The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-10
As A YOUNG MAN SEES ".
We Discusses the Amendment In Nom
partisan spirit.

The following propositions are, IN
part, a basis upon which to discuss the
proposed amendment TO the Consutu-
ton of North Carolina:
Proposition docs any principal
provision Of the amendment conflict
with a higher law?
Q. Would it carry out the purpose
which is claimed for it, viz: To elrm-
mate the negro from politics, without
endangering the vote OF white ment
3. Does It tend toward the growth OF
Democracyp
4. Would it materially benefit the
whole Slater
II the amendment does not conform
consistently with these propositions q.
o. proposition l must be answered IN
the negative, and proposition 2, and
4 must be answered in the affirmative
!, is a dangerous political scheme and
should be defeated.
The reader is the Judge as 10 whether
the following section to the proposed
amendment is principal and important
"No male person, who was on Jan
uary /, 1867, or at any time prior there
10, entitled to vote under the laws o
any State in the United States wherein
~ then resided, and no lineal descendan
-
right to register and vote at any cleo
tiop prescribed in section 4 OF thi
ure 20 POSSESS the educational qualitica
ttion prescribed in section Of thi
article; provided he shall have regis
tered in accordance with the terms o
this section prior to December l, 1908.
This section is principal and impo1
tant because it's object is 70 exemr
white men from the educational quail
fcations prescribed in section OF IN
amendment. Without this provision
would the last Legislature dared
have put before the people OF Mort
Carolina, for their ratification. the pr
r3sed amendment? II it had, wou
the people pass or defeat it next -Au
ust? Again, il the people OF the Stat
should have good reason to believe IN
the Supreme Court would pronoun
this section unconstitutional. won
they not vote 1t down? Hence il b
comes imperatively necessary to co
slider it's constitutionaIrtv.
In taking the construction OF Z
amendment as whole il simply mea
in word that the negros right to vo
and the negro's only, shall be denl
and abridged by an educational qua
fcation. Now in comparing the spi
and meaning OF the amendment tax
~ whole with the Fifteenth amer
ment to the Constitution OF the Unit
States, which declares that the ms
Of citizens Of the United States to "
shah not be denied or abridged by Il
United States, or by any State on
count OF race, color or previous cor
ton 81 servitude," il rs seen ut OF
tnat there Is a palpable conflict.
Which will prevail, the spirit
meaning, or the chronology u
adoption Of an indirect method to
what could not have been accomplish
nv plain and unequivocal language.
nores the principle If law that the
cannot be evaded by Indirect met
any more than II can he evaded ny
press language" This Is sutfic
proof that the former will prevah
the latter.
Now the question: To be considered
VIII the whole stand OF fall togei
All OF the amendment cannot fal'
the reason that part OF 1t IL COZ
tutional and operative. All "f IL
not stand because. "a we have s
when taken ~ n whole the amendn
conflicts with the National Cons
ton. According n the will OF the
ME 81 North Carolina. II part sh
fall all would fall; but the court is
governed nv the will Of State. In
,ap will OF the nation as laid dow
the nations fundamental law-'he
tioual Constitution. Then part
fall and part must stand. ~ ~ cyl
that that part must fan which ca
the conflict. If you knock outsse
: u the amendment tie remaining