The age-herald., 1901-07-25


 of the American revolution, or in the war of 1872, or in the war with Mexlco or in any war with the Indians, or Tn the Civil war between the States, or m the land or naval forces of the Confed- crate States. or of the State of Alabama in the war between the States; or
 B. All persons of good character and who understand the duties and obliga- tions of citizenship under a republican form of government.
 Amendments Offered.
 General Sanford of Montgomery moved to amend subdivision one so as to strike out word "civil'' before the word 'war." this was accepted by the committee and adopted.
 MT. Sanford of Pike moved to strike out the words "prior to January l, 1905. He explained that this would make the regis tration plan permanent ins-eld of tempor- ary.
 MT. Dent of Barbour opposed the grand, father clause or subdivisions one and two of the section. He claimed that this provision was unconstitutional as 1t was in conflict with the provisions of the Fed eral constitution. Suppose we had d clause which said that the descendants or all settlers who came from European countries should be electors III Alabama. The effect of this provision would be 10 make only white voters in the State. The clause reported means exactly the same thing-only white people can vote, ana this violates the fifteenth amendment. The negro during these wars was In state of servitude and could not become a soldier. This. is well known and the clause reported shows that he is prevent ed from voting because he was a slave and could not serve in the army.
 This clause under consideration makes a hereditary voting class. Simply be- cause a man is a son of soldier he IS permitted to vote without regard to any other qualification. If you sdopt this clause you should change your bill of rights.
 hr. o'Neal Speaks.
 MT O'Neal of Lauderda.e said the prob lems forced upon rne South by the fcur- teenth and fifteenth amendments were the most momentuous in it's history and one that we must carry alone. It was 10 solve this ploblem that this convention was called. The suffrage committee un- dertook to settle this quest,,1 and We can not afford to fail. We must accomplish the purification of our ballot. No com mittee ever labored more faithfully and the adoption of it's report means an erea of peace and prosperity io the State The right of each state to control its suffrage is older than the cons :,.ur'on--it was never surrendered by it. Had the fifteenth amendment passed as first introduced in Congress the states wouli have been ab- solutely deprived of the light to regulate their suffrage, but thanks to small and heroic minority this proposed scheme was not adopted. Here he read from the oe- bates in Congress to show to what extent +t, ryfS in eyo il, linn iting the powers of the states. The states were not prevented from imposing prop erty qualification on voters because some of the Northern states nud such provis- ions and it was feared that to include these would cause me amendment to be defeated The power 10 regulate and con. trol the suffrage was left 70 the states, except upon three grounds, and the ft- teenth amendment does not furnish an insuperable barrier to the Gisfranchse- ment of the negro. The provisions of tire fourteenth amendment was to prevent any class of citizens from icing singled out for hostile legislation. It's purpose was to establish the citizenship of free ne- groes.
 The provisions of the suffrage plan do not violate the provisions of the four teenth and fifteenth amendment. I do not understand the logic of those who say we can exempt soldiers from the general provisions of the suffrage, and cannot exempt their descendants. We do not at- tempt to disfranchise the negro out of hostility but because the needs of the State demand it. We have tried this ex- pertinent of allowing him to vote. We have drunk to the dregs the bitter cup placed to our lips by Republican ma jority, but the time has now come when we can appeal to the country and truth fully say the negro as a citizen and voter has been a failure.
 When Lee surrendered at Appomattox the South expected the negro would be emancipated. but to give him the ballot was the crime of the nineteenth century A wave of misgovernment followed Judges were elected to the bench who never heard of Kent or Blackstone. The white race, however. will always control and dominate an inferior race, because 1t is the superior and dominant race. It's has been slow, but the negro is as much savage in Africa today as he was in the time of Christ. Thank God, today in the settlement of this ques- tion we have the sympathy of the civiliz- ed world. We propose to settle this ques- tion once and forever. It is a great ques- ton, and can we not sink our personal differences and unitedly try to adopt the best plan? What better plan have the minority to offer? If they have one I will