The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-03-08

The Senate having under con5idera-
ton the resolution Is. II. 68D declaring
that an enactment by constitution OF
Otherwise by any State which confers
the right to vote upon any of it's cit
liens because of their descent from
certain persons or classes Of persons,
and excludes other citizens because
they are not descended from such per-
sons or classes of persons, having al!
other qualifications prescribed by law
in the opinion Of the Senate is in vio-
latiOn of the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to- the constitution of the
United States and of fundamental
principle of our republican form OF
government
Mr. Butler said:
Mr President: | have listened at
tentivHly 20 three speeches which have
been delivered in the Senate in oppos,-
tion TO this resolution; have been sur
Amprsed that these Senators have devot-
<1eth major part of their speeches not
to the legal and constitutional ques-
tionsat issue and about which there IS
~ contention-that is, whether or not
BE negro Is as intelligent ad as capa-
rEe of self-government as the white
IAN. IL the proposition before the
mate were n resolution for the repeal
|o{the fifteenth amendment then their
InDseches would have been more to the
{pQInt But that is not the question
1tSed by the resolution, nor is it the
EQuest,on that confronts the people Of
North Carolina to be voted on at the
August election of this year, nor is it
bthe question that the courts would con-
bider.
The fifteenth amendment. whether
yts adoption was wise or unwse, is Il
bari of the organic law of this Repub-
Ne, and Is as binding as any CAher sec
a Ion of the Federal ConstitutiNl; and
AEhile'it so remains it should an3 must
be respected and obeyed, not only By
livery State but by every citizen AMI
voter; and further, it is we'll known
hat tine highest court of the land, re-
\ lWEardless of what the private opinions
II Aof the individual judges might be as t;
4 JIltthe wisdom of the fifteenth amendment
/ tpr any other provision of the Constitu
IM Mon, must and will declare null ant
LQ Mid am and every enactment of an!
N hIt5tate legislature or any State constitu
Eional amendment that violates that o
lany other provision of the Fedora
N xConstitution
N / THE ONLY QUESTION AT ISSUE.
Inn The resolution now before the Sen
Nate, offered by my colleague, raises thi
llMquestion as two States of the Union
NThe State OF Louisiana has alread
n hIlopted an amendment to its Stat
N institution the open and declared pur
IN vase of which was TO evade the fl
M feenth amendment to the United State
Ih Constitution. The legislature of tn
Eh State that have the honor in part /
NJ yIiUytsrnsent has submitted a similar am
Aab hyonent to the people of that STATE
ilN sut te voted on next August. Now,
llA thenit that the only question at issu
Vighth will or can be considered by th
n. briate in passing upon the propose
|lA lholution Is whether or not the LOU
IllNR1ana amendment and the propose
krySlNorth Carolina amendment are in Vi
NNlatlon of the Federal Constitution
IWfhe opinion of the Senate on this legi
kHuestion, when it comes before it, wi
8lkletermine whether such an amendmeI
khall stand or fall. | may add ais
alkiat IL will be this legal question thi
<yHHasll largely determine wether or nj
lyeie voters of North Carolina will nel
iIpugust adopt the proposed amendmeI
II the polls. say this. foI feel tn.
can say on behalf of the voters
n forth Carolina. regadiess OF part
hhat they will not knowingly and wi
lilly vote for n measure that is viol
H bn of any provision of the FEEDER
NJ bnstitution, even though, in the
hgment such provision was not wis
know myself, personally, many vo
rs VINO believe that the adopraon OF I
a i Jteenth amendment was not only u
nse. but a great mistake and a grei
hls error, yet who will vote again
he proposed amendment because tn
x 1re satisfied that it is clearly in co
uict with our national Constitution.
The people OF North Carolina q
wabding. They believe in dealil
a frank. honest and candid mann
- Fith public questions as well as wi
- <$&riyate ones l believe that a majo
- J, the voters of that State would I
kprrow. If the question were befO
Inn vote to repeal or amend the
>entb amendment. But / say II
heir honor and to their credit th
ev have too much respect for tn
xths as atlzens and too much rega
" every law while II remains law