The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-31

dier that you should extend an equal benefaction to the man who deserted his colors? I will answer the gentle mans question now.
 MT. willett-Will the gentleman not admit that 1t is an his torical fact that when General Lee evacuated Richmond, that the Vir- ginians, who had made the best sol tiiers in the Confederacy. deserted the ranks. because they defended Virginia and went home to their families. and if Virginian should come into Ala bafna, who fought up to the evacuation of Richmond. would nos this amend ment of yours disQualify him as a voter in Alabama?
 Mir. Oates-Yes. I presume 1t would, and I will never. during the time have to live. give my vote to extend such a benefact'yn as this to any man who deserted his colors in the hour of trial. (Applause.)
 No man honors more than do, the true soldier. and. sir. especially those men who when the great brain Of Rob- ert E. Lee could plan no more. when Johnston's cunning could give no fur ther hope. and there was nothing that could avert the surrender, nothing whatever, except omnipotence, yet there were bands of these soldiers. rag ged ard dirty and living upon half ra- tions.. the heroes of an hundred bat ties. who were still ready to fight and to die for Dixie. and even when Gen eral Lee surrendered seventeen thou sand muskets surrounded by two hun dred thousand men, even then, many of these old heroes shed tears because the great Lee had seen it was neces- sary to surrender. for they preferred to fight on to the death. Now 1t IS impossible for me to describe in fit ting terms such heroes as those. Gen tlemen. there are many hard cases. l admit. but men who deserted their colors are not esteemed and honored by the.- government. Tn ose of the Federal army are never given pensions nor are their widows or their children pensioned. How is 1t here in Ala bama? Have you upon 'our pension rolls down here a single deserter? Why the very law of the State of Alabama requires proof that a man served faith fully through, and if Virginian. or any other man, saw proper to desert his colors. let him take the conse- quences. I want to see this amend ment adopted. even though in its op- eration it will not exclude any. If knew 1t would not exclude a man. yet
 
 record so as to show that in extending this benefaction to the soldiers, we mean real soldiers. honorable men. who were devoted to their country and who fought all the way through. Now I will mention another case which I saw proper to mention to the | Committee, when offered this amend | ment in Committee. Take the case of one man who belonged to my own com pany. who fought for three years, as | bravely as any man ever did. I had personal cognizance of the fact that he served well and faithfully, and was never wanting in anything. He was | not a coward, ne was a brave man. | and he deserted and went to the ene- | my; and when saw him again he was | in a blue uniform. and belonged to the | First Florida cavalry regiment, and was fighting on that side. Now, it | cannot be said, under the language of | this provision, that he did not serve honorably in the Confederate army, |, for he did for three years. (The gavel | sell.)
 do not want to detain the Conven- I tion. but l would like to say few more words. I will content myself MT. Reese-I move that the gentle mans time be extended.
 The President-Does the gentleman move that the Convention remain in session?
 l There were expressions of dissent. MT. Oates-I will be content, sir, tc introduce as a part of my remarks | and not even ask the Convention that they be read, but that they be printed as part of my remarks, some conclu sions which I wrote down last nigh as to my position in regard to thi. | ff4P f- .,,A clusions that reflects on anybody, bu they are complimentary to a gooC many.
 The matter being submitted to tn, Convention. leave was given for tn, remarks to be included in the officia report. as follows:
 First-The Convention was called fo the purpose of reforming the suffrag, and thus to secure honest elections Does any delegate deny this proposi tiop? All concede this premise.
 /Second-The only way to accomplish this purpose, which is a laudable one is by disfranchising some who are nov voters-the densely ignorant and cor rupt.
 Third-But the majority of the Com mittee on Franchise and Elections sa,
 that they are tied down by the plat
 form so that no white man shall b
 disfranohised and this they will strict
 ly obey. therefore, the conclusion
 inevitable that this Convention will dis
 franchise none but negroes.
 Fourth-We all took an oath to sup
 port the Constitution of the Unite
 States which says that no State shal
 disfranchise any man because he is
 negro; which then will you observe an
 keep your oath or the platform? I in
 tend to keep my oath. Every man 1
 the keeper of his own conscience
 There is no way to obey literally bot
 the oath and the platform, and where
 in either must yield, with me 1t is tn
 platform-not my oath. for that is sa
 cred.
 The nearest we can conform to tn
 requirements of both is to fairly appl
 the same tests to both races. No com
 plaint would be heard from any negr
 or the friend of any negro to sue
 tests. Would any white man complai
 of 1t as unfair or shrink from a com
 parison of his qualification and fitnes
 to vote with those of a negro? AppI , the same tests of qualification and fit
 ness and some white men would b
 disfranchised and this would not b
 unjust but consistent with it, for som
 white men. I am sorry to say are utter
 ly wanting in character and fitness fo
 the exercise of the trust which is con
 fided to voter. l am glad to sa that there are few of them compare with the negroes.
 Under fair test, applied alike t
 each race, not more than one-fourt
 of the negroes Wolld vote, while nc |