The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-15
Washington Times |

MY. Butler. Of N0i, n Carolina ad-
M dressed the Senate to-day al the close
of The routine morning business. on
The subject Of the resolution introduced
by Senator Pr.tcnarj, relating to suf-
frage in North Clroltna. Mr.. Butler
spoke, in part, as follows:
MIR. PRECEDENT: | have listened az.
teHively to the three speeches which
have been delivered in the Senate in
opposition TO this resolution. | have
been surprised that these Senators
have devoted the major part OF their
speeches not to the legal and consti-
tutislal questions at issue, but. in
stead to discussion of question
that Is net at issue and about which
there is no contention-that is, wheth-
or or not the negro is as intelligent
and as capable of f-government as
the white man.
THE QUESTIONS INVOLVED.
IF the proposition before the Senate
was resolution for the repeal OF the
Fifteenth amendment, then their
speeches would have been more to tho
point. But that is not the question
raised by the resolution. nor is it the
question That confronts the people OF
my State to be voted on at the August
election of this year
The only questions at issue before
"Ae Senate and before the voters of
N~th Carolina are the legal ones
which would be considered by the Su-
preme Court if the proposed SUFFRAGE
amendment should come before it to be
\ tested. WHAT are these legal ques-
tions?
First. Is section OF the proposed
y amendment unconstitlmional-in con-
Net with the fifteenth amendment?
Second. If the Supreme Court SHOULD
y hc,i THAI section ) is unconstitutional.
4 would it also hold that the balance
Sh2of the amendment (Which makes a
+ SSmplete and constitutional scheme cs
itn-ting suffrage) should stand ais a
prt OF the organic lnw of the State?
These are the questions | propose
20 discuss. If the law and the de-
ciEt'ons OF cur Supreme Court show
INV the answers to both of these aues-
tions must be in the affirmative, | take
\ 1T that then there would not be a man
in this body nor voter in North Caro-
lima who would dare support the pro
passed amendment.
III Now, the question is Is the section
Oknown as the grandfather clauseD
constitutional? 1t provides that a citi-
zen who could vote on or before JAN
uary /, 1867, or whose father or grand
fathers were then allowed to vote.
shall be exempt from the provisions of
section and permitted to- vote, even
though unable to read and write, and
therefore not possessing the uualifica-
t!ons required of other voters. Now
does this provision operate equally,
} impartially, and uniformly upon both
races and upon those Formerly free or
\ formerly bond?If it does net, then
clearly 1T is unconstitutional and mugi
fall"
LEGAL DECISIONS QUOTED.
OA1 Mr. Butler at this point quoted from
VI number of decisions of the United
Supreme Court, and speeches OF noted
legal authorities, as proof of the un-
constitutionality of the grandfather
cause"
Should the court hold" continued
Mr.. Butler, "that this section is uncon-
st[tutional, and that the remainder of
the which is conrltitu-
NJ tional, and which is a logical. complete.
and constitutional scheme for limiting
suffrage-shall stand what will be the
result? What would be the effect OF
the operation OF the proposed North
Carolina amendment with section 5
eliminated? No one familiar with the
facts or who will take the trouble 70
5a examine the census reports will deny
|kA that the result will be to disfranrhise
w ffI or sixty Thousand white voters
In indeed, as many white voters as colored
lin y7sers.
IK = regret to say 1T, and would not ad-
wv Itise the fact If the threatened dan
kW| 4 Of dsfrandhisement OF this large
III NJ lumber otf the sturdy yeomanry of the
I llStste did not demand it, that North
~ 1arolina has "a larger percentage of ilit-
4 hrate whites than any other State in
4 NJ the Union. Therefore, the adoption of
Yslpch disfranchising scheme would re-
EJSult in disfrarchising more good sub
ltantial mem in my State than in any
4 /Ak liher State in the Union. These illit-
yrate white men are not like the class
! W. u i1literateS who nuke up the slums
Aof the great cities, bl1t they are, as a
| CEule, sturdy and as worthy citizens as
North Carolina has within her borders
'M They are the descendants of tae
! IFfRevolutiorary patriots who fought at
"a Kings MouIItsin, Moore's Creek, Gull
E.pori Court House, and on every field in
IN khe Revolution. Many of them are old
vkmen and former Confederate soldiers,
rwho are now too old to start to school
knd get an education even lf they had
|E Ne tine and money to do so. Many of
hjl.s class volunteered aud entered the