The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-09
MORGAN'S SPEECH.
Continued From First Page


the Supreme Court that the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments apply exclu
siyely to the negro race.
These decisions are far short of the full
meaning of the text of these amendments
although they agree with the common
understanding of the purpose of then
ordination Am Indian or negro State
could constitutionally exclude white mel
from voting on account of race or color
under these decisions. but it is held thai
mo State can lawfully exclude negroes
from the ballot box for the same reasons
In his effort to obtain a vote of the
Senate denOmcing q proposed constitu'
tional amendment, now pending before
the people of that State, the Senator
from North Carolina has stepped Oven
the lines of protection created by the
sovereignty of the State as to defining
the right or privilege of suffrage, and de
mics to North Carolina the right to con
fer upon its citizens the right to vote
because they are descended from certain
persons or classes of persons and exclude
other citizens who are not descended
from such persons or classes of persons
THE CASE OF THE FREE NEGRO.
Many free negroes fought for tho
Wings in North Carolina in the war OF
the Revolution, and all free negroes hav
ing certain property qualifications were
qualified voters under her first constitu
ton. If those who fought with the
Wings had been admitted as qualified
voters while all other free negroes were
excluded. that would not have been q
discrimination on account of race. color
or previous condition of servitude; yet
il would have applied to race and colon
and to Il special cause of qualification
that the negroes who fought with the
Tories did not possess.
If such qualification could then he
applied TO free negroes who fought for
the United States in aid of the revOlu-
ton that succeeded in that struggle, with
out creating Il discrimination as to race
color. or previous condition of slavery. il
would equally apply to the class of ne
groes who aided the United States i'll
putting down the revolution of 1S61-'6o.
There is no more reason under the Con
stitutiOn for refusing to extend these
privileges to the children of negroes who
were soldiers in either war than there
would be for refusing to extend their
pensions TO their descendants.
In North Carolina the question before
the people as to the purpose of the pro
posed amendment of the constitution Is
the same in substance if it is not Identical
with that which is embodied in the con
stitution of Louisiana.
THE AMENDMENT A UNIT.
In Louisiana the constitution adopted
May l., 1898, is an entire and complete
body of organic law, inseparable in it
integrity and incapable of being so deal
with as TO take from it the provisions re
lating to the qualifications of elector
and to registration of voters and as t,
elections. without destroying the plan o
government. il such provisions are elimi
mated from the constitution there are non
to be substituted for them so as to patel
IN constitution formed in part Of tn
present constitution and in part of tn
former constitution, which it has substl
tuted and repealed.
1t must be the purpose of the resolu
ton before the Senate to draw into ques
tion the validity of these features of tn
constitution of Louisiana as a test of tn
constitutional validity of the propose
amendments to the constitution of NOrtl
Carolina.
/ will therefore treat the resolution il
that light.
NO RACE DISCRIMINATION.
On examining the full text of tn
Louisiana constitution bearing on TIN
question Of negro suffrage, | am satisfied
contrary to my first impression, that it
legal Interpretation discloses no purpos
to discriminate against any person claim
ing the right to vote at amy election OF
the ground OF his or her race, color, o
previous condition of slavery.
The general belief as to the purpose o
those who ordained this constitution 4
that it was intended To- disfranchise
large number of negroes as to their RICH
To vote in Louisiana. 1t is possible tina
Congress may reach that conclusion, an'
win proceed. with such powers as the.
possess. to the effort to annul the con
sttution of Louisiana by replacing it witt
laws that will repeal those parts relatin;
to suffrage and institute other provision
i'm their stead. 1T is also possible tina
congress will adopt the plan proposed
in the original resolution of the Senate
from North Carolina and declare tina
Louisiana has no government that is re
publican in form.
THE DIE is CAST.
The necessary consequence of such
declaration would be that the State woul'
be reduced to n Territorial government
or viii be placed under military supervi
sion. as Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana
Texas. and other States were held unde
the reconstruction laws of 1867. and hel'
in that grasp of power until the peopl
have formed such constitution as vii
meet the approval of Congress; yet it is
far from being probable that Congress
will venture so raShly. The die is cas-
in Louisiana, and Congress must decid