The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-25
A RESOLUTION AGAINST UNIVERSAL NE.
GRO SUFFRAGE.
A GREAT EVIL To BOTH RACES
The Resolution offered In the Constr.
tutional Convention Demanding Dis
on the Franchfse-It Declares the
Fifteenth Amendment Wrong In
Theory-Not to Claim any Represen.
tatfon In Congress Based on Negro
Population Disfranchfsed
Population Disfranchised.

Richmond. Va, June 20.-The consti-
tutional convention today decided to
hold all Of it's sessions in Richmond.
and with the possible exception Of a
few days recess from time to time,
that the sessions shall be continuous.
The first resolution on the suffrage
question with reference to the propos-
ed new constitution was offered today
by Delegate T. W. Harrison, of Fred
1erick county, and is as follows:
Resolved, That universal suffrage
has been in the past safely and success
fully entrusted to the white race. The
honest white man, whether unlettered
or without property. ought not to be
deprived of the right of suffrage, which
n e has used for the good of the state.
and which it is essential for him to
have to preserve the equilibrium of So
-ciety, so that there may be no favored
class or caste.
Resolved, That it is not race preju-
dice, but actual experience and obser-
walton in this and other southern
states which declares hat universal
negro suffrage has been attended with
great evils to the body polite and to
both races. Wherever the negro has
obtained control of the government, or
C4ClClScu d pOlcHlldl influence IneTell,
tntolerable misgOvernment has been the
result. Even where the negro vote has
been no more than an inconsiderable
factor, corruption and Generalization
have been it's invariable attendant, and
education of the negro has lone moth
ing to improve this condition.
Resolved. That the fifteenth amend
ment of the Unitel States constitution
is wrong in that it proceeds on the
theory that the we races are equally
competent of free government. This
theory is contradicted, not only by the
experience of the south, but by the his
tory of the two races, since the dawn
of history.
This convention. therefore, ought to
inaugurate through the proper chan
nels the proper steps to it's repeal or
amendment, so that each state may
control it's suffrage, as it's best inter-
ests demand.
Resolved, That it is not the purpose
of the state to deny the negro any civil
rights nor to ~disfranchise any negro
who has sufficient freehold estate to
give him a permanent and substantial
interest in the welfare of the state, nor,
if any discrimination is made against
him in the right of suffrage, to claim
any representation in or to
the electoral college based upon negro
population, but ipso facto, to surrender
it until congress shall declare what
additional representation shall be given
to the state to the extent that suffrage
is given the negro."
The resolution was referred to the
committee on suffrage, Ito be named).
Mr.. Thorn, of Norfolk, presented the
following, which he asked to have re-
ferred to the committee on suffrage:
Resolved, That the committee on
the elective franchise, when appointed,
be. and is hereby instructed to consid-
er the advisability of, and if approved.
to and report to this convention
for it's action, a memorial to the con-
gress and people of the United States
in behalf of the repeal of the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States"
The resolution was referred as re-
uuested by Mr.. Thorn.