The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-09-12

pEOlOUuu u0&E6S OF 1DS6E0S9 AKA WIG R4O
servation of the existing state Of
things, for he would fare as we'll under
any other system. If a foreign power
from abroad invaded the country, he
would as soon take sides with that
power as with the citizens Of this
state; for he would still remain q free
man, whether he fell into the hands Of
the Irish, the French, the Sc1tca or
the Dutch.
''IG is clear to my mind, said hi.
MO Ieen, that this class of persone
ought not to exercise the right of sui.
frage, and he could not baIieve that it
was contemplated by the trainers of
the Constitution that they should en-
joy the right under that instrument.
The current of public sentiment sets
strongly against their exercise Of this
RICH aad their want of education, the
tarne spirit OF submission with which
they are moulded to the will Of an in
fuentiaI neighbor, renders it entirely
imp2IiCic that they should exercise the
privilege.
"Toe Constitutional provisions of
other States of the United States are
not Of binding authority on US, in the
revisi0ns Of our fundamental Charter;
but in a matter of probable expediency,
like the one now before US. the ex
ample of other States should fall with
impressive weight on our minds. Il
Connecticut, q State remarkable for
it's tenderness and b3nevolence to this
class OF people. they are expressly ex
Guided from the right Of suffrage. In
New York, no free parsons of color is
permitted to vote, unless he possesses q
free hold $50 dollars, free Of all incum
ORANGES. II OHIO, a Commonwealth
peopled chiefly by New England, and
parJaking largely OF it's benevolent
feelings towards this class Of people,
they are expressly excluded from vot
iug; and in the whole Southern, and
Western and North. western range OF
the country, they ale excluded in
every s ate, except two, (and perhaps
they are now excluded in those two,)
Tennessee and Maryland. Why then
sh. u d we continue this right to them,
without the return Of a solitary bene
f.97
T 9 total vote Of the whole Safe of
Norlh Carolina in 1885 vas about So.
900, and the official returns show that
there were 26 III votes cast for the
'Rati1 ;ation," and 81 6O6 votes were
cast for "R lection" OF the amended
Constitution; the majority In favor Of
r. .li6cation" being 5,165.
Among the small voting population
of tnAt day, in certain localities in the
E stern part of the State, the free
negro vote was Of great Importance,
and in close contests between the old
Wing party and the Democratic party,
the free negro vote controlled the cleo
ton. for they held the balance Of
power. Il was so 10 Fayetteville. for
instance, for many years prior to 1885.
as s~m9 OF the oil citizens there still
remember. Ia his speech in the Con-
vengIon of 1885, Mr.. Wilson of Per.
quimaus county, SAID: There are al
ready three hundred colored voters in
Halifex; $50 in Hartford; 50 in Ono
wan;7 IS in Pasquotank, etc., and il we
foster aud raise them up, they will
soon become a mejority-and we shall
mkt have negro Justices, negro
S1eriff5, etc"
Suppose Mr.. Wilson could have lived
till our time, do you think he would
be- any less opposed to free negroes
voting, shan he was il 1852 R3mem-
eer al OF these free negroes IN Halifax,
Hartford, Ohowan, Pasquogank, era
ven, New Hanover, Cumberland ana
other c0u1ties OF the State did not die
n 1885 when they became di0ftan
caised nor was their color thereby
co8pged, and they, it any Of them are
still living, and every one OF their
l}ne8l mBle descendants ever twenty
one years OF age, can still register end
vote, just like a white man, under the
proposed Constitutional Amendment
OF 1899. if it shall ba ratified next
August, although belonging 70 the
negro race, ga distinct from the white
race, whether sbey can read and write
not, suit CT only to the rtq1ire-
ment to b9 made of all voters, Of pre-
payment OF poll taxes by those who
are under fifty years of age, and liable
20 the payment If poll tnx&s uGder
other provisions OF the Constitution.
Every white voter in the State who