Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-08-30
The LOUISIANA
CONSTITUTION
Important Decision of
The Court.

| 'nO 'oiuiey VI Tue |
suffrage clause of the Louisiana
constitution. The case was brought
by David Jordon Rysnes against
jeremiah NJ. Gleason; State uper-
visor of registration of voters for
the city of New Orleans. The suit
was to compel the supervisor TO
grant registration to the plaintiff,
who claimed the right to vote in
the public elections of this State by
virtue of Amendment XIV of the
federal constitution, but acknOwl-
edges that he did not possess any
of the qualifications required for
the registration of voters in the
Louisiana State convention.
These qualifications, as set
forth in Article 1877 of the consti-
tuition Of Louisann, are that the
citizen must be able to read and
write [Section 81; or that being IL
literate, he must own taxable prop
erty to the amount,of $500 [Section
or that nc must have possessed
the right to voto on January 1sU,
1867, in some State in the Union,
or that he is son or grandson of
such person so possessed lSection
l 81.
The plaintiff admitted that he
could not read or write; that he did
nol own property TO the amount of
5000, and that he did not possess
the right TO vote on January 1st,
1867, nor was he a son or grandson
J, of any such person possessing such
, right, but lie claimed the right TO
a register under ihe provisions of the
federal constitution, Amendment
6 XIV, and upon this basis he asked
for writ of mandamus to compel
the supervisors to accord him reg
istration.
The court held that suffrage
is a privilege franchise or trust
. conferred by the State upon its
citizens who may be deemed wor-
. thy, their worth being declared by
Is their possessions Of certain quail
If ficatIons.
8 The court also held that Amend
u ment XIV of the national constitu.
- tion does not confer any privileges
v upon citizens, but only protecti
d negroes frem injurious discrimila
s, ton OH account Of race, color oil
y previous conditions of slavery,
:; n The court held that the States
IN have the right TO Tx their owl
xt qualifications for the granting o
is the suffrage franchise, and are no
80 restrained Jherefrom, provide,
a those qualifications do not discrim
IN inate against the negroes who ar
protected by Amendment XIV {
of the national constitution.
The court held that the e&uca
ce tional and property qualification
ch Of the Louisiana constitution
Die not discriminate against the NJ
Is. groes, and, therefore, do not cor
travene the federal constitution
but the intimatiOn was at lea
suggested that such charge migl
lid be alleged against Section of Il
q >, State constitution, known as I'll
NV grandfather clause.
on 1t was held 10y the court tbs
re- even should the grandfather clau
at be constitutionally defective,
Ice. could be annulled without affectiI
the other provisions of the Sta
constitu lion.
Therefore, the plaintiffs pray
,eld was dismissed and his applicati
ext for a mandamus to secure his n
md. istration denied. 1t will be Sc
has from the above statement that (
eet- most interesting question involv'
of the validity of the grandfatl
Iuct clause, was neither affirmed l
denied by the court, though so
doub: Was thrown on the constit
rionality of that clause Of the s.
'o'e frsge provision. The plaintiff v
NC clearly not entitled to rsgistrati
Onoy because he did not possess
nao educational or property qualif
ruor tions required, and this was sufi
ent ground for denying