The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-25
a soMsTRoUS ABsURDITv.-

lotte Observer, writing 70 that paper
from Fayetteville, under date Of
March 18th, says:
The Observer correctly guages pub
lie sentiment in throwing ont . word
Of warning against taking for grant,
Cd the carrying 1t the ballot box Of
the suffrage constitutional amend
ment. II will require hard work from
the rank and fle and leaders OF the
party. There il certainly ne cloud
on the title Of the Cape Fear Dem
oerssy to orthodoxy, but the writer
10 surprised 1t the number Of lead
ing Democrats whom he meets or.
posed 70 the amendment The clause
about the "grand son Of his grand.
father" Il especially dscrisd - .
monstrous sbsurdity.
The suffrage amendment referred
TO above, which Vas adopted by the
last Legislature, 10 - follows:
THE SUFFRAGE ANINDNKNT.
Section l. That Article vi of the
Constitution of North Carolina be,
and the same il hereby abrogated,
and in lieu thereof shall be substitute
ed the following Article Of Said Con-
stitution:
ARTICLE vi.
Suffrage and Eligibility to Once
Qualifications Of IN Elector.
[Sectiou IL Every male person born
in the United States, and every male
person who has been naturalixed, q
wears Of ago and possessing the qLai.
i6cations set out in this Article ehall
be entitled to vote at any election by
the people in the State, except ~
herein otherwise provided.
[Sec. 81 He shall have resided in
the State of North Carolina for two
years, in the county six months and
In the precinct, ward or other cleo
ton district, in which he offers to
vote four months next preceding the
election: Provided, That removal
from one precinct, ward or other
election district to another in the
same county, shall not operate to de-
prive any person Of the right to vote
in . precinct, ward or other election
district from which he has removed
uutil four m ouths after such removal.
No person who has been convicted.
or who has confessed bis guilt
in open court upon Indictment, of
any crime, the punishment of
which now is, or may thereafter be.
imprisonment in the State prison,
shall be permitted TO vote unless
the said person shall be first re-
stored to citizenship in TIE manner
prescribed by law.
[Sec. 81 Every person Offering to
vote shall be at the time . legally
registered voter a. herein prescribed
and in the manner hereinafter Fro
vided by law, and the General As
sembly of North Carolina shall enact
general registration laws to carry in.
to effect the provisions of this Ar
ticle.
tSec.l 4. Every person presenting
himself for registration shall be able
to read and write any section Of the
Constitution in the English language;
and, before he shall be entitled to
vote. he shall have paid, on or
before the first day Of March of
the year in which he proposes
to vote, his poll tax, a. pre-
seribed by Law. for the previous year.
Poll taxes shall be . lien only on a.
sessed property, and no process shall
issue to enforce the collection of the
same except against assessed prop
erty.
[See. 81 No male person, Who wss
on January !, 1867. or ut any time
prior thereto, entitled TO vote under
the laws Of any State in the United
States wherein he then resided, and
no ineal descendant of any such per-
son; shall be denied the right TO reg.
lister and vote ct any election in this
State by reason Of his failure 10 DO
sess the educational qualifications
prescribed in section 4 of this Article
Provided. he shall have registered
in accordance with the terms of thit
section prior TO Dec. l, 1908.
The General Assembly shall pro-
vide for . permanent record of al
persons who register under this see
ton on or before November 1, 1908.
and eli such persons shall be entitled
70 register and vote ct ali elections
BY the people in this State, unlese
disqualified under section 2 OF thi.
Article: Provided such perso a aha
have paid their poll tax - required
by Law.
fSee. 81 Ali elections BY the people
shall b BY ballot, and ali elec tions
By the General Assembly shall be
viva voes.
ISee. II Every voter in North Car.
DINA, except ae IN this Art. disc uali-
ned, shall b eligible to ONCE, but
before entering upon the duties of
the once he she'll take and subscribe
the following oath: II, do
solemnly swear or afirm, that I Will
support and maintain the oonstitu-
ton and laws Of the q. 8. and toe
constitution and laws Of North Caro-
lima, not inconsistent herewith. and
that viii faithfully discharge the
duties Of ny Once - ......... So
help me God.''
tSee. s. The following clse.ss AZ
persons shall bs disqualified for Of
nee: First, all persons Who shall
deny the being Of Almighty
God: Second, al Persons Who
shall have been couyiesed
or confessed their guilt on indict-
ment pending, and whether senten-
eed or not; or under Judgment sus
pended, OF any treason or felony, or
any thsr crime for which the pun-
ishment may Be imprisonment in the
penitentiary, since becoming;citixsns