The times., 1901-06-21
THE NEGRO Vote PROBLEM
Two More Resolutions in Nir-
ginia's Convention.
One Appeals to Congress for Re
peal of the Fifteenth Amendment
"A Proposal TO Change the Qualifi-
cations for Holding State Offices.

| peal of the Fifteenth Amendment
"A Proposal to Change the Qunlifi-
cations for Holding State Offices.
RICHMOND, Va. June 2O.-Two reso-
lutions bearing on negro suffrage We're
introduced in the Constitutional Conven-
tion today one was presented by A. p.
| Thorn, of Norfolk. authorizing the ap-
| pointment of a committee to draft an ap-
peal to the Congress and people of the
| United States, requesting the repeal of
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Consu-
| tuition.
Judge J. W. Harrison presented the
other, setting forth that universal suffrage
of the negro had worked great evils to
| both races: that the Fifteenth Amend
ment is wrong, being based on supposed
| equality, and declaring that it is not the
purpose of the State TO deny to the ne
gro any civil rights, nor to disfranchise
any negro who has sufficient freehold es-
tate to give him permanent and sub
stantial 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 Congress or
the electoral college. based on negro pop
ulation, but, ipso facto, to surrender it
until Congress shall decare what addi-
/
the extent suffrage is given to the negro.
Both resolutions We're referred to the
| Suffrage Committee
1t is stated tonight thatthe object of
the suffrage resolutions introduced by
Judge Harrison and Mr.. Thorn today is
to settle. once for all, and at the out
set of the convention, the question of
negro disfranchisement.
IF the committee reports favorably,"
said Judge Harrison tonight, and the
| convention adopts it, the door will be
| closed to all further talk or speculation
| as to any dsfranchisement of any par
ticuiar race. Then will come up the ques-
tion of what kind of property or educa-
tional qualifications. if any at all, will be
| required. | am of the opinion that no
change viii be made in our present con-
/ stitution, except the payment of a poll tax,
! which is not disqualification, because
any mar can qualify himself to vote by
| simply paying his taxes
! Close akin to Judge Harrison's resolu-
| ton is that of AIr. Thorn, which comedies
that the Fifteenth Amendment stands in
/ the way of any provision in the State
/ constitution that would initiate against
the negro as an elector.
The members of the convention decided
this afternoon by a ma jority vote to con
tinue their work in this city and not
move to any other city in the State on ac-
count of hot weather.
II. D. Flood, of Appomattox. will short
ly introduce for Incorporation into the
new constitution a provision which pro-
hibits negroes from holding State offices.
MIR. Flood is of the opinion that the
only claim of uneonstitutionality viii be
so far as the provision might conflict
with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments, but the United States Su-
prene Court has decided that the rights
privileges, and immunities guaranteed to
citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment
do not embrace the right TO hold office.
The Fifteenth Amendment can, in Mr..
Floods opinion, only be construed as de-
nying to States the right to prescribe
qualifications for Office by implication.
But this implication Will be rebutted by
the fact that the Fifteenth Amendment
as originally prepared prohibited discrim-
inatiOn, not only in voting, but also in the
right to hold office. and the amendment
as thus prepared could not pass Congress
ard did not command the necessary two
thirds of the members of each House un-
Ill the words and to hold office" had
been stricken out
Mr.. Flood has talked with many OF
the leaders in the convention and they
concur with him in the opinion that the
office would be constitutional
The resolution as prepared is as follows:
An ordinance TO provide who shall be
eligible to mold Office under the conStitu-
tion of Virginia:
"AlI white persons entitled to vote, and
no Others, shall be eligible TO any office
under the constitution and laws of Nir-
sinia, except as restricted in The const-
tuition"
The chances are that the constitution
to be framed by the present convention
a a -
county and State officers by the people, |
instead Of having the Legislature elect
judges. Secretary of the Commonwealth,
and State Treasurer. This Is one of the |
subjects which is popular with all classes, |
though in some sections Of the State the
negroes are in the majority, and how to
provide for such cases is a subject which |
is perplexing the members of the con-
VentiOn not q little.
In the consideration of the suffrage
question by the Constitutional Convention
the criminal record of the two races viii |
enter largely into the discussion. Already |
resolutions have been passed requiring the |
county clerks throughout the State to |
furnish all the information that is a mat
ter of record in their respective offices.
Anticipating the needs of the conVen- |
ton in this direction, James b. DOherty, |
Commissioner of Labor over three months |
age inaugurated system Of collecting |
the desired data. He now has ready for |
the Suffrage Committee of the convention |
4 tabulated statement showing the num- !
Der of felonies and misdemeanors com |
mittcd in Virginia during 1900, and the |
work Of collecting this information has |
thus been obviated The convention is |
highly gratifed at the foresight displayed |
~ the Commissioner OF Labor as much |
valuable time has been saved.
During the year the number Of cOnyic- |
tions on felony charges was 2,316. OF |
this number 7lS were white and 1858 col |
ored.
In the records of the misdemeanor cases, |
there were 1857 convictions divided be- |
tween the two races as follows White, !
1885, colOred 1894.
The records show that in Norfolk City |
and county, where the negro population |
is largely in the majority. there were 359 |
convictions for felony and 63i6 were found /
guilty of misdemeanOrs. The number of |
blacks convicted in the county outnumber |
the whites about 20 to !. In the city the |
percentage is about TO /. The record |
shows that nearly One-half Of the convic- |
tiOns for misdemeanors in the entire State |
occurro1 in Norfolk City and county,.