oAo pAOsA oC0
for in this section shall register.
Section 6. ALI elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by
the General Assembly shall be viva
vOce.
Section Z. Every voter in North Car
DINA, except as in this Article disqual-
flied, shall be eligible to office, but be-
fore entering upon the duties of the
office he shall take and subscribe the
following oath: d., do SOL
EMMY swear or affirm, that l will sup
port and maintain the Constitution and
laws of the United States and the Con-
stitution and laws of North Carolina,
not inconsistent Herewith, and that l
will faithfully discharge b duties of
my office as -. So help me
God"
Section s. The following classes of
persons shall be disqualified for Office:
First, all. persons who deny the being
of Almighty God. Second, all persons
who shall have been convicted, or con-
fessed their guilt on indictment pend
ing, and whether sentenced or not, or
under judgment suspended, of any
treason or felony, or any other crime
for which the punishment may be i'm
prisonment in the ~'penitentiary, since
becoming citizens of the United States,
of corruption and malpractice in Office,
unless such person shall be restored
to the rights of citizenship in a man
ner prescribed by Law.
Section 8. This act shall be in force
from and after its ratification.