The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-24

- 1%AsGA
OF North Carolina" ratified February
2lst. 1893. the same being Chapter two
hundred and eighteen Of the public
laws OF 1899.
The General Assembly OF North Caro-
lima do enact:
Section I. That chapter Els. public
laws OF 1899. entitled. AN act to amend
the constitution OF North Carolipa."
be amended so as TO make said act
read as follows:
That article VI OF the constitution
OF North Carolina be. and the same Is
hereby abragated. and in lieu thereof
shall be substituted the following ar
ticle OF said constitution. as an entire
and indivlsIble plan OF suffrage
ARTICLE VI.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO
OFFICE.
Section ]. Every male person born
In the United States, and every maze
person who has been naturalizeL
~ e.sy-vne 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 TO vote. four months
rex preceding the election; Provided.
That removal from n precinct. ward
or 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
lfCsrhnr from, which he has FAranEAd
unit 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 n the
states prison. shall be permitted 70
vote. unless said person shall be first
restored 10 citizenship in the manner
prescribed by law.
Sec. 3. Every person Offering 10
vote shall be at the time a legally Ct
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 20
read and write any section OF the con-
stitution in the English language: and,
before he shall be entitled TO vote. he
shall have, 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 ),
section !, OF the constitution. But no
male person who was. on January !,
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 such person shall be denied the
right to register and vote at any cleo
ton in this state by reason OF his fail
ure to possess the educational qualih-
cation herein prescribed. provided he
shall have registered in accordance
with the terms OF this section prior TO
December ], 1905. The general ssem-
bly, shall provide for registration of all
persons entitled to vote without the ed
u~cational qualifications herein pre-
scribed, n shall on or before Novem-
Der ], 1908, provide for the making OF a
permanent record of such registration,
and all persons SO registered shall for
ever thereafter ave the right to vote
in all elections by the people in this
state, unless disqualified under section
2 of this article, provided such person
shall have paid his poll tax as above
required.
Sec. B. That this amendment to the
constitution is presented and adopted
as one indivisible plan for the reguIa-
ton of the suffrage with the intent
and purpose TO SO connect the differ
ent parts and 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 IL this article disqual-
flied, shall be eligible TO office, but be-
fore entering upon the duties of the
office he shall a X and subscribe the
following oath:
do solemnly swear
Cor affirm that 1 will support and
maintain the constitution n laws
OF the United States, and the constitu-
ton and laws of North Carolina not
inconsistent Herewith, and that l will
faithfully discharge the duties Of my
office as -- 50 help me
Cod"
Sec. s. The following classes Of per-
sons shall be disqualified for office:
First, all persons who shall deny the
being Of Almighty Coo. Second. all
persons who shall have been convicted
or confessed their guilt on Indictment
pending, and whether sentenced or not
under judgment suspended. Of any
treason or felony, or any other crime
for which the punishment may be i'm
~prisonment ia the p~enitentiary, since
becoming citizens of the United States.
or of corruption or malpractice in Office.
unless such person shall be restored
TO the rights Of citizenship in a n
prescribed by law.
Sec. g. That this amendment of the
constitution shall go into effect on the
first day OF July, nineteen hundred and
two, IL 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 the con-
sutution shall be submitted at the next
general election TO the qualified vot-
ers OF b state in the same manner
and nde b same rules and re2ula-
IONS as Is provided in the law regulat-
ing general elections in this state, and
at said election those persons desiring
to vote for such amendment shall cast
a written or printed ballot with the
words, For Suffrage : Amendment"
thereon; and those with a contrary
opinion shall asst a written or printed
ballot with the words, Against SUI