The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03

IlcS5, and dmenCeQ June l4In, lSuO, and
ito be submitted to the voters for rati-
fcation next August:
Section 1. That article VI Of the
constitution Of North Carolina be, and
lieu thereof shall be substituted the fol-
lowing article OF said constitution:
ARTICLE vi.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO
OFFTCE-QUALIFICATIONS OF AN
ELECTOR-
in the United States, and every male
lperson who has been naturalized,
l~twenty-one years of age, and possess
ling h qualifications set out in this
article, shall be entitled TO vote at any
ELECTION by the people in the state, ex-
cept as herein otherwise provided.
Sec. 2. 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; Provided.
That removal from one precinct, ward
or other election district to another in
the same county, shall not operate to
deprive any person of the right to vote
in precinct, ward or other election dis
trict from which he has removed. until
four months after such removal. No
IperSon who has been convicted, or who
has confessed his guilt in open court
upon indictment Of any crime the pun
ishment Of which now is, or may here
after be, imprisonment in the states
prison, shall be permitted to vote, un-
less said person shall be first restored
to citizenship in the ann prescribed
by law.
Sec. 8. Every person offering to
vote shall be at the time a legally reg
istered voter as herein after 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. 4. Every person presenting him.
lself for registration shall be able to
read and write any section Of the con-
Istitution in the English language; and,
before he shall be entitled to vote. he
lshall have paid on or before first day
of May of the year in which ne pro-
poses to vote his poll tax for the pre-
'vious year as prescribed by article 5,
l%section /, of the constitution, but no
male person who was, on January 1,
1867, or at any time prior thereto, en-
titled to vote under the laws of any
Estate in the United States wherein he
then resided, and no lineal descendant
lof any such person shall be denied the
fright to register and vote at any cleo
ltior in this state by reason of his fail
lure to possess the educational qaalii-
Ication herein prescribed, provided ne
lshall have registered in accordance
with the terms of his section prior to
December 1, 1908. The general assem-
lbly shall provide for registration of all
persons entitled to vote without the ed
Vocational qualifications herein pre-
lscribed, and shall on or before Novem-
Der l, 1908, provide for the making of a
permanent record of such registration,
and all persons so registered shall for
lever thereafter have the right to vote
at all elections by the people in this
state, unless disqualified under section
2 of this article, provided such person
shall have paid his poll tax as above
required.
Sec. 5. That this amendment to the
IconSitution is presented and adopted
as one indivisible plan for the regula-
ltion of the suffrage with the intent
and purpose to SO connect the differ
lent parts and to make them so depen-
dent upon each other that the whole
shall stand or all together.
Sec. 6. All elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by
the general assembly shall be viva
lvoce.
Sec. 4. Every voter in North Caro-
lima, except as in this article d~isQual-
lifted, shall be eligible to office, but be-
fore entering upon the duties of the
office he shall lake and subscribe the
following oath:
do solemnly swear
Cor affirm) that I will support and
maintain the constitution and laws
of the United States, and the constitu-
ton and laws of North Carolina not
inconsistent Herewith, and tina 1 will
faithfully discharge the duties of my
office as 81 help me
IGod."
Sec. s. The following classes Of per-
sons shall be disqualified for Office:
First, all persons who shal deny the
being of Almighty God. Second, all
persons who shall have been convicted
or confessed their guilt on indictment
pending, and whether sentenced or not
under judgment suspended, of any
treason or felony, or any other crime
for which the punishment may be i'm
~lprisonement in the ~penitentiary, since
becoming citizens of the United States,
Tor corruption and malpractice in office,
unless such person shall be restored
to h rights of citizenship in a manner
prescribed by law.
Sec. 9. That this amendment of the
constitution shall go into effect on the
first day of July, nineteen hundred and
two, if a majority of the votes cast
at the next general election shall be
cast in favor of the suffrage amend
lment.
Sec. II. This amendment to the con-
stitution 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 regula-
ItionS as is provided in the law regulat-
ing general elections in this state, and at
said election hos persons desiring to
vote for such amendment she cast
a written or printed ballot with the
words, For Suffrage Amendment"
thereon; and those opposed a ballot
with the words, Against Suffrage
Amendment" thereon.
Sec. III. The vote cast at said cleo
ton shall be counted, returned and
lcanvassed and the result announced
and declared under the same rules and
regulations and in the same manner,
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, p being notified of the re-
suit of said election, TO certify said
amendment under the seal of the state,
to the secretary of state, who shall en-
lroll said endm so certified