The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-01
WIN SENATOR McENERY FLoPPED.

basC week SendUOT WCEucTy 10
livered a speech In the Senate try
ing to defend the grandfather claus
OF the Louisiana constitutions
amendment, and the same clause
Of the proposed amendment In N
Carolina. During the course Of his
speech Senator Butler interrupted
him and read a letter taken from
the Now Orleans Times-Democrat
written to that paper by Senator
SMcEnerv while the amendment
was pendIng before the Louisians
Convention. The letter Is as fol-
lows:
WASHINGTON. y. G. Mch. II, 1893
To the Times Democrat:
In answer. 7 saw that Section 3 is
grossly unconstitutional. I have
submitted the same TO some Of the
ablest democrats NJ the Senate
who are able constitutional law.
yprs Thov all concur In nv Opin.
ion. that n adopted the effect will
no n lose our representation In Con.
gross and in the electoral vote OF
the State.
6. D McENERY.
Senator Butler then asked sena.
tor McEnery how Section five could
be "grossly unconstitutional" then
and become constitutional now.
Senator McEnery's explanation ia
ken from the Congressional Record,
Is as follows:
Mr.. McEnerv.-Yes, sir. When the
Constitutional Convention was in
session was telegraphed tn know
what was nv opinion of this Sec
ton 5. I replied to that telegram
that in my opinion It was uncon-
stitutional. then received anoth-
or telegram, after its adoption, to
know II, when 1t WAS attacked, 7
would defend 1t in the Senate OF the
United States. To that telegram I
rer'led that would.
I stand, Mr.. President, always
ready to defend the people Of Lou
is'a M when their character Ia at
tackled 7 stand ready to defend
them when their interests are in
peril. 7 stand ready to defend them
when their laws are assailed.
Tt is the same way, Mr.. President
In reference to my duty to the gov
eminent Of the United States in re-
gard to the war that ia now being
waged In the Philippine Islands !
do not stop to inquire whether the
people of the United States are
right or wrong. I do not stop to in
uuire whether or not the first VOL
lev was fred by the Eilipinos or by
the troops OF the United States. It
Is enough for me to know that the
authority and power Of this govern
ment Ia assaulted and that it Is the
duty OF every citizen, no matter
what were his convictions, to rally
TO the support of the government,
not only 70 send It's ships abroad
and its armies upon the field and to
supply money and munitions OF
war. hut with our great sympathy
and whole will and heart to stand
nv the President Of the United |
States and uphold his hand until
the enemies OF the government are
brought under subsection. That
same motive. Mr. President, induc-
es me to defend to the best Of my
ability the constitution of the State
of Louisiana when 1t Is assailed.
Senator Buffers only reply to the
above explanation was as follows
Mr.. Butler.-Mr. President, 1
think / now understand the Sena-
tor. He said the amendment was
unconstitutional; but he also laid
In another letter that II his people
adopted 1t, he would do his best to
defend 1t In the United States Sem
ate.
/ understand that the Senator is
now simply carrying out his pledge
to support whatever they adopted,
even though 1t were grossly un-
constitutional"
In this connection I will also
read a short extract from an editO-
rial in the Times Democrat from
its issue the next day after this un-
amendment was
commenting upon the
same:
"After themselves disowning and
fer ely denouncing section 8, q ma
jority OF members of the Constitu-
tional Convention yesterday passed
that offensive section-offensive to
Democracy, to political honesty and &,
to Americanism. And the ,
Convention, too, has passed this Of -,
fensive section in face Of the fact
that the ablest Democrats in the
United States Senate have declared
1t to be unconstitutional. Senators I
Gallery and McEnery have profess ,
ted against its passage, and have ,
declared that it cOntravenes the
Federal Constitution. In this opin-
lon they are joined by such stall {
wart Democrats and uncompromis-l ,
Ing States rights Senators as Tur- .
pie, of Indiana; Lindsay, of Ken
lucky; Vest, Of Missouri Berry, OF
Walthall, of N ississip- {
pi /; Turley, of Tennessee; Pettus,
Of Alabama, and McLaurin, of South ,
and many members of
the House of Representatives.
The above confession made by
Senator McEnery completely de-
,troys the effect of any legal opin-
ON that he may now attempt to
give on the proposition. II the
ballot box suffers and redshirt
mob of North Carolina can get any
comfort out Of that speech they are
Welcome to 1t.
Does not the awkward and unen-
,iable position which Senator Nc
Emery occupies when he confesses
ne feels it his duty to defend what
mis- State did, though he knows it
s grossly unconstituti Nal, explain
.ha y,ositiop If q num hor of nomo-I