The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-11-30
PHE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
(Hon. w. w. Kitchin, in Reidsville Review.)

write and yet not on that account de-
MED to those in whose veins flow the
blood of generations of electors, and
ON whose character is the imprint Of
centuries of heroic performance In pub
lie affairs. I mistake their wisdom
temper and determination if they dc
not avail themselves of that glorious
opportunity.
The conditions which prevailed in
some parts of our State prior to the
last election and which have alway.
prevailed when the party with which
the great mass OF ignorance acts. was
in complete control, ere freed in our
minds. The distracted public atten-
tion, excited fear and prejudice, threat
ened the peace of men and the safet .
Of women, and In the opinion of on
wlsest mcn without hostility t. the ia
ierlor race, rendered necessary imror-
tant changes In our qualification for
voters. These conditions arose from {.
mass OF voters who after thirty year.
experience were too ignorant to under
stand the Issues, too irresponsible t..
consider them ana too pcejudlced 10
appreciate them. This mass with ur,.
wise and selfish leaders endangers good
government.
The 18th amendment to the United
States Constitution says:
"Section I. The right oi citizens OF
the United States to vote shall not bs
denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account Of
race, color Or previous condition OF SER
vitude."
When not In conflict with that the
State has the sovereign right t. cay
who shall and who shall not vote. It
can and does deny suffrage to women,
to persons under the age of 81 years,
etc. The 14tb amendment .uarantee-
ing the privileges ard immunitles Of
the citizens OF the United States and
the equal protection OF its laws to eve
ry person within the jurisdiction OF u
State does not and was not intended to
affect or confer suffrage. If it did con-
fer suffrage, then women, children ard
idiots could vote, Tor they are persor 4
and citizens. The 18th amendment,
does not destroy the right OF a State t.
prescribe the qualifications for lie
voters. These qualifications vary ir
different States. IN some States both
sexes may vote, in most States only
men can vote. some States require
the voter to own a certain amount O.:
property. All States eG':ira residence
for a certain length OF time. Many
require some education, the payment
OF taxes and registration. The full
meaning OF the Fe:eral Constitutions
on this subject is that ii citizen Of
the United States possesses the qualifi
cations prescribed By state. then his
right to vote shall not be denied
or abridged on account OF his race.
color, etc.
II Pennsylvania in which live thous-
ands Of ioreign-born white men unable
to write English, but which has few
negroes, were to adopt our amendment /,
it is probable that no Republican
would declare it unconstitutional
Clearly If constitutional for Pennsyl
vania, 1t is constitutional for us. But
here they say 1t is not constitutional,
because under it more blacks than
whites will be disqualified. But the
constitution docs not forbid that. If
it did, Mississippi could not h:ye the
poll tax, education and the under
standing clauses Of her constitution
which has been sustained by the Su-
preme Court, for they disquailfy more
negroes than whites, thus effecting
their intended result. II it did, We
could not disqualiiy for larceny, Tor
many more negroes Il an whites he
come disqualified On that account. II
it did, property qualification Which
we do not have and Go not want,
would be unconstitutional, for it would
dlequ alify moro negroes than whites
Yet many States have it. The mum
Der disQ ualified of either race does not
effect It's constitutioDaIity. A State
can not disquail:y one man OF either
race on account Of color, race or pre-
vious condition OF servitude, but il the
people saw fit, 1t could dlsquallfy ey-
cry man OF either race for other rea-
sonable cause.
Since many negroes will net be quail
flied to vote under the proposed
amendment, its enemies charge that
it is aimed at the negro because OF
his color. A reading o! 1t disc!oses 10
reference to race or color. The courts
in construlng it must presume that
those who formulated IL and those
who adopt it knew what 1t said, and