The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-26
lFFICIAL REP0RT OF TIE PROCEEDINGS OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF ALABAMA

after, We cdnuOt StdHu uP aho ecnS away that right without being abused.
 by not only those of the North. put ny men of the South. This is a serious matter with us, 1 tell you, and with honesty and truthfulnesS 1 believe we do no wrong when we take back our
 birth right and when we say to the
 negro as race. you shall not cast your ballot against the policies of your country. The majority the people at home and for whom speak. believe in
 the absolute disfranchisement of the negro as negro. We do not believe in disfranchislng single white vote. We do not say as some of the distinguish
 ed gentlemen on this floor have said
 that a negro at times and certain
 negroes are as good at times or as good as certain white people. This discussion must necessarily be in
 public because the Democratic party refused to have it behind closed doors. I say here without fear of contradic-
 ton that if there is any good in the negro race-such as elevates nation, or elevates his race--I say that good comes from the Caucasian blood that runs in his veins. If, per chance, there IS one--even ten--negroes who have at-
 tained eminence and superiority in InlS country, dDu ONCt hAo AdNCp "sA~ has not one drop of Caucasian or Anglo Saxon blood in his veins, then I say to you the fact that that African has attained eminence, but goes to prove the rule have above laid down. that 1t is the learning and blood of the white man that flows in the veins of negroes, except, possibly an exception, that enables them to become renowned among their own people, or among nations or other races. do not be- lieve with some learned gentlemen who have discussed this matter. that be- cause the negro bore the gun during the Civil War and was subservient to the will of his master. that he, in any sense of the word Is as good as the worst-I don't meal as a criminal-but I mean as, the least. poorest, lowest down white man that I ever knew. l do not believe that the negro can at-
 tain that eminence that will entitle him in any sense to mingle politically or socially on an equality with any white man who was ever born into this great nation. Neither the majority of my people nor myself. believe it, and 1 come from the black belt, I come from that country which was singled out on the floor of this Convention yes terday by one of the delegates to this Convention who was placed in the high position that he now holds by virtue of the black belt. I came from country that has ever been true to the white men of Alabama and so help them. God, they will ever be true in the here after to the white men. There have been insinuations passed on the floor of this house against certain distin- guished men of this Convention. and more particularly against the chairman of this Suffrage Committee, that great thoughts were had far reaching and deep seated, that the mind of the mighty Ceaar was at work, while the balance of this Convention slept, that he conceived. forged the thought con- tained in that suffrage report, for sooth to carry out the intimated low down meanness of our black belt coun-
 try. I defy that. and l defy the man that says such words upon this floor.
 1 say that the purest motives that have ever. been given to men have actuated
 the chairman of this committee and the men of the black belt who helped to frame, and who did frame this ma jority of this suffrage report, How can men get up on the floor of this Con- ventfon and say that there is any hid- den meanness in this report, how can they get on this floor and say that the white men would, by some act of his, or that this Convention lead on by this committee by some act of theirs. defy the white men of the State of Ala bama. I say to you today that if that suffrage report cuts down one negro vote. that the white men of Alabama has just that one negro vote less to contend with than he has at the present time The absurdity of the argument presented itself to me when offered. that could it be thought there was any hidden reason why certain negroes should be allowed to vote if the black belt registered and voted them to the best interest of the State even If it be put that way. White men have noth-
 ing to fear from the black belt. When one single vote is cut off from that black mass of voters, they who have arrayed themselves against the white
 man every year that there has been an election. can you argue that this majority report has a hidden meaning and was framed in viciousnese. that 1t
 will hurt the ignorant white man in this State. Take 1t up and go through
 its provisions one after another and
 you will see that there is nothing there
 but that which the white men of Ala
 bama pledged themselves to do. and only that which the white Democrats of Alabama pledged themselves to do
 when they were making this race for the Constitutional Convention. We said then, that we would not disfran- chise a single white man. We should
 not go back upon the pledges of the
 party to the people. l am reminded of the blind man in the Bible who was yoadA to COG and when asked how he saw. how 1t was done. said, I know not how it was done. but one fact
 do know is that whereas l was blind now I see. If this thing is bad, gen.
 tlemen of the Convention I know not
 whether it be good or whether 1t be
 bad, but the Democratic party pledged itself to this plank in the platform and whereas, they did that, I am for 1t.
 believe We should put ourselves in the position, so that when We go out to
 secure ratification of this Constitution all we will have to do is to set up on the stump and kindly and pleasantly
 begin every speech by saying, men of Alabama, white men of Alabama. we have carried out every pledge that We made you Can you disfrauchise a
 single white man and carry out that pledge? can you disfranchise the
 mining vote of Jefferson County, that
 has not yet registered its citizenship | and say that you have carried out the pledges to your party. Let us be able
 to go forth before. our people in the
 purity of our actions, and do as we said we would do. dis franchise every negro vote that we could under the Constitution of tho United States. and leave the franchise to every white man so he be of gOoC