The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-06-05
MAJ. GRAHAM FOB THE AmENDMENT.

He Declares the Negro Unfit to Vote, the
Amendment Will D~isfranchise no Native
born White Voter, but VIII Purify Politi-
cal and Election Methods.
correspondence of THE Progressive Farmer.
The right of suffrage before the
adoption of the XIV Amendment was
left wnolly to the States, and implies
the right of DISTINGUISHING those or
those classes whose suffrage did not
promote or preserve the best in
terests of the people. States
are not formed simply to afford the
inhabitants the opportunity to vote,
but to give protection to life, prop
erty, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness. Each State has DISTINGUISHING
provisions in it's Constitution-ap-
plying to criminal classes and others
whose suffrage is not thought to
conduce to the general welfare.
SUFFRAGE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Under the Constitution of 1875
suffrage was granted the free
negroes. The Convention of 1885
did not deem this for the pub
lie good and struck it out.
This was approved by the people at
the polls. Only ''free holders
Owners of fifty acres of land) We're
permitted to vote for State Senators
until 1853, when the people ratified
an amendment to the Constitution
submitted to them by the legislature
which gave the privilege to all vot-
ers, and we had ''free suffrage"
In 1855. under the ANDY john
son" plan of reconstruction, which
is conceded to have been formulated
by Mr.. Lincoln, suffrage was left to
the States and limited to white men.
A convention was called the State
re-organized and took its place in
the Union. In no State did the peo-
pie enjoy life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness" to a greater de
T In 1866 the Howard or XIV
Amendment was submitted to the
legislature and reported not receiv-
ing a dozen votes. In 1867 Congress
by the Reconstruction law known as
Sherman hellobarger Act, over
turned all this, declared the Confed-
crate States out of the Union, except
Tennessee, and would have put it
out also if the President had not
been a citizen of it. This law, while
o~verturning not only government,
but citizenship itself in the South,
endeavored to make it appear that
it was the work Of its citizens. 1t
disfranchised every one who had
held a Legislative, judicial or execu-
tive" Office in a State or the nation,
from President to Constable. All
negroes We're enfranchised. Then it
was provided there should be an cleo
ton on calling a convention to form
a government for the State-the
Andy Johnson" governments con
tinuing in meantime. The people
were lat sea" Some leaders advised
accepting the terms and a move to
get the negroes on "our side There
was no convention to formulate or
concert action. A Mr.. Moore, of
Arkansas, wrote Gov. Graham, of
this State, a letter asking his advice
rs to what action the people should
take. Mr.. Moore published the an
swer in a paper in Arkansas, the
Raleigh Sentinel, and other papers
in the State copied. The candidates
for the convention on the white
mans side almost unanimously
aligned themselves on its lines.
have not d copy of the letter, but
recOllect we'll Gov. Graham's speech
in the canvass. 1t was founded on
the following propositions, viz:
1. We had in good faith accepted
one reconstruction" candy John
SOM and resumed position in
the Union. We had no guarantee
that if we accepted this measure
it was final and would not be fol
lowed by something else.
2. We should take no hand in our
own degradation and the elevation
of the negro to participate in the adj
ministration of our government.
That we should vote against calling
a convention and take the conse-
quences-awaiting the passing away
of the feeling Of anger and vindic-
tiveness and the return of caI1nness
and consideration on the part of the
people of the North.