Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-03-27
THURSDAY. MARCH 81. 1902.
REDUCING sOuTH's REPRESENTATION

Just as we apprehended, and rs we
predicted many times, there is going to
be made an effort to reduce the representa-.
ton of certain Southern states in Congress
and in the Electoral College. This is to
be done undekthe provisions of the Four
vun.. tessshh. Amend Lent to the Constitution OF
Z s. btates. To that end Mr..
+ has introduced resolution
of Representatives for the
Al of a committee with author
tgate and report any viola
e said amendment to the Con-
This resolution was referred to
'er committee and that committee
led to report the resolution to the
n This has raised storm of indig-
from Southern politicians ard the
Fatic press.
provisions of the Fourteenth Amend
ire as follows:
ID when the right to vote at any
OH for the choice of the electors for
Il Dent and Vice President of the
Il ed States, representatives. in Congress,
Executive and judicial officers of a
HE, or the members of the Legislature
reof, is denied to any of the male in
- (bitants Of such state, being twenty-one
eare of age, and citizens of the United
tates, or in any way abridged, except fol
participation in rebellion or other crime,
}he b. sis of representation therein shall be
reduced in the proportion which the num-
Der of male citizens shall bear to the
whole number of male citizens twenty-one
~ years of age in such state"
"a This is very positive and plain provis-
"A ion of the Federal Constitution; and lts en-
forcement Is as obligatory as any other
provision of the instrument. When the
a members of Congress take an oath to
support and defend the Constitution and
Laws of the United States, it is as much
their solemn duty to keep that oath as to
this requirement as it is to any other Of
the Constitution. We do not undertake
to pass upon the wisdom or justice of the
provision; but it is there, and when an
oath is taken to defend it there can be
no doubt as to what mans duty becomes
in the premises
The Richmond Times complains of the
Clumpacker resolution, and claims that it
is aimed primarily at the South. This is
a tacit admission that the Fourteenth
Amendment is not being violated any.
where. except at the South. If it is being
violated here, is Congress doing its sworn
duty ifit fails to investigate and enforce
the Constitution? But the Times also
warns the Constitutional Convention to be
careful in framing the new outrage law so
as not violate the Constitution of the
United States This is equivalent to ad-
hitting that such violation would be a
wrong that should be punished.
The Richmond News takes a different
view of the situation; and advises the
Constitutional Convention TO disregard
the Crumpacker resolution absolutely and
to proceed with its work of DISTINGUISHING
the negroes-taking the result, reduc-
ton of Congressional representation from
Virginia. This is the fair view to take Of
the question. The Fourteenth Amend
ment seems to leave the power with the
states to abridge the right of suffrage, but
Gays that when 1t is done there shall be
no representation based upon the dis
franchised electorate Will any man say
that this is not just provision?