Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-22
PRlTCHARD'S SPEECH
His Reply to Senator Morgan's Ar
gument. .
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES
Proposed North Carolina Amend
ment Would Violate Them.
THE RIGHT TO VO L E

Mr. Pritichard today addressed the Sem
ate ON his resolution providing that an en-
actment by constitution or otherwise by
any state which confers the right to vote
upon any of its citizens because OF their
descent from certain persons or classes OF
persons. and excludes other citizens BE-
cause they are not descended from such
persons or classes of persons having all
other qualifications prescribed by law, IN
the opinion of the Senate Is in violation OF
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to
the Constitution of the United States, and
of a fundamental principle of our repub-
lean form of government.
This resolution was introduced in the Sen
ate because Of the proposed amendment to
the constitution OF North Carolina passed
by the legislature of that state and sub
mitted to Its people for ratification or re-
lection.
Guarantee of the Constitution.
Mr. Pritchards speech was directed es-
pecially to the arguments of Senator Nor
gan made in the Senate on this resolution
a few days ago
He quoted article 4, section 4, of the Con-
sutution of the United States. which pro-
vides that THE United States shall guar
antee to every state in the Union a repub-
Hcan form Of government, and shall protect
each of them from invasion, and on appeal
of the legislature or of the executive when
the legislature cannot be convened) against
domestic Violence and said:
In reading the foregoing provision of the
Constitution II will be observed that 1t is
the duty of the United States to guarantee
to each state a republican form of govern
ment- The language of the Constitution
Is mandatory, plain and unequivocal When
the members of this body took the oath of
once, among other things, they agreed to
maintain the Constitution of the United
States"
He claimed that Senator Morgan's argu-
ment against his resolution was in effect
that the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments can be violated with impunty pro-
v1ded 1t becomes necessary to do SO to per-
petuate democratic rule in the south Speak
ing Of the danger of curtailing southern
representation in Congress by disfranchis-
ing southern men voters he said
Curtaiiment of Southern Representa-
ton.
The Constitution of the United States IS
not only intended for our guidance as rep-
resentatives of the people. but it is con-
signed TO the care and keeping of Congress
and II Is the duty of every member Of this
body to guard with jealous care each of il 6
provisions and at all times to see that the
principles enunciated therein are main
tanned and upheld in the spirit in which
they were adopted.
Recognizing this fact. and realizing the
responsibility that rests upon me as a
member of this body. / feel that | would h.,
recreant 10 the trust imposed in me were
to remain silent and without protest permit
the democratic party of North Carolina to
adopt policy that will ultimately result in
the curtailment of our represe nj alton in the
House of Representatives and in the cleo
toral college. What is it that enables the
states Of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and Indiana to exert such a wonderful in
fuence in the House of Representatives? Is
1t not due TO their numerical strength in
that body? The greater the numerical
strength of state in the House of Repre-
sentatives the greater influence that state
Will be able to exercise in our national
council.
THE state which 1 have the honor in
part to represent Is one that is rich in I'M
bihties than any other southern state.
point with pride to the fact that more cot
ton factories We're established in North
Carolina, under the benign influence of re-
publican legislation during the last year,
than in any other southern state. This Is
but an earnest of what we can do in the
future If We are accorded that nurture and
announcement to which we are entitled as
one of the great states of the Union.
The Fourteenth Amendment
How are We to secure needful legisla-
ticn? Certainly not by the curtailnent OF
our representation in the House of Repre-
sentatives; and in this connection / wish to
be plainly understood / am a southerner
and 1 will do everything in my power to
prevent the adoption of any legislation that
is calculated and intended to lessen the
power and influence of the state Of North
Carolina. And while discussing this par
ucular phase of the question I desire to
call attention TO a fact that has probably
escaped the attention of many of the peo-
pie of the south. and that is that the four
tenth amendment, among other things,
provides:
Section .. Representation shall be ap-
nDrTiDnFI the several n
ing to their respective numbers, counting
the whole number of persons in each state
excluding Indians not taxed But when the
right to vote at any election for the choice
of electors for President and Vice Presf-
dent of the United States, representatives
in Congress, the executive and judicial Of
ficerS of the state the members of the
legislature thereof is denied to any of the
male inhabitants Of such state, being TWEEN
ty-one years of age. and citizens of the
United States, or in any way abridge, ex-
Cept for participation in rebellion OF other
crime, the basis of representation therein
shall be reduced in the proportion which
the number of such male citizens shall beal
to the whole number of male citizens to
twenty-one years of age in such state
This section of the fourteenth amend
ment clearly makes 1t the duty of Congress
in the apportionment of representation &c
ba Sc the same upon the numerical strength
Of each state shown by the number OF
votes therein east. And it only remains fol-
Congress TO ascertain the facts as to any
state III OTutT 10 deprive tndl
state of representation in proportion to the
number of citizens denied the right of sui.
frage-'
An Important Question.
He considered the proposed amendment
to the constitution of North Carolina a.
involving the most important question tha
Congress had been ca led upon to deal will
since the war.
The constitution of 1858 of North Caro-
lima was framed by the republican party,
he said. land among other things II con
tanned a provision which guarantees fire.
suffrage 10 the rich. the poor, the illiterate
and the educated alike. It's adoptio,
marked an era of encouragement to thu
common people of the state.
''TheretofoTe there had existed a deep
seated prejudice against the poor and II
Eterate white man result of the sys
TEN of slavery which had done SO much I,
degrade the poor man and to discours 9,
those who earn their living by manual Ia
Dor This section OF our Constitution 4
conSonant with the fourteenth and dfteentl
amendments. Justice Swaine in the slaugh
terhouse cases, in referring to these amend
ments, among other things, said:
I1airly construed. these Amendment