The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-24
PURPOSE OF His State
Mr.. McEnery Defines the Attitude of
Louisiana Toward the Negro.
A Fixed and Unnlternblc Determine
tion to Deny the Coiored Race So
Ntth the Whites-Thc Danger of
Negro Domination I'm His Section.

Mr.. McEnery of Louisiana addressed The
Senate at the close OF Mr.. Turner's speech
yesterday on the subject of the resolution
introduced by Mr. Pritchard declaring GER
tain proposed amendment to the cons'itu-
iion of North Carolina, in coniraveniion OF
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
TO the Constitution OF the United states.
He spoke, in part, as follows:
Mr.. President, the solution Of the race
question in the United States is one of the
most serious problems that ever confronted
nation. 1t IS confined TO no locality.
Every State is affected by it. The social,
political, and industrial welfare of the
South have influences on other sections of
the country We are but on the threshold.
No man can. predict what is beyond. So
far the best intellects of the South have
enueavored to find some remedy to make
the South prosperous, notwithstanding the
presence Of a vast number of ignorant
blacks TO make her social position clear
and defined in the separation of the races,
and 10 place her on a political basis that
will insure stability to her institutions;
make the ballot box the sacred depository
Of the liberties of the people instead of the
charnel house where, under negro domino
ton, they were assassinated; to prevent
them by means of the ballot and superior
numbers from again getting control of the
State and inaugurating the era of terrorism
and corruption which prevailed under this
Government from 1868 TO 1877.
"Annul the legislation of Louisiana,
which has for its sole object the advance
ment of both races, the progress of the
State socially. politically, and industrially.
and inaugurate again negro domination in
that State, the tragic period of 1876 will be
re-enacted. The white Republicans OF
Louisiana make no complaint against the
provisions of the present Constitution re-
garding suffrage. The more intelligent
negroes accept IL as a wise settlement of
the question of suffrage. The ignorant Of
the negro race are Indifferent about it, as
they have long ceased to have any political
affiliations except those which were mo-
mentarily created by the purchase Of their
vote.
There never has been any disposition on
the part OF the people OF Louisiana TO de-
prive the negro OF any of his political or
civil rights. There has been and will con-
tinue 10 be determination, fixed and unal-
terable, TO deny him social privileges on
equality with the whites. to prohibit him
from aspiring tofan equality in social life, |
which nature forbids.
proved rapidly. Levees have been rebuilt; |
bonds have gone above par. The State |
treasury is full; warrants are ct once |
cashed. Schools are prosperous for both 4
white and colored. Peace prevails every |
where. The whites and negroes are on |
cordial terms. Crime has decreased; courts
speedily and impartially administer JUS
lice. officers are competent, careful. hon
est, and diligent. White immigrants from |
the West have come TO Louisiana in large
numbers since the overthrow of negro
domination. Except the corrupt and adj
venturous carpetbagger, none ventured
there before that time. The people of
Louisiana have been wstehful that there
be no return to that era of-debauchery and I
crime which ! have described. Only one
serious attempt has been made to go back
10 1T. The negroes were massed as they
were in 1SsS-1S76 but the energy Of the
white people prevented this attempt 20 go
back TO that period: and so they will ever
prevent it. No reasonable or intelligent
man can find fault with them for this de-
The negro has the right TO vote in
Common with the white people on the con-
litions alike applicable to both races. that
le can read and write, or that he owns a
eriain amount OF real or personal prop
.rty. He is deprived of no right of SUI
rage by the comforting OF it upon another
lass. II the suffrage amendment. because
{ conferred the right TO vote upon certain
.itizens, is to be interpreted as a discrim
nation against the negro. then no priv
eye could be granted TO any white citizen
W State unless a negro was granted the
anne The fourteenth amendment declares
hat the privileges or immunities Of citi-
ems OF the United States shall not be
bridged by any State. This amendment
vas intended TO protect the negro. so that
lie could not be Disseminated against in
'ublic place Of amusement and on public
and IN the courts. Suppnse
State should for some reason or other
'royide for the free transportation of some
4 its citizens on a public conveyance.
hen, according to the views of those who
COMPLAIN Of the suffrage amendment in
he constitution OF Louisiana. the State
would be bound 10 grant the same privi-
eye TO an equal number of negroes.
Amendment fifteen OF the Constitution
4 the United States says:
The right Of citizens Of The United States to
cie shall not be denied OF abridged by the
njted STATES by any State on account Of
ace. color. Or previous condition Of seryitude.
Wherein is the denial or the abridge-
nent OF the negro's right TO vote by the
Inclusion OF one class into the electorate?
IL
impaired. No one will say that the educa-
ional or property qualification provided for
10Th races denies or sbridges his right to
ote under the fifteenth amendment The
rayamen OF the complaint is that the same .
Exemption from the educational or propefty {
was not accorded the negro {
this had been done the educational and 9
property qualification would have been use /,
ess and the suffrage would have been In 7
be same condition as ii was before the (
doption OF the Constitution.
THE Constitution of the United States
oes not confer the right TO vote on any,
ne. This is left exclusively TO the States.
am not aware Of any restriction upon the ;
tate as TO the persons it may admit to the I
lectorate. Its power is unlimited. The
My restriction imposed by the Constitu- I
on OF the United States is that the right
} vote shall not be denied or abridged .
q account OF race, color, or previous con- .
ition OF seryitude. AS ] have stated, the =
tate, In the exercise Of lis exclusive power
} confer the right TO vote, does not deny /,
; abridge the right OF other citizens TO :
ote by exempting certain class from the :
ratification provided for the great body of !,
ectors.
There can be no admixture of the &,
aces. This is a law OF nature. They !.
lust work out their destinies on parallel =
mes, which can not come together. The +,
nglo-Saxon blood and brain will always !,
e the superior and cannot be subordinat- y
TO the negro.
The question raised in the resolution G
Tered by the Senator from North Caro- n
ma is judicial one. Congress has the \
over, but II has not the right, TO de- 81
are any law or constitutional provision h
State unconstitutional. h
In my opinion Congress can only enact