The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-26
FIFTY-FouRTH DAY.
 MONTGOMERY, ALA,
Thursday. July 25. ly0

Thursday, July 20, l90l-
 The Convention met pursuant to ad- 6ournment, was called to order by the President, and opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. A. L. Andrews. as follows;
 O Lord, our Heavenly Father. we pray that Thy blessings may rest up- on us, and that Thou will prepare and fit us for the duties of this day. We beseech Thee. O Lord, to forgive our sins. cleanse us in the blood of Christ. our Lord. and grant that each of us may feel in our hearts the presence or Thy Holy Spirit. and that we may have that divine help without which we can do nothing. O Lord. help Thy servant here. we pray. the presiding officer of this Convention: help each one of these delegates. May the Lord take all that is done today. and may the work that is done redound to ms glcry. and to the good of our people. We pray Thy blessings upon them, Our Father. and wilt Thou bless all for whom we should pray. Bless the peo- ple of our land and country: bless those especially of our commonwealth. and may the Lord smile in favor upon our beloved State. and may peace and plenty be showered upon us abundant ly. Bless the people in the humble walks of life. that they may honor and serve God in all their ways. Bless us. O Lord; forgive our sins; help us in our work today. and when it Is ended may none of us have any cause to regret anything we have said or done. Btess, o Lord, these delegates; nelp them. we pray Thee. in the responsible work up- on which they are now engaged. May they do that work faithfully, and well. and. O may they as upright men he not only the representatives Of the people, but may they be worthy or the emulation of those they represent. Grant that they may be pure and holy in their lives. and may the Lord ne with them; may He bless them: may He bless their loved ones at home and keep them under the shadow of His wing. Lead and guide and preserve us through life. and when it Is Thy will that we live no longer, In Heaven save and crown us. for Christ's sake. Amen.
 Upon the call of the roll los delegates responded to their names.
 The report of the Committee on the Journal was read. stating that the Journal for the fifty-third day had been examined and found correct. and the same was adopted.
 The roll of delegates was called for the introduction of ordinances. resolu- tions. etc.
 Leaves of absence were granted as follows: To MT. Palmer of Washing ton. account of sickness in family
 , MT Mcdonald for today. To MT. Stewart for today.
 The President-The question is upon the adoption of the minority report to Section 4. pending amendment by MT, Sanford. Is the convention ready for the question?
 Mr. Williams (Marengo)-Mr. Prest- dent and delegates. if I am not out of order I would like to submit a few re- marks on this question and possibly the only question on which there has been leaders. and in deference to this leadership if I am out of order, if some one else has not set speech for this particular time I will submit my re- marks now. Of those who have spoken on this question heretofore. I do not think any one of them can trace their birth back to a time since what is called that direful and sorrowful time of the South, the surrender" Ithink 1t Is time. Mir. President, that one of the younger generation, that one of those who has nursed the breast. not of a slave. but of one who had been a slave. since the war. thatl-we- -1shouid make known to this country the posi- tion of the younger men of the South OH tHG QuGSllOH OI dSCs anu VI tNc negro. With all due deference, and with the greatest regard and utmost respect to those of the older delegates who have spoken on this serious ques- fion. I desire to say that we of the younger generation have more at stake than these older men have-more to learn and live for, than these elder men who will soon pass over the river, The older ones have not the fear of the future generation before them, except that they would plant the seed which may germinate and grow into living lasting fruit. that they do for us and our and their future generations, some thing for good or for bad. I concede that these men are now attempting wisely contending among themselves for the future good or bad, not only oi the individual members. but of the col lective members of this, a sovereign State and the concern of the great hereafter for the young citizenship that these older men cannot help, but come here and do us honor. It is not with out grave and serious doubts that I aIr persuaded that some short message should be delivered to this Convention by one of these younger men and one who has never known slavery. l near slavery as 1t existed prior to the war because so far as I am concerned. and we of the younger generation. we have known but one slavery, and that - slaves to the negro vote. and when say this I mean 1t in its fullest and deepest sense. for if there ever was a set of people who have been slaves, il has been our Southern peoplo-slaves to the votes of a degraded race: slaves to the votes of an unprogressive race slaves to the slaves of our own fathers the hardest task masters that ever drew the blood of life from Quiverine nation. Not slaves in a physical sense indeed but even worse. for while we of the Caucasian race are held respon- nible for the policy and politics of thi: country, yet those of the North. nn understanding that they have throwr upon us a Vote-a vote that is harder to bear than the lash of the cruel task master they hold us to account for tho progress and the rectitude ot this. oul Southern country. When you. Mir. Pres ident and delegates. know that you uol none of us are responsible for this dire ful state of affairs. nor have we beer for a generation. We now come to say to our people that we favor to its full est extent the granddaddy clause of tho majority report, we do it because wG believe earnestly and truly that whicf future generations will see. that 1t i' to the very best interest and the bes policy of this country. What has bull up the solid South till 1t stands like { stone wall? What has made us her. of the South but of one mind and on' idea. why is it that we are not allowed to go to the ballot box and there de posit our ballots, as we believe in jus flee and in truth is for the best inter