The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-10
NEGRO QUESTION
Discussed at Race Problem conven-
ton by Ez-aOv. MaccOrkle
RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO GOVERN
Through its own Suffrage Has shons
as the Glory of Heuven-south
win Ultimately be Insistsnt That
the colored Vote be Counted.

MONTGOMERY. Ala, May o.-At the
"Raca Problem Convention" to-day TX
Governor MacCorkle, Of West virginia
spoke abou. III Negro and the Intel
iigenca and Property Franchise" he
laid In part:
Never before did modern civilization
have such deep and abiding Interest n
the ultimate action of a portion Of i.9
elemenlc as it has now in the' action OF
the people OF the south
II shall not attempt to discuss u'4
minor and Infinitely various details OF
this Important question. shall rather
briefly and In my humble way. found
my argument upon the basic principles,
and not waste your time in asslultlns
the outworks Of the citadel.
EVERY historic state is unIerlaid with
fundamental principle from which !.
breathes its life and through which II
has It's civil existence. Each Of our col
onies had It's peculiar idea of govern
ment: but after they were bound in on1
glorious, shining union Of states thar
great principle Of civil philosophy, the
right OF the peopl' 70 s2Nef, NJ ,s,, ~, w.
own suhrase' SH0's 10 'N' e'N
heaven .,.,,
rhereiore' NSas't ~ -" go
tutional eNereiss " Wv 10. ,,'',.,s ,r,no,
chise IS the VIA anu u,.nf''y .'s 80" ~,
PIE OF inc me 81 ms :. 49,. - p ,.,r.'n,s Ia
that the lhirae''O', u ''.'s IT. =,
surely a''e'NsN "''n -, H'.i''' ..,,.,,n,,,,,,
our system Oh F''''''l''" 80
Needs Expression to EseslVe Assent
"slr. this is fundamental, and In TINS
splendid presence 1t put nee1s expires.
sion to receive assent Stripped OF
every covering, 1t is but the annuneia-
ton Of the right Of the people to choose
their servants. indicate their policy ana
live under the laws they themselves
have created. When you depart from
this principle, you foreslk2 the under
lying principle of national government;
ana vixen this is done. surely you drop
out Of the nations Of which exercise an
abiding potter upon civilization.
Tine infraction Of the rishf OF fran
chise, the impairment Of the consatu'
tIonal right OF the citizen to exercse the
franchise in South Carolina or Ala
bama, provide the dcslrr and willing
ness to commit the same wrong in the
populous city Of New York or in Penn
sylvanIa. The passing OF cnactments in
Montgomery or Charleston, interfering
with or restricting the franchise against
the spirit of the constitution ana It's
amendments, provokes the terror of the
Force bill in the national house and sem
ate.
Men desiring to grasp unconsh:u-
tiouaI power heed little the cry of l
people that any lnfraction of that grel;
instrument by them was caused by thl
overweening necessity of preserving
their civilization from destruction.
Nov, sir the Fifteenth amendment
to the constitution, That the right OF
the citizens of the United States to vot!
shall not be denied or Abridged by thf
United States or any state on account
of race, color of previous condition OF
servitude.' is as much part and par
eel Of the organic law governing this
country as any section of the constitu'
ton. His privilege Of franchise Is as
sacred as ours and should b. as sacredly
guarded This is the only prlncipia
which should animate the life of q frec
republic and upon which It's continue
existence can be predlcatei. challengy
any transgrcssIon whatsoever without
ultimate and grlevous hurt to the con
stitutIon, and as grave injury to thS
white man rs to the black
Old South Being Resurrected.
To-day the old south Is being resur.
rected in new form and cxceedlng
glory. New people are clasoIng oul
hands and. as BONG OF our bone. we ar,
bidding them welcome to the dear land
,,I,,,-, - ,,.,,..,, 49,, ~, ,,uqlc nj
-, t, - A., .-,,r,t,,, Nfttts u,f