The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-22
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Amendment, such as is
pending in North Carolina now.
and we make the following extracts
from the report Of the legislative
proceedings as published in that
journal:
''The only voice raised in defense
OF the measure was that of it's au-
thor, who made a n able, though
Intellectual argument, while half a
dozen leading members of the
House took the floor in protest
against the passage Of the bill
which they pronounced an open and
admi ted discrimination against
one class OF citizens in the State"
AFTER the previous question had
been called, shutting off debate on
the issue an effort was made to lay
the bill on the table, partly out of
defence to it's author and in view of
the stubborn opposition with which
it met, as we'll as the certainty that
1t would meet defeat If put on it's
passage"
"Thesmain line of opposition to
the Hardwick bill brought out in
the debate was against the grand
father clause"
Sss"Mr. Copeland. of Walker, adj
dressed the chair; he said: "Tf |
properly understand this measure
1T is radical, unjust and unfair. l
am in favor of no amendment to the
Constitution or change in the law
that does not meet the approval of
the qualified voters of the State,
and | am satisfied that the people
of Georgia would not and never
have given their attention to so
radical change as this No one
more than the deplor-
able condition of the ballot in our
State to-day, but / submit that this
measure Is not the proper one to
work the cha re so much needed. ]
wish to remind the House that for
every one who sells his vote there
is one who buys it, and the wrong
In one case Is as great as in the
other"
"Mr Copeland proceeded to'make
an able presentation of the reasons
against the pas age of the measure,
and was once interrupted by loud
''Mr. Harrison, of Quitman, de-
clared the proposed measure harsh
er in every respect than any reform
bill ever enacted into law in any of
the Southern States; He said:
ain Mississippi some educational
qualification is imposed by recent
but the qualification is
compared to the harshness
of this measure"
"The objection L raise to the bill
here and the objection with which
/ fought the measure in the Com
mittee room is that it is legislating
purpOsely, positively and conclu-
sively against one race, purposely,
positively and conclusively in ia.
vor of another race"
els 1t judicious to work this change
in the lava 1 speak from an expe-
rience of fifty years as citizen, in
which time | have had occasion to
observe the prevailing condition IN
my state, and tell you that the
provisions are, first of all unneces-
sary."
Mr.. Hardwick, Of Chattahoochee,
opposed the passage of the bill he
said:
ain my section of the State the
negro who has never spAnt one day
In school is the best citizen of his
class and the most intelligent vot-
er Of his race. 1t has been my OBJ
servation that education is not a
test Of citizenship.
"We are hedged in by the FEEDER
al Constitution which prohibits us
from barring any man from citi-
Zenship by reason of race, color or
previous condition of servitude, and
l cannot Sc how the bill before the
House can be considered in any
light but as violation of the pro-
vision of that constitution.
"lf we are to limit the franchise
it is limit that should work alike
in both races ("
"Mr. OVerStreet, of Screven, be-
gan with the statement that be
would feel that he was doing the
people of his section and State ar
Injustice and falling far short of his
duty to the constituents if he die
not raise his voice in opposition tc
the pending measure. He said:
"From the time when the 18th
amendment to the Constitution
was enacted up to the present day
the best part of the negro race il
Georgia has voted and stood by tn,
party to which have the honor tt
belong.
al would take pleasure in going
on record as favoring the elimina
ton of the Ignorant and purchase
BILE voter Of all classes of this State
but am not in favor of the dis
elimination which is proposed il
this bill
"On the call for the ayes and noe
which were demanded, only thre
membership. Hardwick, of Wash
ington, Mr.. Bell, of Forsyth AM
Mr.. Ellis, of Bibb, voted for tn
bill.
"Mr Hall, of Bibb, was agains
the bill because it might be tn
means, he claimed, of interfering
with a white voter"
ain voting against the Hardwicl
bill, Mr. Holder, Of Jackson, had tn
following to say:
/ oppose the bill because I be
lieve it to be in violation of tn
Constitution of the Repu bile.
} "But Were it CONSTITUTIONAL, it
not right to deprive any man {
his ballot on account of his color.
believe in every man in this Stat
: being allowed to vote, regardless
{ hi, color SO long as he con
Y plies with the requirements
Y State, in paying taxes, workin
roads, responding to his country
: call to go to arms when his servi
!. es needed, and as long as he is OBJ
j dent to law.
U IL oppose the measure because
! will also disfranchise hundreds
honest white men who can't res