The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
THE FRANCHISE AMENDMENT.
A Letter From a Former North Caro-
linfan, Urging the Adoption of this
Amendment and Giving Sound Rea-
sons why it should be Carried.

SOuS WHY II SE1OulU De &arrled.
Baltimore, Md, November q. 1899.
Hon F. NJ. Simmons.
Mr.. Chairman: Great sympathy with
the people of my nativ state induces
me TO address this letter to you. I am
deeply impressed with the vast impor-
lance OF the public question which Is
now engaging their ottertfon. The
events of the last few years need not
now be mentioned except in a general
way. 1t is not probable that they win
be forgotten by those who witnessed
their horrors. The courage of the peo-
pie during the trying scenes preceding
the last election, and their heroic for
b~earance under the greatest provoca-
ton merit, and viii always receive, the
highest praise. a grateful country will
always highly honor the brave men who
were leaders in the struggle for the
welfare and happiness OF the state.
Their work was well begun. but is not
yet finished.
The public evils require a remedy for
titled by public law. The wise and
judicious men who framed the proposed
Constitutional Amendment calmly and
deliberately considered the great trou-
bles which were expressing the people or
the state; and in the true spirit OF en-
lightened craftsmanship sought a rem
edy for them; dismissing from their
midst the natural resentment caused
by the enormous outrages which had
been committed. They saw that the
fruitful origin OF mischief lay In the
POSSESSION of the elective franchise by a
large number of vicious and ignorant
voters. They saw that these men read
lily became the victims and tools OF un-
scrupulous demagOgues. And they de-
vised a scheme for the removal OF this
danger by the publication of the ballot
box. For his they recommend
to the people of the state an
to their organic law. The second,
| fourth and fifth sections of the pro-
posed amendment contain h impor-
tant ma tiers which are submitted to
the public judgment. The second Sec
ton declares that no person shall be
permitted to vote who has been con-
victed of a crime which is punishable
by imprisonment in the penitentiary.
The fourth section requires that every
voter must be able to e and Write
any section of the Constitution in the
English language. The fifth section
provides that no male person, who, on
the first day of January, 1867, or at any
time prior thereto, was entitled to vote
under the laws of any State in the
United States, wherein he hen resided
and no lineal descendant of such per
son, shall be denied the right to vote
by reason of his failure to possess the
| sn611r4tinO9l qualification nrpScrihpd in
section four. It is believed that no OBJ
lection has been made to the second
section; but h fourth and fifth sec
tiOnS have been severely criticised.
Diminishing the consideration of convicts
these sections taken together descr Abe
the persons who are entitled to vote.
Taking them negatively, they determine
thai NO one shall vote unless he has
the required ability to read and write;
or miles he was a voter in eighteen
hundred and sixty SEVEN, or q lineal
descendant of such voter. Taking then
affirmatively, those persons may vote
who cam read and write, and who were
voters in eighteen undre and sixty.
seven, and the lineal descendants OF
such voters. The two sections taker
together describe the whole body OF
voters. If they are dissociated from
each other, they would give am imper
feet view of the meaning of the amend
ment. If one of them is rejected, TIN.
other section would defeat the mean
ing altogether; and would provide tina:
the voting population hou not EN-
the persons contemplated by tn
amendment. If the people adopt tn,
amendment it will be their purpose tina
they both shall stand together. I
would be idle to suggest hat they coul
have any other meaning. 1t is p1ainl,
written that all those shall vote VIII,
are named in these sections. No other
are permitted. 1t is also plainly writer
that none shall vote who are forbidden
by these sections. Those are designate,
who are considered worthy of the cleo
tive franchise; who can be safely en-
trusted with the highest privilege o
citizenship. Unlettered men are no
treated like outlaws. They as Otter
as other men exhibit in their lives tn,
qualities Of honestly, virtue and patriot
ism; and very frequently in ordinar-
business and in practical wisdom the,
far excel the mere Stzuden whose lif
has been immersed in books. Let u
take an Example OF such men; and w
Will take it at random, without an.
special care In making a selection, pro
viding only that he shall be an averag
nan Of his class. AS is we'll known, n
is honest, industrious, faithful to hi
word, keenly alive to his rights and de
termned to maintain them. Visit hi
home, and vol will see a happy famil,
growing UP around him; his wife cheer
fully and faithfully performing her par
ais his ~helpmate, sharing his joys an,
Tightening the burden Of his sorrows
and his children walking in the foot
steps Of Their parents, preparing 70
YES of virtue and usefulness in thei
day and generation. Children rearet
under the daily influence Of such home
and firesides, though their lot be cas-
in poverty and hardship, nave an inner
itance more precious than gold. Whe1
such a man as / have described haj
voted for thirty years he has probabl,
heard a great many public discussions
in which the speakers have earnestl,
set forth the arguments for and againt
the measures to be decided by the re
suits OF popular elections. Naturally b
would also make them the subject o
frequent conversations with friends an.
neighbors. There is no difficulty il
obtaining fuN Information respectin,
public affairs anywhere in North Caro-
lima. What would be the result? Ger
Iainly that he would have al the mean.
A.. - A~II.-@-A ~-s.--