The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-10
KITCH|N SPEAKS ON
REINFORCEMENT
Our Amendment and the Laws
of Massachusetts.
THE DEMANDS SIMILAR
Who Qualify to Vote There May
Qualify Here.
cRUMpAcKERs INTENSE sEcrIoNALsM
The Amendment Doesn't Deny the Negro the
Right 10 Vote But Insists That He Must
Qualify For the Enjoyment
Of the Suffrage.
Especial to the News and observer.)

Especial to the News and Observer)
Washington, Jan. Representative
Kitchin made strong speech on the
Reapportionment Bill in which North Car
DINA is interested. He was in good voice
and having studied the question was
we'll prepared to answer the attacks
made on the recent constitutional amend
ment adopted by North Carolina. He was
frequently interrupted by applause and
at the conclusion Of his remarks he wa
warmly congratulated. Among other
things he said: c
Il shall content myself with voting for
the pending bill. ! shall first vote to
strike out the amendment offered by the
committee, because i believe that Con-
sress has no power to direct the States
as to the manner in which they shall di-
vide their districts.
The Constitution says that the Repre-
seatatives shall be apportioned among
the several States. After the States re-
celye this superintendent in my judgment,
the powers of Congress are at an end.
Congress should not go into the States
aud direct the creation of the districts
u.
Kluttz), member of the Census Com
m.ttee. with his usual ability and dill
gence, has fairly and fully considered
the pending measures, and his conclusion
meets my approval.
But Mr. Speaker, not only are the
BLTleigh substitute and the majority bill
pending but the Crumpacker bill to re-
duee representation in certain States is
also before this House. Since the gentle
man from North Carolina, Mr.. Linney,
the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Crum-
packer, and the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, Mr.. Olmstead, seem disposed to
push this proposition to the front, think
it proper that it should be met at this
time.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
''As is well known to this House, imme-
diately after the war, when the Four
teenth Amendment was adopted. it had in
view negro suffrage. 1t held forth an
inducement to the States to grant it.
That inducement is found in this Four
t5enth Amendment, in the fourth sec
ton, and a penalty was placed upon
these States that denied the right of suf-
frage to the negro race. 1t is well known
that President Lincoln never wanted ne
groes to become voters. He recognized
that the white race is superior to the
back one, and, as he said in his speech
at Charlestown, the two races could not
live upon terms Of equality, that there
were physical differences which would
prevent them from so living, and since
that was fact he declared himself in
favor of assigning the superior position
to the white race. That view was not
altogether obliterated when the Four
teenth Amendment was adopted. But in
those days of reconstruction, and in fact
arising from hostility to the white peo-
pie of the South, the opinion grew that
they should force negro suffrage upon
the people of the eleven Southern States
and SO the Fifteenth Amendment was
adopted. Its adoption was compelled
throughout the South by means that
cannot now be approved by honest men,
while great States in the North were
voting their disapproval Of it. Without
the compulsory and vicious means used
in the South it would not have been
adopted. However, as Mr.. Boutwell,, who
had charge of this amendment while