The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-20

~ 80 ~
OF North Carolina" ratified February
alst. 1893. the same being Chapter two
hundred and eighteen Of the public
laws OF 1899.
lima do enact:
Section /. That chapter Els. public
laws OF 1889. entitled. IAN act to amend
the constitution OF North Carolina"
be amended so as 10 make said act
read as follows:
That article VI Of the constitution
Of North Carolina be. and the same -
hereby a~bragated. and IN lieu thereof
shall be substituted the following ar
ticle OF said constitution. as an entire
and indivisible plan Of suffrage"
ARTICLE VI.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO
OFFICE.
Section !. Every male person born
In the United States. and every male
person who has been naturalized.
twenty-one years OF age. and possess
ing the qualifications set out in this
article. shall be entitled TO vote At any
election by the people in the state. ex-
cept as herein otherwise provided.
Sec. >. 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 election district
In which he offers 10 vote. four months
Eext preceding the election: Provided.
That removal from one precinct, ward
OF ether election district TO another in
the same county, shall not operate 10
deprive any person OF the right to vote
in the precinct. ward or other election
II 6iGrrtnr from which hA has Ar,an-A
until four months after such removal.
No person who has been convicted. or
who has confessed his guilt in open
| court upon indictment OF any crime the
punishment of which now is. or may
hereafter be, Imprisonment in the
vote, unless said person shall be first
restored TO citizenship in the manner
prescribed by aw.
Sec. 3. Every person Offering 10
vote shall be at the time a legally reg
istered voter as herein prescribed
and in the manner hereafter provided
by law and the general assembly OF
North Carolina shall enact general
| registration laws to carry into effect
the provisions Of this article.
Sec. 4. Every person presenting HIM
| self for registration shall be able to
rea and write any section of the con-
stitution in the English language: and.
before he hall be entitled to vote. he
shall a paid on or before first day
of May of the year in which he pro-
| poses to vote his poll tax for the pre-
viouS year as prescribed by article 5.
section i, of the constitution. But no
male person h was. on January I.
1867, or at any time prior thereto, en-
titled to vote under the laws of any
state in the United States wherein he
then resided. and no lineal descendant
| of any UGH person shall be denied the
Il -, 70 ID 1-l $50 H.
ton in this state by reason OF his fall
ure TO possess the educational Qualif-
cation herein prescribed, provided he
shall have registered in accordance
with the terms Of this section prior TO
December /, 1908. The general assem-
bly, shall provide for registration Of all
persons entitled to vote without the ed
ucational qualifications herein pre-
Scribed, and shall on or before Novern-
Der ], 1908. provide for the making OF a
permanent record of such registration.
and all persons so registered shall for
ever thereafter have the right TO vote
in all elections by the people in his
state, unless disqualified under section
2 Of this article. provided such person
shall have paid his poll tax as above
required.
Sec. 5. That this amendment to the
constitution Is presented and adopted
as n indivisible plan for the regula-
ton of the suffrage with the intent
and purpose to so connect the differ
ent parts n to make them so depen-
dent upon each other that the whole
shall stand or fall together.
Sec. 6. All elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by
the general assembly shall be viva
voce.
Sec. Z. Every voter in North Caro-
lima, except as in this article disqual-
flied, shall be eligible to Office. but be
II fnra an 10 - ~ rInnn ~ -
office ne shall take and subscribe the
following oath:
I--. do solemaly swear
Cor affirm) that l will support and
maintain the constitution and laws
of the United States, and the constitu.
ton and laws of North Carolina not
inconsistent Herewith, and that / will
faithfully discharge the duties OF my
office as So help me
God"
Sec. 6. The following CLASSES of per-
sons shall be DISQUALIFIED for office:
First. all persons h shall deny the
being of Almighty God. Second, all
persons who shall have been convicted
or confessed their guilt on indictment
pending, and whether sentenced or not
under judgment suspended, of am
or felony. or any other crime
for which the punishment may be i'm
~prisonment in the ~penitentiary. since
becoming citizens OF the United States.
or of corruption or malpractice in office.
unless such person shall be restored
TO h rights OF citizenship In a
prescribed by Law.
Sec. @. That this amendment of the
constitution shall go into effect on the
frst day Of July. nineteen hundred n
two. II a majority Of the votes cast
at the next general election shall be
cast in favor of the suffrage amend
ment.
Sec. II. This amendment TO he con-
stitution shall be submitted at the next
general election TO the qualified vot-
ers OF the state In the same manner
and under the same rules and regula-
ttons as is provided IN the law reguiat-
Ing general elections In this state. and
at said election those persons desiring
to vote for such amendment shall car
q written or printed ballot with the
words, For Suffrage Amendment"
thereon; and those with a contrary
opinion shall cast a written or printed
| ballot with the words. Against SUI
frage Amendment" thereon.
Sec TIL The votes cast At SafA efAc-