The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-10
Suggestion To the Constitutional Con
vcntioIi.

NchiAph-
Editor of che Times:
Sir-It must be gratifying indeed 10 an
who desire a wise, full and economical
revision of the organic laws OF our state
TO observe that the people are Sehe1ahS
awakening, to the Importance Oh lhe "p-
uroaching constitutional Convention, anu
are carefully considering the numerous
mighty questions involved rms Is just
as il should i,e-a step, Yes, q long STRIDE,
in m. r:sbt direction Let the work be-
fore us have careful thought and Tree
discussion. And let the. common Peopic,
the Taxpayers, control the selection Oh
delegates TO the convention, ana not me
politicians, and no one neeu leaf .iiS
result
We are continually being INFORMED ps
recosnized party leaders that the main
,,,,nose for which the convention has
l,ee,l called is the elimination of liilterate
negro suffrage. And this is unqueSuon-
.bi, i,-,e. as the worthy gentlemen in
control of our party machinery lauicheu
The convention for this purpose; pul UNI
less all signs Of the times fan. they are
doomed to lose control OF 1helt ee<ioli-
ful boat. as the people are lar more
Interested in economic reforms IN bolh
State and county government than 'hey
are in DISTINGUISHING the negro, ana VIII
in due course of time assert their f1Shts
and assume command of the craft mat
has been so skillfully launched by our
party leaders and pilot the same III the
interest of the Taxpayers anu iioI 'i'
office-SeekerS.
Tho suffrage question would be mate
,sally- changed if we could lawfully dis
franchise the negro, hut this we CANNOT
do We are barred by the nl1eeiliii
amendment to the Federal CONSTITUTIONS
and ] am of the opinion that every re-
,spectable lawyer that views the matter
tod SfD md
the same conclusion am. ho"eNei,
aware that a goodly number OF our pest
LAWYERS claim to entertain different
views but i am constrained 10 beiieEe
that they are either smotherinG theii
honest convictions or their judgment is
influenced and biased by viewing ana
considering the matter from an interested
,,oiut of view BY no artifice or adrcli-
ness can we draft q suffrage law, not IN
conflict with the supreme law, that VIII
disfranchise the negro and not Affect the
white voter; as any suffrage law must
operate equally between the races. Inc
..rrandfather' clause nor the much-com-
1ncated-upon military clause Will sui
fec. AS we all know, The sole OBJ
1ect and intention OF the fifteenth amend
,nent was to prevent the disfranchise-
ment of the negro; and is not the IAN
euarre or words used sufficiently clear 10
convey the accepted Intention
The suffrage question IN nu1-sheil
IS this. We can suspend the negro vote,
but we cannot blot 1t out, ana Is II
wise is il policy for us to do so? We
can do nothing more than stop the negro
from voting until the Supreme Court de-
clares our act unconstitutional. AND as
The Supreme Court Is ever IN sympathy
with the appointing power We car. rest
assured that any act OF ours in restraint
OF negro suffrage Will be reversed when
ever the present non-interference policy
of the Administration in our suffrage
question undergoes change
The manifestations of kindly feelings
towards us at this time of our northern
bro, bren should deceive no one. as the
Same is dictated by policy. They VIII
,,,,.,rcs,ionai,ly ALLOW Us TO solve our
own suffrage problem just as long as it
1. 10 The interest Of the Republican par
~ for them 10 do SO. and no longer. Ihey
do NOT ,,ropcsc 10 aid US in changing the
T9ederaI Constitution so that We can law
fully tsisfranchise the negro On no!
1l.t they are most tsraciousiy ana peneN-
o,en;ly supplying us with all the rope
we desire VIII Nirginians allow them
selves TO become entangled IN Its COILS!
hope not and believe not. 1 am OF the
opinion that the only change we heeu IN
our present suffrage law Is q PROVISION
making the right to vote dependent upon
the payment Of all past due taxes al au-
vance of the nomination OF the canol-
<,a.es to be voted for. A law OF this ma
furs would disfranchise or prevent from
voting about one-haH OF our Aoater vote.
which Is juss the vote we should restrict.
and would tend to purify tho ballot as no
Other proposed measure VIII do. and GER