The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-04-26
THE OPINION OF A GREAT CONsTIrU,
TIONAI LAWYER.
On the first page Of this issue of I

THE OPINION OF OREAT CONsTIrU-
TIONAL LAWYER.
On the first page Of this issue of THE
will be found legal
opinion on the proposed constitutional
by Hon. Henry NJ. Teller,
United States Senator from Colorado. !
There is probably no one in public
life to-day who is or has been for the
last quarter of century more widely
and favorably known than Senator
Teller. During his long and honor
able career, both as cabinet officer
and as L. s. Senator he has had the
highest respect and confidence Of the
people of all parties, not only for his
high personal integrity, but also for
sound and honest convictions and his
great ability as lawyer and as
statesman.
When the Force Election Bill was
before Congress and was about to be-
come law, 1t was Senator Teller
and Senator Stewart, both of whom
were then members Of the Republi-
can party and two of the most tower
ing figures among the Republican
mem bership of the Senate, who rose
to the highest point of patriotism and
craftsmanship and defied their party
in their attempt to place upon the
statute books such.an unjust election
provision. The defeat OF that mea.
sure is due to their heroic efforts
Again, in 1896, Senator Teller again
showed the same courage and devO
tion to conviction by walking out O.
the Republican National Convention
and declaring for Bryan for Presi-
dent.
Therefore, there is no man in thu
United States whose opinion on {
Question like the proposed constitu
tional amendment should have great
or weight with the people Of all par
ties and sections than the opinion o
Senator Teller. In view not only o
his great ability as lawyer, bu
also of his past record on publi
questions, his opinion should hav
especially great weight with ever.
in tho South
Now what does Senator Teller sd,
about this amendment? He says
first, that Section 5 is clearly un
constitutional and says, SECOND
that 1t is beyond doubt that tn
l Court would strike down Section
r leaving Section and the remainde
: of the amendment to stand. He call
q attention to the fact that wheneve
a statute or a constitution lays dow
a general provision applying to a.
and then attempts afterward in ar
other provision to except certai
r class from that general provision,
: the excepting provision is unconst
tutional that the Court never goe
!, farther than to declare that uncor
stitutional, leaving the remainde
to stand. In short, that a genera
provision that is constitutional
never vitiated by an unconstitl
tional clause attempting to max
exceptions to the general provision
This is point that all of the adv
Gates of the amendment have dodge
but Senator Teller presents
=. squarely and forcibly and declare
that there can be no doubt abo,
it's correctness and about the actio
. of the Court.
In view of this opinion from {
able, so patriotic and disinterested
man, is it not time for the partisa
and interested Democratic lawye
in North Carolina to stop their Sc
IL fish and partisan attempts to mi
lead the voters about this great, in
t, portant and dangerous question
TT In view of such an opinion fro
10 such man, can the educated v
n tiers of the State of North Carolil
10 have the heart to vote for such
le measure, which will surely, if Sen
10 tor Teller is right, disfranchise fit
ir or sixty thousand white men
n North Carolina.