The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-13

list, 1899, the same being CnapteF w."
hundred and eighteen OF the public
laws OF 1899.
The General Assembly Of North Caro-
lima do enact:
Section /. That chapter els. public
laws OF 1899. entitled. An act % amend
the constitution OF North Carolina"
be amended so as 10 make said act
read as follows:
THAT article VI OF the constitution
OF North Carolina be. and the same is
hereby abragated. and in lieu thereof
shall be substituted the following ar
ticIe. OF said constitution. as an entire
and indivisible plan OF suffrage.
ARTICLE VI.
SUFFRAGE AND ELIGIBILITY TO
OFFICE.
Section /. Every male person born
in the United States, and every male
person who has been naturalized.
twenty-one years OF age. and possess
ing the qualifications set out IN TINS
article. shall be entitled TO vote at any
election blythe people in the state. eS-
cept as herein otherwise provided.
Sec. >. He shall have resided In the
NoN "a
IN the county six months, and in the
precinct, ward or other election district
In which he offers 10 vote. o months
EexS preceding the election. Provided.
That Eemoval fronn one precinct, ward
Or ether election district TO another in
the same county. shall MOI operate 10
deprive any person OF the right 10 vote
in the precinct. ward or other election
district from which he has
until four months after such
No person who mas been convicted. or
who has confessed his guilt in open
court upon Indictment OF any crime the
punishment of which now Is. or may
hereafter be, Imprisonment in the
states prison, shall be permitted To
vote, unless said person shall be first
restored TO citizenship in the manner
| prescribed by law.
Sec. 8. Every person Offering to
vote shall be at the time a legally reg
| istered voter as herein prescribed
and in rhe manner hereafter 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
self for registration shall be able to
read and write any section OF the con-
stitution in the English language; and,
before he shall be entitled To vote. he
shall have paid on or before first day
of May of the year in which he pro-
poses TO vote his poll tax for the pre-
viouS year as prescribed by article D,
section /. of the constitution. But no
male person who was, IN January J.,
1867. or at any time prior thereto. en-
| titled to vote under the laws of any
state in the United States wherein he
then resided, and no lineal descendant
of any such person shall be denied the
right TO register and vote at any cleo
ton in this state by reason of his fall
ure to possess the educational quali1-
cation herein prescribed. provided he
shall a registered in accordance
with the terms of this section prior TO
December !, 1908. The general assem-
bly, shall provide for registration Il all
persons entitled to vote without the ed
ucational qualifications herein pre-
scribed. and shall on or before Novem-
Der !, 1908, provide for the making of a
permanent record Of such registration,
and all persons so registered shall for
ever thereafter nave the right to vote
in 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 AZ above
required.
Sec. 5. That his amendment 10 the
constitution is presented and adopted
as one indivisible plan for the regula-
ton of the suffrage with the intent
and purpose TO so connect the differ
ent parts and TO make them so depen-
dent upon each other that the who'll
shall stand or fall together.
Sec. 6. All elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by
the general assembly shall be viva
voce.
Sec. 7. Every voter in North Caro-
lima, except as in this article ~disqual-
flied, shall be eligible to office. but be
fore entering upon the duties Of the
office he shall take and subscribe the
following oath:
I-. do solemnIy swear
Cor affirm hat / 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 / will
faithfully discharge the duties OF my
office as So help me
God"
Sec. s. Tie following classes OF per
sons shall be disqualified for office:
First, all persons who shall 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
prisonment in the pe~nitentiary. since
becoming citizens Of the United States,
or OF corruption or malpractice in Office,
unless such person shall be restored
10 the rights of citizenship in a manner
prescribed by law.
Sec. 9. hat this amendment of the
constitution shall go into effect on the
first day OF July, nineteen hundred and
two, II a majority of the votes cast
at the next general election h be
cast in favor OF the suffrage amend
ment.
Sec. II. This amendment to the con-
sttution 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 reguIa-
lions as Is provided in the Law regulat-
ing general elections in this state, and
at said election those persons desiring
TO vote for such amendment shall cast
a written or printed ballot with the
words, For Suffrage Amendment"
thereon: and those with a contrary
opinion shall asst a written or printed
ballot with the words. Against Suf-
frage Amendment" thereon.
Sec. III. The votes cast at said cleo
ton shall he counted, compared, return