The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-06
THE AMENDMENT
Full Text of the Proposed Change IN
n North Carolina Constitution

The following is the amendment 10
article s of the state constitution
adopted by the general assembly OK
1899. and amended June 18th. lsoo' anu
to be submitted TO the voters for rat-
hcation next August:
Section 1. Tina article VI of the
constitution Of North Carolina be, and
the same is hereby abrogated. and in
lieu thereof shall be substituted h fol-
lowing article OF said constitution:
ARTICLE VI.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF AN
ELBCToR.
Section !. Every male person born
in the United states. and every male
person who has been naturalized.
tw~enty-one years OF age, n possess
ing the qualifications set out In this
article. shall be entitled to vote at any
election by the people in the state, ex-
cept as herein otherwise provided
Sec. = He shall have resided In the
state OF North Carolina for two years,
in the county six months. and in the
precinct. ward or other election district
in which he offers 10 vote. four months
next preceding the election; Provided.
That emoval from one precinct,
or other election district to another in
the same county, shall not operate 10
deprive any person OF the right TO vote
in precinct, ward or other election dis
trict from which he has removed. until
-four months after such removal No
person who has been convicted. or who
has confessed his guilt in open court
upon indictment OF any crime the pun
irh-1Anv ~ which rnpr - ar may here
after be. imprisonment in the states
prison, shall be permitted To vote, un-
less said person shall be first restored
to citizenship in the name prescribed
by law.
Sec 3. Every person Offering 10
vote shall be at tie time a legally reg
istered voter as herein after provided
by law and the general assembly OF
North Carolina shall enact general
registration laws 10 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 con-
stitution in the English language; and.
before he shall be entitled TO vote. he
shall have paid on or before first day
of May of the year in which he pro-
poses to vote his poll tax for the pre-
vious year as prescribed by article ).
section !, of the constitution, but no
male person who was, on January 1.
1867, or at IN time prior thereto, en-
titled to vote under the laws of any
state in the United States wherein he
then resided, and no lineal descendant
of any sue person shall be denied the
right TO register and vote at any cleo
ton in this state by reason OF his fall
ure to possess the educational qualif-
cation herein prescribed. provided he
shall have registered in accordance
with the terms of his section prior TO
December /. 1908. The general assem-
bly, shall provide for registration OF all
persons entitled to vote without the ed
ucationai qualifications herein pre-
Scribed, and shall on or before Novem-
Der !, 1908, provide for the making of a
permanent record of such registration,
and all persons so registered shall for
ever thereafter have the right to vote
at all elections by the people in this
state, unless disqualified under section
2 of this article, provided such person
shall have paid his poll tax as above
| required.
Sec. 5. That this amendment to the
constitution is presented and adopted
as one indivisible plan for the regula-
ton OF the suffrage with the intent
and purpose to so connect the differ
ent parts n TO make them so depen-
| dent upon each other that the whole
shall stand or fall together.
Sec. 6. All elections by the people
| snail Dt ny DdIlDl- anu al elections DS
the general assembly shall be viva
voce.
Sec. Z. Every voter in North Caro-
lima, except as in this article d~isqual-
flied, shall be eligible to office. but be
fore entering upon the duties of the
office he shall TAX and subscribe the
following oath:
do solemnly swear
Cor affirm) that | will support and
maintain the constitution and laws
of the United States, and the constitu-
| ton and laws of North Carolina not
Inconsistent Herewith, and that / will
faithfully discharge the duties OF my
| office as So help me
| God"
Sec. s. The following classes Of per-
| sons shall be disqualified for office:
| First, all persons who shall deny the
being of Almighty God. Second, all
persons who shall have been convicted
or confessed their guilt on indictment
| pending, and whether sentenced or not
under judgment suspended, of am
treason or felony, or any other crime
| for which the punishment may be i'm
prisonement in the penitentiary, since
becoming citizens of the United States.
or corruption and malpractice in Office.
unless such person hall be restored
to the rights OF citizenship in a manner
prescribed by law.
Sec. 8. That this amendment Of the
constitution shall go into effect on the
first day of July, nineteen hundred and
two, if a majority of the votes cast
at the next general election shall be
cast in favor Of the suffrage amend
ment.
Sec. ii. This amendment TO the con-
stitution shall be submitted at the next
general election 10 the qualified vot-
ers of the state in the same name
and under the same rules and regula-
tons as Is provided in the law regulat-
ing general elections in this state. and az
said election those persons desiring to
vote for such amendment shall cast
a written or printed ballot with the
words. For Suffrage Amendment"
thereon; and those opposed a ballot
with the words, Against Suffrage
Amendment thereon.
Sec III. The vote cast at said cleo
ton shall De counted, returned and
canVassed and the result announced
q declared under the same rules and
regulations and in the same manner,
ana II a majority Of the votes cast are