The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-22
lrcd dollars (S3oo) or more.

to any election. before allowing him
to vote, proof of the payment OF all
taxes. including poll tax, assessed
against him and collectible during the
previous year.
The production Of certificate or
of the receipt of the officer authorized
to collect such taxes shall be conclu-
sve proof of the payment thereof.
(f) The General Assembly shall pro-
vide for issuing to each duly register
ed elector certificate of registration.
and shall provide for the renewal of
such certificate when lost, mutilated
or destroyed, If the applicant is still
qualified elector, under the provi-
sions' of this Constitution. or if he
has been registered as provided in
subsection (c).'
1t was easy for the party in power
to prevent the registration of unde-
sired vOters-fOr example, illiterate
negroes-and thus permanently pre-
vent them from voting. This was the
intent and effect of the measure.
Before my recent careful investiga-
tons into the actual workings of the
law. | had always been distrustful of
it and feared it might limit the rights
and influence of the plain common
people for whose right | am ever
| Jealous That such has not been its
effects is plainly shown by the fact
| that the plain, common people who
revolutionized the government in this
| State a few years ago, and got full
control of it. still retain this power.
| have spoken with quite Il number
of persons, of men of different profess
sions, of different occupations and va
rious positions in society. and haze
found not a single one who did not
speak of it with full approval and
commentator.
1t is very singular the good effect
it has had upon the negroes. They
have had their eyes opened to the
fact that casting ballots into boxes
was not going to secure for them
either the financial or social advance
ment which they expected, and as a
result the masses of them have lost
| all interest in politics, and many of
| them who can read and write and can
| therefore vote if they choose do not
exercise their right. Their whole de
meanor is changed They are FAR
more industrious and contented than
they were during their days of po,i-
teal power.
| lived here during that horrible
nightmare of Reconstruction, and can
wildly recall the anxiety as to life
and property. that hung like pail
over the whole people, and can but
note the amazing change that has
taken place.
| wish to say few words more,
especially to my Populist friends, in
regard to the pending contest in our
State. We nave often criticised, and
not infrequently abused the Demo
Gratis for making the negro issue q
paramount one.
Now the amendment will practical
ly eliminate the negro question from
our political contests in the future
and give to us the opportunity of dis
cussing issues of far greater import
| ance.
Now. will it be consistent in us to
! refuse to assist in the effort to sup
| press the ignorant negro vote? !
think il the duty of every true lover
of the State TO put aside any bitter
ness or estrangement that may have
occurred in the past, and unite in
| the request from all to secure this
modification of suffrage and relieve
us from this irresponsible and dan
! gerous negro vote,
For the benefit of those of my read
ers who fear that the grandfather
| clause may be declared Inconstitu-
| tional without invalidating the re-
naming sections, thus making the
educational test apply to all illiterate
whites now of age, [ present these
| opinions:
CASES CITED By SENATOR MONEY
NO, the Senator from North Caro-
| lima assumes that if part of this Con-
! stitutional amendment shall be de-
clared unconstitutional, that part
does not carry the remainder with Il.
and he cites from a decision of JUS
/ tice Matthews. | should like to find
/ that case.
''Mr. Pritchard. I think you will End
it in 15S United States.
"Mr Money. One hundred and fifty
| eight United States. | have the case
here. suppose. 1t is the case of Pol
| Company, quoting from Sprague Vs.,
Thompson Q1S L. S.. 90. 95:
'The insuperable difficulty of the
application of that construction to the
present instance is that by rejecting
| the tNceptlOilS lIttlitcN W tHC itSiS-
lature of Georgia, the statute is made
| to enact what confessedly the legis-
lature never meant. 1t confers upon
the statute a positive operation be-
| yond what any one can say it would
have enacted in view of the illegality
of the exceptions"
Then, again, the court says:
1--WE do not mean to say that an act
laying by apportionment direct tax
on all real estate and personal prop
| ty, or the income thereof, might not
also lay excise taxes on business
privileges, employments, and Noca-
| tons. But this is not such an act.
and the scheme must be considered
as a whole. Being invalid as to the
greater part, and falling as the tax