The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21
THE FRANCHISE AMENDMENT
To the State Constitution Adopted by a Good Sized Majority-Mr.
Rountree Opens the Debate-He Argues the Consttutionaity of
the Measure-Mr. Winston's Appeal to the Democrats.
House Passes the Bill for Funding Certain Bonds
of wiImington-.Senate Passes the Scotland
County Bill.
County Bill.

SrltutlOndI. InlS exception Is d ISd-
sonable one and is confined entirely
to present conditions. Negroes have
not voted individually, have not ex-
ercised the faculty of right of voting
for themselves, as Crosby, one of the
ablest negroes in the state, informed
the committee.
In conclusion Mr.. Rountree said the
amendment was entirely compatible
with the federal constitution and
founded upon fact and principle. The
white people have been and will De
Just to the negroes; have been liberal
in education and will continue to be so.
Mr.. Rountree, On concluding, was
greeted by loud applause.
Smith, of Craven, colored, spoke
against the amendment, saying negroes
regarded the right of suffrage as their
dearest right. He begged the whites
not to pass the bill, as negroes will in
such case never believe the whites are
their friends. He predicted that in four
years the white people would desire to
undo what they were doing today. He
did not think the amendment would
stand the test of the courts. He de-
clared it was for the sole purpose of
DISTINGUISHING negroes; said it was dis
examinations; gives the white people
nine years of grace as to reading and
writing, but did not give the negro
any grace at all. He said all noticed
that white republicans were not max
ing any fight against the amendment.
Negroes had always beer true to the
whites. He added that while the whites
were arranging to eliminate the negro
voters, here came a bill from Washing
ton to reduce the representation of the
states in which suffrage was limited
and that his would cost North Caro-
lima four congressman. He added that
most of the democrats here today were
here by reason of capital which negro
domination" furnished in the last cam
paign. He declared property ought to
control, but democrats were fixing to
get ruled out themselves. Such things
react. He declared that the amend
ment is squarely violative of the four
teenth amendment of the constitution
and that the courts will so hold. In
continuing he said:
Roses are red, violets are blue
If you ~disfranchise the niger, he
won't love you"
This brought down the house. Smith
made the greatest speech of his life.
Eaton, of Vance, colored, also spoke
against the adoption of the amend
ment, co%ntending it was ~unconstitu-
tiOnal, as negroes not only were citi-
zens of the state. but of the United
States. He said in 1881 the legislature
cut off the negroes chances for ac-
quiring education by ~enacting a law
making it a crime to teach them to
read and write. He sa ! there were
more signs than ever before Of the dis
indignation of the negro vote. He de-
clared the amendment would not dis
franchise young negroes, who were dis
liked, but would strike old negroes,
- -
pie. He called attention to what old
negroes lac done in peace and war for
the white people, and declared that to
adopt the amendment would show the
greatest ingratitude. He wanted to
know if the negro was the real cause
Of trouble; that they were being made
a scape goat to bear the sins of fusion
combine. But all white men who led
negroes into trouble are, under this
amendment, given the right to vote,
while the negro is put with atheists
and felons. He declared the amend
ment to be contrary to A~nglo-Saxon
traditions.
Wright, of Warren, also colored,
spoke against the amendment.
Mr.. Hampton, republican, of Surry.
said the amendment would disfran-
chise sc, 1000 negroes and cause a loss Of
S100, 900 in poll taxes; that it is a VIC
ALtAoAh "a LIN CLlA0
violates all democratic pledges made
in the last campaign.
Mr.. Williams, of Yadkin, republican,
spoke along the same line as Mr..
Hampton. He argued it would dis
franchise many honest white men af-
ter 1908. He said republicans entered
their protest. against the passage of
such amendment: that it was, in a
sense. to tax a class of people without
giving them representation.
Mr.. Winston, in closing the debate,
said thai the white men of North Car
DINA said: "Give US liberty or give
US DEATH" He said he understood lhere
were white men here representing
white people who hesitated to vote for
this bill. He declared it was a time
to sink the conscience in the public
good. He made a powerful appeal in
support of the ancestral future Of the
bill; said in future years men in North
! Carolina would be proud that they
were descendants of men who in this
legislature had dared to vote for this
bill. He said in the name of the wo-
men of North Carolina tremendous
applause), he babe these doubling
white men rise TO the height of their
own manhood. Great applause.) He
, said he brought to these doubters a
message from the white men of North
al VIII "dliN pCdCCf ollO IL oC-
sire that virtue, intelligence n true
manhood shall rule for all time to
come.
Closing amid prolonged applause, Mr..
Winston called the previous question.
Some members gave notice that they
desired to explain their votes. Mr.. Car
raway, of Lenoir, in stentorian tones,
aid II o want to apologize for
my vote" BarEhiil voted mo" to keep
htC w Nr6 RI Tho -nnD1n Rrlrr0uyC nrn-
tested in the nan.e of his people. Zone
hiss came from the gallery.) Council
said in voting for the amendment. he
did so in the interest of all people,
white n black. Crumpler, populist,
said as the amendment was 10 be ac-
cepted or rejected by the people, he
voted AYE" (This was greeted with
applause.) Currie, of Moore, voted
mo-" to keep the pledge 10 mis- people.
and so did Curtis. Davis. of Franklin,
said he voted AYE" because the people