The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-31

The anti-pass resolution and the anu pass resolution has been compromised. l iInpute no unworthy motives to any one. I invite you to consider the facts. What will be the Imitation? have listened and have read in vain to see where. under the plan-I will not call it . scheme any more because it seems to be obnoxious. will call it a plan aud 1 appeal to you now in the last hour that you have a right to consider it--I appeal to you in this hour--tnls moment-before you vote and ask you what remedy you offer under this plan! What remedy is offered under this plan? I say to you that there IS no remedy for the obtaining of honest ana fair elections in Alabama offered un- der th.s plan. I say to you that 1t IS not true that you win ever achieve fair elections under the plan submitted by this committee. say to you that the plan permits of fraud. and any plan that permits of fraud. invites fraud It does not eliminate the ignorant vote. It does not eliminate the negro vote. ask in view of the conditions that confront the people of Alabama. I appeal to you to raise the standard of citizenship so that oniy he who is willing to contribute nus share of the burden shall be able 10
  my belief in manhood suffrage, in or der to meet the peculiar conditions that confront us in Alabama, but they bring us a plan here that would. Tn the course of three or four years, put into the population of Alabama. not all white men. but a very large per cent age of the colored vote, and when the white men shall have divided. as some of the leaders Of this movement have in the past advised them to do, and as many more have hoped they would do. when. I say. the white people in Alabama shall have divided as some of the leaders of this Convention have advised them to do. and as many more have wished they would do, the negro is the balance of power in Alabama.
 MT. Jenkins took the Chair during MT. Lowe's remarks.
 MT. Coleman--I arise to point of order. Under the rules, think the delegates have right to speak to the main question and the gentleman has certainly addressed the Convention on that question before. The question now is upon the amendment offered by the gentleman from Chambers. If the gentleman from Jefferson claims the right to consume the time allowed him he ought to be confined in his remarks under the rules to the amendment.
 The President pro tem-I was not aware of such rule. The gentleman will confine his remarks to the amend ment.
 MT. Lowe--I am delighted to see. am delighted to see that the brave gen. tleman. the Chairman of the Commit tee. from Greene. who is able to stand the punishment. is getting sore. am not speaking for appla lse. The ap- plause comes from the other side. We knew where the majority is. We know that in the making up of this Commit tee twenty-five of the strongest mem- bers Of this Convention were placed upon it, and we know also. that the organization of the Convention itself was against us with all of its power. But now is the last time will have an opportunity to speak in protest to you men before we go to the people. Why. sir, the distinguished President of this Convention said upon the floor the other day that l said that did not wish the ratification of this Con- stitution. He said that l had assailed the Black Belt. I challenge him now to show line or letter in my speech to that effect. and he had evidently studied 1t carefully, because he devot- ed a good deal or attention to me. l challenge him to show where there was a line in my speech that assailed the Black Belt or threatened the ratifica- tion of this Constitution. But he chose to put me in company with that grandest of Americans, in my concep- tion, old Edmund Pettus. I am will ing to live by him. and 1 am willing to die by him. There is no man in this Convention. from the President of the Convention down. who will ever oc- cupy his seat as long as that old man lives. And there is John T. Morgan: he put me in company with John T. Morgan. He will not himself. perhaps. and there is no man on this floor, who will aspire to MOrgan's place as long as Morgan lives.
 The President pro tem-I suggest that the gentleman confine his remarks to the question.
 MT Lowe-If the Chair rules me out of order I will submit, but l will ac- cept no suggestions from the Chair. I will accept the rulings of the Chair. I will warn the President of the Conven- tion that the time comes when every man speaks his own opinion. I am willing to be put in company with those two great old men whose lives measure the history of Alabama and who have contributed their blood on every battlefield where the soldiers of Alabama have gone to the front, and whose public service is recorded in the archives of the nation. And it will not lie in the mouth of newcomer to as- sail either one of them. 1 would not have cared to have been criticized. but dis like to be misrepresented. I tell you, Mir. President, that the people of Ala bama are in revolt against your infa- nous registration system. l tell you that the people of Alabama who for year<- hG've been struggling Tor fair elections and looking forward to this Convention, are in revolt against your good character clause. You may be- lieve 1t or not. l am saying to you now what Was denied the right to say behind closed doors, and the highest duty of q citizen Is to speak the truth in public assemblies. let it hurt who | it may. I do not want to hurt my party, but I want to serve my State, and the threats fall lightly upon me for he who has nothing left to hope has nothing left to gain. The people of Alabama have honored me beyond my deserts and I would be false to them in this hour if I did not speak the truth to you and the truth to them. I am not afraid of the threats that go forth from this Convention.
 MT. President. briefly. in conclusion, l want to say that it would have been . the pleasure of my life to have been in accord with the majority of that committee. would rather have been