The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-09
MElMOvEO UP TO 1903
AFTER THAT ALL MUST BE ABLE
TO READ AND WRITE.
POLL TAX RECEIPT MUST BE SHOWN
8efore The EIector will b, Allowed TO Vote
The Assembly Will Vote on the
Amendment on Next
Wednesday.

"Wednesday.
The Democratic caucus last night de-
termined on the Constitutional amend
ment which will be submitted to the
voters at the next regular election.
1t was decided to have it introduced in
the Senate and the vote will be taken
on it on Wednesday next at noon.
The amendment to be submitted is sub
stantially as follows:
Section /. That Article VI of the Con
stitution of North Carolina be, and the
same is hereby repealed, and in lieu
thereof shall he substituted the following
Article of said Constitution:
ARTICLE VI.
Suffrage and Eligibility to Office-Quali-
fications of an Elector.
Section /. Every male person born in
the United State, and every male person
who has been naturalized, twenty-one
years of age and possessing the qualiti-
cations set out in this Article, shall be
entitled to vote at any election by the
people III the State, except as herein
otherwise provided.
Section ,. He shall have resided in the
State of North Carolina for two years,
in the county six month and in the pre-
cinct, ward or other election district,
in which he offers to vote four months
next preceding the electiOn: Provided
That removal from one precinct, ward
or other election district, to another IN
the same county, shall not operate to dc
prive any person of 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, OF
who has confessed his guilt in open
court upon indictment, of any crime
the punishment of which is, or may here
after be, Imprisonment in the State
Prison. shall be permitted to vote unless
the said person shall be first restored to
citizenship in the manner prescribed by
law.
Section 5. Every person Offering to
vote shall be at the time a legally regis
tered voter as herein prescribed and
in the manner hereafter provided by
law. and the General Assembly of North
Carolina shall enact general registration
laws to carry into effect the provisions
of this Article.
Section 4. Every person presenting
himself for registration shall be able TO
read and write any section of the Consti-
tuition in the English language; and, in
addition thereto, shall have paid on or
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 exhibit his
receipt therefor when he offers to vote.
Poll taxes shall be a lien only on as
sessed property, and no process shall
issue to enforce the collection of the
same except against assessed property.
Section B. No male person, who was
on January i, 1861, 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
qualification prescribed in section 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 it's
first session after the adoption of this
amendment, provide the manner in
which the classes of persons provided
for in this section shall register.
Section 6. All 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 Caro-
lima, except as in this Article disquali-
fed. shall be eligible to office, but be-
fore entering upon tine duties of the
office he shall take and subscribe the
following oath: II, -, do sol
amnly swear or affirm, that | wall 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 the duties of
my office as --. 80 help me
Cod
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 OH Indictment pend
ing. and whether sentenced or not, or
ureler Judgment suspended, of any
treason or felony, or any other crime
for which the punishment may be inn
prisonment in the penitentiary, since
becoming citizens of the United States.
e IL. 4