The age-herald., 1901-08-18


 proportion to the total number of able bodied male citizens If we con1ne the militia to white citizens we will lose 40 per cent. of this appropriation, which Is about $2O,000.
 He said that at Lees suggestion in 1865 the Confederate Congress had passed an act authorizing the enrolment of negroes in the army He spoke of the organiza- tion of a negro regiment during the Span- ish war which saved that number of white men from going. The time might come when we desired to enroll the negro and we ought not to brand him and put him in position where he never could serve as a soldier.
 MT. Sanders of Limestone said the com mittee had discussed this matter sev- eral times and had come to the concluS sion that 1t was unwise to arm an alien race with whom we might come in con hict. He did not think the question of losing a few thousand dollars should in- huence our action
 Other Speeches.
 Governor Oates spoke in favor Of Gov ernor Jones' amendment. He spoke of his experience with the negro soldiers and said that they gave no trouble He spoke of an incident where a negro had oeaten a white man, and deservedly so, said tne Governor. That's Bostonian doctrine, ex- claimed MT. Burns. My devotion to the South and my people is as great as that or
 the gentleman from Dallas, replied Gov- ernor Ontes.
 MT. Spragffins, of Madison, said the ap- propriation by Congress was based on the available strength of the national guard in the State without regard to color. The | committee had thought 1t wise to confiae 1 the militia to white men.
 General Harrison asked@Mr. Spragins if nvnr kaH hux 1fu nrVItt l would not excuse the negroes from mili- 1 tary service. Mir. Spragtns said he l 1t could Referring to the appropriation l he thought 1t better to lose the appropria- | tion allow negroes to become soldiers They might be brigaded together with. white soldierB in encampmentA Asked ni | any Governor had ever ordered them to | be brigaded together, he replied no, bat | some Governor might and we had heard enough on the floor this morning to lead l us to suppose so. .(Applause-) MT. Ashcraft of Lauderdale said if this word white was retained it would arouse every sentimental agitator in the country against the State. We not only had to live among ourselves but tn relations 10 the rest of the country
 It would not hurt us to leave the word
 white out. If put in the negro who is now quiet and indifferent may be agftated and become aroused. Agitators in Congress might bring attention to our militia Coleman Substitute. Judge Coleman of Green offered sub- stitute to provide that the Legislature shall have power to decide who shall con-
 stitute the militia of the State and shall have over to provide for running and regulating the same.
 MT. Burns of Dallas, a member of the committee, said they had made the re- port but had reserved the right to light the report on the floor. Since 1875 the ne- gro had amounted to nothing. We ought not to endanger these appropriations from Washington. It was no use to rely on the Legislatur for appropriations. He concluded by saying he was sorry he had spoken to Gocernor Oates as he did He would also stand on his record dur | ing the war He had killed as many Yankees as they had killed of him (Ap- | plHuse)
 k Judge Cobb of Macon thought the whole | section should be stricken out. n had 1 never been in any of the old coxistitu- | tons prior to the present, and there was
 no necessity for 1t being in this one.
 Governor Jones then asked unanimous accept Judge Coleman's substitute ob- | jection was made
 | MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale said the, pro- vision was constitutional. That the l federal appropriation to each State WAS | based upon the number of senators and representative each State was entitled to- | The States have absolute and sovereign | power except where limited by the federal | Congress. Negro troops have no sense | of honor, no esprit du corps. He referred | to their record for disorder and insub-
 ordination during the Spanish war. The
 whitepeople had always governed the country in times of peace and defended 1rn faf fc lose an appropriation. What of 1t? This
 is our problem and we must deal with it 1 regardless of any foreign opinion l Governor Jones Speaks.
 Governor Jones then spoke again on the Coleman substitute He said that some of
 those who had spoken seemed to think | they possessed all the virtues of the
 white race, and that those who favored
 the amendment did not possess any. | He referred to his record during the
 war and spoke of case where a negro | company had offered to suppress a negro.
 riot Also an incident in Albany, Ga.
 where a negro company had requested
 the honor of acting as escort to Pres- l dent Davis carriage President Davis agreed, and if he thought this proper | it was surely not a matter of reproach to General Aates or himself if they
 wished some consideration for the ne- | gro.
 | MT. Wilson of Clarke asked to amend
 the Coleman substitute by providing that | the Legislature could provide for a naval
 reserve. This was accepted.
 The previous question was ordered, and | an aye and nay vote demanded and or | dered on a motion of Mir. Pettus to table | the amendments Governor Jones, by con-
 sent, withdrew his amendment, and the | Coleman substitute was voted on This motion to table was lost by vote Of l 21 to 75. The section as thus amended was adopted. The remaining sections of the article were adopted without debate They are | the same as in the presnt constitution Other Sections.
 2 The General Assembly. in providing
 for the organization. equipment and disci-
 pline of the militia shall conform as neah. | ly as practicable to the regulations
 the government of the armies Of rhe ' .- | ted States
 8. Each company and regiment snail 1 elect it's own company and regimental of | ficers, but if any company or regiment | shall neglect to elect such officers with
 in the time prescribed by law, they may
 be appointed by the Governor.