The evening times., 1900-01-22
SUFFRAGE in THE SOUTH
Nr. Pritehard Speaks on the North
Carolina Situation.
qbe Revolution Concerning Proposed
Amendments to the Constitution OF
That state Discussed i'm the Senate.
4 Threatened Injustice and In
jur. TO the Welfare of the People.

Mr. Pritchard OF North Carolina, in ac
cordance with the notice heretofore given
by him addressed the Senate at the close
of the routine business today on the sub
iect of the resolution declaring certain
proposed amendments to the constitution
OF North Carolina in contravention of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution of the United States" He
spoke in part as follows:
In view of the fact that this resolution
relates TO the question as to whether or not
the Constitution OF the Unied States has
been violated by constitutional enactment
by certain States, about which we may be
called upon at any time to legislate, l as
sumo that no one will controvert the prop
osition that this body has jurisdiction OF
the subject to which il relates. In consid-
ering the question the enquiry naturally
arises as TO whether or not any State has
adopted as a part of its constitution or by
legislative enactment done that which
which is calculated to deprive any of its
citizens of the privileges to which they are
entitled under the Constitution of the Unit
ed States
Action Of other states.
Il am prepared to show that number
OF States have attempted, by constitutional
enactment, to deprive a certain class of
citizens residing therein of privileges that
are vouchsafed TO them by the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the Constitu-
ton
The State OF Louisiana has already
adopted as an amendment to her cOnstitu-
tion a provision which is in contrayention
Of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
TO the Constitution of the United States.
in that it discriminates against a certain
class of citizens of that State TO such an
extent as to deprive them of the privileges
that are guaranteed to other citizens who
are similarly situated. There are other
States that have adopted provisions that
are equally repugnant to the amendments
in question.
How are we to secure needful legisla-
5ion Certainly not by the curtailment of
our representation in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes: and in this connection / wish
10 be plainly understood. am a South
erner. and ! will do everything in my pow
er to prevent the adoption of any legisla-
tiOn that is calculated and intended 10
lessen the power and influence of the State
of North Carolina. And while discussing
this particular phase Of the question I de
sire 10 call attention 10 a fact that has
probably escaped the attention of many
of the people OF the South and that is
that the fourteenth amendment. among
other things, provides:
section ID RepTos.uJs1iou shall he app0liiou-
ell among the several Stgte, according 20 their
respective numbers, counting the whole number
'Hr44rH HFf no
taxed. BuJ when The right 10 vote Al any eier-
zion for the choice OF electors 1ur President and
ice President OF the United States, Representa-
tiyes in Congress, the executive and judicial Of
OF the state. or the members OF the ltgisia-
ture thereof L. denied TO any Of tire male inhabi-
1ants OF such state, being tweIy-cuC ,eaI, Of age,
and citizens Of the United States, IN amy way
dhrldge. except fuI participation M rebellion or
other crime. the basis OF representation therein
shah he reduced Ia the proportion winch the
Der OF such male citizens shall bear 10 the whole
number of male citizens 10 twenty -Uue Nears vi
age in such State.
This section of the fourteenth amend
ment clearly makes it the duty of Con-
gress in the apportionment of representa-
tion TO base the same upon the numerical
strength of each State as shown by the
number of votes therein cast And il only
remains for Congress to ascertain the
facts as to any particular State in order
to deprive that State of representation in
proportion to the number OF citizens de-
MED the right Of suffrage
Il consider the proposed amendment TO
the constitution OF the State of North
Carolina as the most important question
that we have been called upon to deal with
since the war. The right of suffrage is
one that is priced very highly by the peo-
pie of the United tSates Ii is a historical
fact that those who have once enjoyed the
high privilege of the elective franchise are
loath 10 yield it without a struggle. The
constitution of 1868 of North Carolina was
framed by the Republican party, and
among other things it contained provis-
ion which guarantees free suffrage to the
rich, the poor. the illiterate, and the edu-
Gated alike. Its adoption marked an era
Of encouragement TO the common people
of the State.
In order that We may have an intelli-
gent conception as to the proposition
which is submitted | call attention TO
Article, 6, Section /. of the Constitution
of North Carolina. which it is proposed
to abrogate, and which reads follows:
Art. VI. sec. /. Qualifications Of an elector. |
Every male person born in the United States and 1
every male person Who has been na1uuslzed. 4
twenty years old or upward. who snail have |
resided in the State twelve months next pre- 1
ceding the election and ninety days in the |
~ in which he Offers 10 vote. shall be deemed an /
confession IN open court shall be adjudged guilty
OF felony or any other crime infamous by the !
laws Of tins State and hereafter committed. shall
b. deemed an electoT unless such person shall be
restored to the rights of citizenship in a manner
prescribed by law.
''It will be observed that the foregoing !
article is in harmony with the fourteenth |
and fifteenth amendments 10 the Constitu- /
tion of the United tSates.
An Old Agreement Recalled.
at was expressly agreed at the time !
North Carolina was readmtted into the /
Union that the people Of our State should !
retain a provision in its constitution ia \
harmony with the provisions of the ff-
teenth amendment TO the Constitution of !
the United States.
In order that you may fully understand /
and appreciate the result of the proposed |
amendment. you should know that il is
necessary for each citizen of North Caro-
lima 10 answer this question: How many
men in gOuT voting precinct. if called
upon tomorrow TO write any section of the
Constitution in the English language.
from dictation. would be able to correctly
write the same, and ii they should succeed
in doing SO. how many are able to paw
their tax promptly on or before the 1st
day of March in each election year?
During the late civil war there were no
property or educational qualifications re-
Quired Of those who were called GDon TO (
fight for the Confederacy. neither were
there any educational or property qualif-
cations required OF the brave and patriotic
North Carolina boys who responded so
nobly to the call of their country during
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