The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-16
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND.
MENT.
Proposed Suffrage Law as Agreed
Upon by the Democratic Caucus.

Proposed Suffrage Law as Agreed
Upon by the Democratic Caucus.
Following is the suffrage law as
agreed upon in caucus:
Section THAT article of the Con-
stitution OF North Carolina be, and the
same is hereby repealed, and in lieu
thereof shall be substituted the follow
ing article of said constitution:
ARTICLE VI.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE
QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ELECToR.
Section l. Every male person born in
the United States, and every male per-
son who has been naturalized, 81 years
of age and possessing the qualifications
set out in this article, shall be entitled
to vote at any election by theI 'people in
the State, except rs hereinl otherwise
provided.
Sec. 2. He shall have resided lsnJthe
State of North Carolina for two years,
in the county six months, and in the
precinct, ward or election district in
which he offers to vote four months next
preceding the election; provided that re-
moval from one precinct, ward or other
election district, to another in the same
county, shall not operate to deprive any
person of the right to vote in the pre-
cinct. ward or other election district,
from which he has removed until four
months after such removal. No person
who has been convicted, or who has con-
fessed his guilt in open court upon in
dictment, of any crime, the punishment
of which is, or may hereafter be, impris-
in ho rot n hoI hn
mitted to vote unless the person shall be
first restored to citizenship in the man.
ner prescribed by law.
Sec 3. Every person Offering to vote
shall be at the time q legally registered
voter rs hereinafter prescribed by law,
and the General Assembly of North Car
DINA shall enact general registration
laws to carry into effect the provisions
of this article.
Sec. 4. Every person presenting HIM
self for registration shall be able to read
and write any section of the Constitution
in the English language and in addition
| thereto, shall have paid or or before the
| first day of March, of the year in which
he proposes to vote, his poll tax, as pre-
| scribed by law, for the previous year,
and he shall exhibit his receipt therefor
| when he offers to vote. Poll taxes shall
be lien only on assessed property, and
no process shall issue to enforce the COL
| lection of the same except against as
| sessed property.
Sec. S. No male person who was on
January /, 1867, or at any time prior
| thereto, entitled to vote under the laws
of any State in the United States where
in he then resided, and no lineal descend
ant 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 quail
| fication prescribed in section i of this
| article; provided, he shall have registered
| in accordance with the terms of this arti-
Gle, prior to December l, 1908, and no
person shall be entitled to register under
this section after that date.
The General Assembly shall, at its
first session after the adoption OF this
| amendment, provide the manner in
which the classes of persons provided for
in this section shall register.
Sec. g. All elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by
the General Assembly shall be viva uoce
| Sec. Z. Every voter in North Carolina,
except as in this article disqualified, shall
be eligible to office, but before entering
upon the duties of the Office he shall take
and subscribe the following oath: Il,
--, do solennly swear or affirm
| that l will support and maintain the
| Constitution and laws of the United
States and the Constitution and laws of
North Carolina, not inconsistent there
with. and that will faithfully discharge
the duties of my office as --, Sc
help me God"
Sec. 8. The following classes OF per-
sons shall be disqualified for Office: First,
all persons who deny the being of AL
mighty God. Second, all persons who
shall have been convicted, or confessed
| their guilt on Indictment pending, and
whether sentenced or not, or under iudg
ment suspended, ofany treason or felony
or any other crime for which the punish
ment may be Imprisonment in the peni
Tertiary, since becoming citizens OF the
United States, of corruption and NAL
practice in Office, unless such person
shall be restored to the rights of citizen
ship in a manner prescribed by law.
Sec. 9. This act shall be in force from
aud after it's ratification.