The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-31
sEvENTx-NINTH DAY. :,
 MONTGOMERY. ALA.
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V1e COnV8ntiou NH& ChAhcu to OkoSA by the President, and opened with prayer by the Rev. MT. Marshal as fol- lows:
 O. Lord, our Heavenly Father, we are grateful to Thee for the preeerva- tion of our lives during the night. and that Thou hast brought us unto another day with all its duties and its nrivileses. We come before Thee this morning realizing our needs of Thee and praying that Thou woulst this day give us needed grace and strength. we pray Thy blessings upon the deMoera. lions of this body during this day ana may that which is best for our com monwealth be done here. Bless eacn ana every member; guide us all by rkv Spirit. and Thou who holdest the world in the hollow of Thy hand. give ns of Thy grace and Thy strength. De with us through life, and at last m Heaven save us, we ask Tor Cnrists Mr Parker (Cullman) took the Chair. YTnon a call of the roll ninety-one Aalepates responded to their names.
 Leave of absence was granted to MT. Bulger for today. Y.,,-
 me report of the Committee on Jour, nal was read stating that the Jcurnsi the seventy-seventh ana seveny eighth days Wsfe So'
 MT Cobb-On yesterday I gave notice nf d motion to reconsider section. ! snnpose this would be the time to take 1t up. .x,. ,v,,, Mr conb--r move to reconsider the vote taken yesterday, for the purpose of offering that amendment ana I ask leave to be heard upon my amehomen. before the motion to reconsider ts> >pu. eo that the Convention may understaho what want to do. q. President pro tem-Tne motioh As 'o reconsider what? . :. MT. Cobb-section 3A. Declaration of Flights. But I will be heard after It IS put. - .,.,
 President pro tem-The gentleman from Macon moves to reconsider the vete by which the Article on Deciera- tion and Rights was adopted.
 MT. Cobb-I ask your attention to this matter.
 The amendment was read as followsi In Section 34 of Declaration of Rights amend by striking out the words ssNative born citizens' in line P and inserting provided by law"
 MT. Cobb--r do not propose to detain fhe Convention by any argument on khis matter. In fact I may almost assume that the amendment will not be adopted, but at the same time feel 1t my duty to call attention to this matter because in my opinion, as was said by the distinguished gentleman from Montgomery (Mr. Oates) the other day, it is a matter of very great inn portance. The Article that we have adopted upon this matter goes farther than any State Government ought to go in conferring rights and privileges upon foreign residents.
 This is a matter of importance. The way the matter stands today there Is no distinction whatever between the citizens of the State of Alabama and the foreign residents, and the only dis tinction you will find in the Constitu- ton Is a little provision there that if within a certain time. the foreigner does not take out naturalization papers. he ceases to be entitled to the privilege of suffrage. Otherwise he is on per- feet equality with citizens of the State.
 MT. walker-would not the effect of your amendment amount to striking out this section entirely?
 MT. Cobb.--O, no. Well, perhaps SO. do not know. It would leave 1t to the Legislature.
 Mir walker-It is just one method of striking out the section?
 MT. Cobb-Well, ] think it ought to be in there anyway, but you do no hurt by striking out the section.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-1f your amendment was adopted so that the possession enjoyment and inheritance of property of on-residents is left to the disposal of the Legislature abso- lutely, would there be any foreign capital invested in this country at all?
 Mir. Cobb-I think so, because the Legislature would make provision.
 Mr. Coleman-Just leave it to the will and whim of the Legislature?
 MT. Cobb-I think so. During late years we have extended our ideas about foreign capital. but the way 1t Is now I want to impress upon this Conven- tion that the foreigner and citizen stand upon the same basis as to rights Rhe privileges in the State of Alabama and that in itself is argument enough against the provision as it~stands to- day. There ought to be some induce ment to men to become citizens ot Alabama. What inducement is there s1low with the provision as t is? What does the foreigner care about being a citizen if he has all the rights privileges and immunities of a citizen? It has been the policy or all countries 10 make distinction between a citizen and a foreigner. All civilized countries extend to foreigners certain rights and privileges and We have done it in Ala bama and there isn't a State in the American Union taat doesn't do it. They have the right to hold certain properties and of carrying on business and have the protection of the law but we go a bow shot beyond anything that has ever occurred before. and you put th,A upon an absolute equality with the S.tizen. The suggestion made to me by the distinguished gentleman from Walker and the distinguished gentleman from Greene. would an. swer in this way as0"'
 MT Walker (Madison)-The gentle man from Madison.
 MT. Cobb--I beg Walkers" pardon (Laughter.) You can make further amendments if you please. The only point am driving at is that the rights privileges and immunities granted tt foreigners ought to be restricted. my amendment goes further than yol want 1t to go. amend the amendment and put in such things as you think i ought to have, for instance the right t' hold certain property but the Legisla ture always did give them that. Ther was never a Legislature that would not provide that foreigners might holt a homestead and real estate and othe property. and that did not give them Al the benefits of the laws of Alabama a to carrying on trade and things of tha sort But I insist that you so so ia
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