The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-14

snail De ellSlDle TO ONCE, out before
entering upon the duties of the office, he
shall take and subscribe the following
oath: Il, .................. DO Solcmnly
swear, Cor affirm that l will support and
maintain the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and the Constitution and
laws of North Carolina, not Inconsistent
Herewith, and that l will faithfully dis
charge the duties of my office, as ........
SO help me God"
Sec. s. The following classes of per-
sons shall be disqualified for office:
First, all persons who shall deny the
being of Almighty God.
Second, all persons who shall have been
convicted, or confessed their guilt on
indictment pending; and whether SEN
fenced or not or under judgment sus-
pended of any treason or felony, or of
any other crime for which the punish
ment may be Imprisonment in the Peni
Tertiary since becoming citizens of the
United States, or of corruption or NAL
practice in office; unless such person
shall be restored to the rights of citi-
zenship in a manner prescribed by law.
Sec 8. That this amendment to the
Constitution, shall go into effect on the
first day of July 1902, if a majority of
votes cast at the next general election
shall be cast in favor of this suffrage
amendment.
Section II. This amendment to the
Constitution 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 regulations
as is provided in the law regulating gen.
eral elections in this State, and at said
elections those persons desiring to vote
for such amendment shall cast writ
ten or printed ballot with the words,
For Suffrage Amendment" thereon; and
those with contrary opinion shall cast
written or printed ballot with the
words, Against Suffrage Amendment"
thereon.
Sec. III. The votes cast at said cleo
ton shall be counted, compared, return
ed and canvassed, and the result an
nounced and declared under the same
rules and regulations, and in the same
manner as the vote for Governor, and if
a majority of the votes cast are in favor
of the said amendment, it shall be the
duty of the Governor of the State, upon
being notified of the result of said cleo
ton, to certify said amendment, under
the seal of the State, to the Secretary
of State, who shall enroll the said amend
ment so certified among the permanent
records of his office.
Sec. ". This act shall be in force from
and after it's ratification.
In order that our readers may see
for themselves the changes made, we
print below the amendment as it was
adopted and submitted at the Legisla-
tive session of 1899:
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Section l. That Article VI Of the Constitution
of North Carolina be, and the same is hereby alb,
rogated. and in lieu thereof shall be substituted
the following Article of said Constitution:
ARTICLE VI.
Suffrage and Eligibility to Offce-Qu Qualifications
of Elector.
rsection IL Every male person born in the
United States, and every male person who has
been naturalized, twenty-one years OF age, and
possessing the qualifications set out in this Ar
tcle, shall be entitled to vote at any election by
the people in the State, except as herein other
wise provided.
fSec g. 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 next preceding the election: IrONlueu,
That removal from one precinct. ward or other
election district to another i'll the same county,
shall not operate to deprive any person of the
right to vote i'll the precinct, ward or other eec7
ton district from which he has removed, until
four months after such removal. No person VINO
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 State Prison,
shall be permitted to vote, unless the said per-
son shall be first restored to citizenship in the
[Sec. 81 Every person Offering to vote shall
be at the time legally registered voter as
herein prescribed and in the manner hereinafter
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. Al Every person presenting himself for
registration shall be able to read and write any
section of the Constitution in the English Ian
guage; 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 ne proposes to vote,
his poll tax as prescribed by law, for the previous
year. Poll taxes shall be a lien only on assessed
property, and no process shall issue to enforce
the collection of the same except against assessed
property
ISec. g. No male person who was, on Janu-
airy l. 1867, at any time prior thereto, entitled
to vote under the laws of any State in the United
States, wherein he then resided, and no lineal de-
sccndant of any such person, shall be denied the
right to register and vote at any election in this
State by reason of his failure to possess the edu-
of this article: Provided, he shall have register
ed in accordance with the terms of this section
prior to December l, 1903. The General Assem-
bly, shall provide for a permanent record of all
persons who register under this section on or be-
fore November first, one thousand nine hundred
and eight and all sucn persons shall be entitled
to register and vote in all elections by the people
in this State, unless disqualified under section
of this article: Provided, Such persons shall
have paid their poll tax required by law.
[Sec. g. All elections by the people shall be
by ballot, and all elections by the General As
sembly shall be viva voce.
[Sec T.. Every voter in North Carolina, ex-
cept as in this article disqualified shall be eli
gible to office, but before entering upon the
duties of the office he shall take and subscribe
the following oath: q, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., do
soennly swear Cor affirm that | will support
and maintain the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and the Constitution and laws OF
North Carolina not inconsistent herewith, and
that | will faithfully discharge the duties of my
office as .................. So help me God.
Sec. 81 The following classes of persons shall
be disqualified for office First, all persons who
shall deny the being of Almighty God. Second
all persons who shall have been convicted or con-
fessed their guilt on Indictment pending, and
whether sentenced or not, or under judgment sus-
pended, of any treason or felony, or OF any other
crime for which the punishment may be impris-
onment in the penitentiary, since becoming cltl-
zens of the United States of corruption and
malpractice in office, unless such person shall be
restored to the rights of citizenship in manner
preScrhed nv law