The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-28
The Revived Attempt
To Punish the South.
PAYNE'S MEASURE TO REDUCE SOUTH
ERIN REPRESENTATION.
II was a FayOrite Measure With Him
When He Was Representative fr0m
ulinois-He Now Occupies More
Potential Position and Will
Again Push His Plan.
baltimore Sun.


Congress approaches We again hear
of the plan to reduce the representa-
ton of the Southern States in the
House of Representatives. This was
q favorite measure of MIR. Henry G.
Payne, member of Congress from
Wisconsin, now postmaster general
of the United States. Mr.. Payne
introduced bill to carry out his de-
sign against the South and ardently
urged its passage He was unsuc-
cessful in his attempt and could
scarcely obtain hearing for his ar
guments outside the partisan news
papers. But as member of the
presidents cabinet and enjoying the
reputation of being the political con-
duetor of the administration, he now
occupies more potential position
than he did as member Of congress.
Ii is reported now that Mr.. Payne
says Congress will be expected to en-
act his bill, and without any + ompt-
ing in the Presidents message. If
il should fail to do so, then he thinks
the Republican National Convention,
win take action upon the subject.
The bill to Deprive the Southern
States of a portion of their represen-
satlon in Congress is based upon the
fourteenth amendment to the Fed
eral Constitution, which was ratified
by force of arms in 1855, 1857 and
1883, when the entire South, except
the negro population, was disfran-
chised. Section 2 of that amend
ment provides as follows: "Repre-
ssntatives shall be apportloned among
the several States according to their
respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each State
excluding Indians not taxed. But
when the right to vote at any election
for the choice of the United States
senators representatives in Congress,
Che executive and Judicial officers of
q State, or the members of the legls-
lature thereof, is denied any of the
male inhabitants of such State, being
twenty one years of age and citizens
OF the United States, or in any way
abridged, except for participation in
rebellion or other crime, the basis Of
representation therein shall be re-
dueed in the proportion which the
nnmber of such male citizens shall
ito the whole number OF male
ns twenty one years of age in
State"
rhe fifteenth amendment prohib
fes any denial or sbridgement of the
right to vote on account of race,
color or previous condition of serVi-
tude.
The representation OF the States
in Congress down to the time of the
adoption of the fourteenth amend
ment was spportioned among the
States according to their respective
numbers, which were determined by
adding 10 the whole number of free
persons three.ffths of the slave pop
ulation. In framing or enforcing q
law TO carry out the views OF the
postmaster general there will be many
practical difficulties. Of course the Oh
iect OF the bill is to reach every STATE
in the South, but ostenslbly 1t will be
directed sgainst those whose constltu
tions contain the neutrality-suspicious.
clause That clause is intended te
disfranehise as many negroes as pos
sible without coming in conflict witt
the fifteenth amendment to the Fed
ersl Constitution. If they dlsfran
chised the negro because OF his race
then that provision would be nul
and void and Mr.. Payne's bill wouIt
be unnecessary. All that would b
required would be for the persons s.
unconstitutionslly depr. wed of thel
votes to appeal to the courts. Bu
no one is deprived of his vote on tha
account. The disfranchised peopl
are mainly the illiterates. If all tn
illitersfes were disfranchised, tn
census would be guide to the mum
ber. But all illiterates are not dis
frsnchised, and it is practically in