The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-30

The Fifteenth -Amcnu1neiit VI 'iS
stitution of the United States is as fol-
lows: ,;+o,
!. 1.-The right OF citizens OF the United
states to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any
state on account of race, color or
previous condition OF servitude.'
.rhe Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation. a.
THE negro was made a citizen OF the
I,,i,et States by the Fourteenth Amends
,,1ent of the United States. Constitution,
and the Fifteenth Amendment oeclaIes
that his right to vote shall not be oehiea
or abridged by any State because ne IS
a negro aud if any state snail violate
This Constitutional provision Congress
shall have power TO enforce II NY up
prcpriate legislation.
We hear it frequently asserted that
the purpose in calling the convention
was tc disfranchisc the negro without
affecting the suffrage OF the white man.
How this can be done and Keep within
the Constitution of the United States
* !, problem too abstrusc for my COM
,,,.ohension. No one can deny that under
Tho law The negro is the equal OF the
white man. 1t necessarily 1oioWS -lhaI
II n right is conferred upon white man
from which the negro is excluded, II ut-
stroys this equality. If a negro is dls-
uI,aliitcQ from NOtlijS tSSSAe''N ~ -
literate or a non-Eroperty holder, ana
the illiteratc or non-property holding
white man is allowed to vote. the negro S
equality before the la" is destroyed ell
an illitcrate or non-property hoidihS
white man is clothed with the right 10
vote, lipo1, the ground that he or ms
father was a voter in 1860. or he or his
father was d Confederate soldier, the
equality Of the negro before the law is
ag,i;, destroyed, for the white man only
could vote in 1860 and a white man only
could be a Confederate soldier. 1t IS the
imposition upon the negro OF require
ment to make him a voter which neces-
:a:ilv disouGlfies him and places him
below the white man in political equality.
AS | have said, the Constitution OF the
United States has not conferred the
right Of suffrage upon amy citizen; every
State has supreme control CT TINS qucs-
ton, and can prescribe who snail De
voters and who shall not be voters, but
1T cannot make fish, Of one race or
color and fowl" OF another race or
color.
Chicf-Justice Waite III the case Of the
United States versus Reese and Others
20 to 214, in delivering the unanimous
opinion of the Supreme Court says: II
Cl,e Fifteenth Amendment prevents the
States or United States. from giving pre-
ference to any citizen of the United
States over another Oh <ttCoui1I VI Ae'NS'
color or previous condition Of serVltude.
in the matter of suffrage. He says fur
Their: 1.-The amendment has invested the
citizens of the United States with a new
Constitutional right, which is exemption
from discrimination in the elective fran
chise ON account OF race, color or
previous condition OF servitude.' He
says further: Congress may enforce
this Constitutional provision by 'appro-
pirate legislation Congress has not as
yet, legislated upon the subject, but who
can doubt that it will, should the Viz
sinia Convention undertake to nullify
the Fifteenth Amendment. in direct or
Indirect terms. What will be the
character of that legislation? Who can
tell? That it will be drastic, l am GER
tain, if the Republican party is in power;
that it will be effective, If the Dem
ocritic party is in power. am equally
certain. for every Democratic as well as
Republican representative takes an oatn
to support the Constitution OF the United
States. 1t is impossible to foresee what
action Congress would take. Appro-
pirate legislation, might assume the
form of a force BILL" 1t might send
Federal soldiers into our midst on cleo
ton days and involve us in most serious
troubles. / am no alarmist, but when
breakers are ahead of us, 1t is, at least.
the part of wisdom to stear q dl1tereht
course. Partisan rancOur over the negro
has ceased in the halls OF Congress-, and
sectional strife has virtually ended. VIC
are prospecting here i'll Virginia and cap
ital is flowing into our borders. Surely
we do not desire to check the tide that
has set in our direction by reViving is
sues OF the past which affected our ma-
terial growth and welfare. The whole
sale Acknowledgement Of the negroes. or
the imposition of restrictions upon them
not shared ty other citizens, is not de-
manded by any condition in this State:
The necessities of the dominant political
part, cannot even be pleaded in justiti-
cation, for it is largely ir the ascendency
aud there is no indication that 1t will
not continue in power. might suggest
that striving to better. oft We MAJ
what's we'll IS
In connection with this subject, II
mikft be proper@to refer to the aactzo1