The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-17
UNDO THE BAD Is THE DUTY OF
PATRIOTISM.

1t is a matter of no surprise that so
conservative, honest and faithful a
State as North Carolina was before
the great war. in the great war, and
Immediately following peace, should
be opposed to the wicked. vengeful
Howard amendment TO which the Mes
senger lately called attention based
upon Cod. j. T. Morehead's most ON
elusive and admirable answer to Jeter
Pritchard's petty spite and ntens ig-
norance. Among other things in hat
amendment it was provided that the
States rejecting the infamy should be
punished by having representation in
the Federal House reduced. Col. More
head says:
The next section provided for the
exclusion from the polls and from the
right to hold office tens of thousands
of the best men in the southern states.
The people of this state las above
stated We had no defined political par
ties them having had submitted to
them, as a state in the Union, as was
and is provided and required by the
United States Constitution, to express
their opinion, refused to ratify on the
4th of December, 1866"
All the northern states were not sat
fsfied with the Infamous amendment.
Even New York waxed ~'sorrowful
and recanted from it's faith as at first
expressed. 1t required three-fourths
of the states to ratify. Of those first
voting for it, Delaware. New Jersey,
Ohio and Kentucky did not stand by
it finally. Some failed to ratify
others withdrew finally their consent.
We quote again Col. Morehead's
words:
After negro suffrage "a forced
upon it by bayonets-not by civil law
many white people being excluded
from voting, North Carolina voted TO
ratify in 1868.
Senator Pritchard is correct-and
/ hin he is in this particuar-the 18th
amendment was added to the Consti-
tuition out of spite TO humiliate the
southern states, and stamped the orig
inators and instigatorS of it with ever
lasting infamy. But We must remem-
Der that the soldier element of the
United States had not then its repre-
sentative in Congress.
The fifteenth amendment was adopt
ed in March 1870. 1t supplemented the
14th and New York even It's
consent it had given. The radical lead
ers in North Carolina have done al
that they could do to distort, twist
turn wrong side out the proposed
amendment to the North Carolina con
stitution. They have left no stone un'
turned, and have tried with exceeding
industry and some thing Of positive
ingenuity. If the ignorant,
art of the voters can be deceived ano
influenced for evil by such methods
there will be no little unfortunate
voting il August. But is 1t possible
that some illiterate whites are to be
hoodwinked and misled by designing,
tricksters and ignorant knaves? Col
Norehead contributes these para
oranhs to the discussion which we
gladly copy here:
1T will be observed that the pro
posed amendment 10 our Seate Soh S
tntion does not conflict with lne NJ
teenth amendment as Il does not pro.
vide for the device or aoridsenlslt VI
the right to vote on account 80
or color and though its admlIUteu pua
nose is to eliminate the unIettereu n
groes and at the same time 70 go 80.
the unlettered whites. Stll tue n
ted States Supreme Court mas fecen