The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-02


 colleague (Mr. Burns) ever since this Convention has assembled and had he not bee1 engaged on affairs of great moment at the time we passed Section 6. the amendment would have been or fered to that section. In the constitu- ency that I represent, after a careful examination of the prohibitions in this Article, it will leave my people in dangerous condition. 1 am afraid to go back to my constituency with the proposition in this plank and l have endeavored to ascertain some reliable information from the Committee on Suffrage without success. l am fairly familiar with the conditions in my county, and the neighboring town of Selma. Educational facilities there Tor the colored people have been unusually good: in many respects, MT. President better than for the white people. The Northern people have done much Tor the negro about Selma. MT. President I consider it my duty to warn this Convention against refusing to put proposition in here that will protect the supremacy of the white people Tn the county that represent. MT. Pres ident, this Is a proposition that Is sound and moral one In England ana in every country from which we trace our civilization it is the law, ana m the Ten Commandments that the sins of the father shall be visited upon their children to the third and fourth gen eration. MT. President barring the soundness and correctness Of the prop osition, and there can be no question of that, it will incidentally remove from active participation In the politics or this State a large and objectionable element. This amendment eliminates one of the most objectionable clements and classes that there is in the Black Belt. In the town of Selma, along the outskirts, in the lanes and alleys. are the matching places of the class l would have elinlinated-yellow bucks around every town, young fellows around every town, Of the most us. reputable class among the people. l would far rather trust the anairs or the State in the hands of the old slaves that we had before the war than to the element that we have about the bar rooms and crap dens of our towns. I am afraid, and solely afraid, that the people of my section Will be afraid to trust themselves under the new regime, if this is allowed to con tinue. If this Constitution is adopted, the people that I represent will have burned the bridges behind them, ana have cut off that which has been thelr salvation, and the salvation of the county that the President comes from, and fhe salvation of the northern counties of this State for twenty five years. We will have to stand Where this Convention puts us. Much has heen said here. and I have gone far for a proposition that has not my per sonal sanction. 1 have supported the grandfather clause, in order that the poor white boys should not be deprived Inf their vote, because I thought that we had promised it, but the members
 of this Convention should not ram down on my people this class running around the towns of our black ben. MT. Hood-Would not your amend ment dIsfranchise some white people in Ala abama? ...-.,... needs answering.
 MT. Hood-Wouldn't ah amendment like that have disfranchised Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln? A Delegate-They are all dead.
 MT. Reese-1 yielded to the gentle- man for an inquiry. not to engage m a controversy with him. It Is or course fact that there are some white men in this State who
 would fall within tie category of this amendment, but, Mfr. President, the talk has been from the hills of North | Alabama as to what the puUr white | boys want and I do not propose to put my people under the hand of negro rule
 because 1t might dsfranchise one or two bastards in the white couhties or Alabama We have none such in my county, we are a moral people, and l say further to North Alabama people,
 you must not have that class of whtt1 citizens. 1 say that if the gentleman from North Alabama will conform to
 the rules of morality adopted in my county they will have no trouble. It
 Is right and proper: While the man
 himself is not responsible. there are others that are responsible. and he
 should bear the burden of his fathers sin, The Committee on "Harmonics can straighten this matter up, and l appeal to the memhers of the Conven- ton to help us out. 1 hope they will
 give me an opportunity to go back and tell my people 1t is to their interest to support the ctiOn of the Convention.
 l nope the people of my section will
 feel that way, and I ask you to give
 me that opportunity.
 Mfr ColemanA1he Eentlen ans au-
 thority that he quoted in justification of his statement. that the sins oi the fathers should be visited upon the th1- II,
 It was @ proverb in Israel that the
 "Fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set "n cage. Jut the Lord declared against the proverb and said. When the son hath
 done that which is right. lie snail ki're- ly live: and that the snn shall not bear the iniquty of the father. (Ezehdl IS chapter.) That Is from the same authority that he cites. We nave
 pledge and have acted up to 't here,
 that no white man shall bc diefran. chisel. It Is well known. and 1t is not
 necessary to call names, that in neighborinR county one nG the rSGlnE citizens who has accdmniate1 large
 fortune lahors under that disability. and there is a promising young attor-
 ney in this State who 5 equally unfor-
 tunate It may ha as the gentleman
 states that there are none of that Kind
 in his county, but 1 must say if there
 are none his neighbo"ing counties
 have been frequent wis ,tu.'s to ills own
 county, if there are any indications in color I move to lay the amendment
 upon the table.
 Upon a vote being taken the amend
 ment was tabled
 Mir Burns-I want to give notice that
 at the proper time I will recons'ce er. The President-The question will be
 upon the adoption of the paragraph ds
 read.
 Upon a vote being taken the para graph was adopted.
 The President-The Secretary will