The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-09
What Constitution Says.

what Gays
1.-THE house of representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every Sec
ond year by the people Of the several
states, and the electors in each state shall
have the qualifications requisite for the
electors in the most numerous branch OF
the state legislature"
The same rule obtains with reference to |
the selection of Presidential electors the
whole question: by the terms of the con-
stitution, being turned over to the states |
each of which was to appoint in such
manner as the legislature thereof may
direct, a number of electors equal to the
whole number of senators and representa-
tives to which the state may be en-
titled in congress-"
The writer you quote, If he be promi-
nent Alabamian, ought to know and must
know, In fact, that the provision of the
Alabama constitution does not discrimin-
ate against the negro on account OF MS
race, color or previous condition OF SER
vitude, within the inhibition of the FIJI
tenth amendment The permanent provi-
sion now in fierce Is, in fact, not different
from that of the state of Massachusetts
in that 1t prescribes that every citizen,
whether white or black. who can read or
write any clause of the federal consti-
tuition In the English language, is en-
titled to vote. The wonder expressed by
the writer Is that the northern states,
In a burst of generosity have allowed
the state of Alabama. as one of the
| southern states to adopt a constitutional
provision not materially different from
J that which has for many years been In
| force in the state of Massachusetts, not
| to speak Of other northern states where
| similar provisions are In forcel
| 1t is unnecessary in this day of enligh-
| tenment to discuss the Importance to
| people of the right to govern themselves
| Our revolutionary fathers separated from
the mother country because of the stamp
| act and an ineonsiderable tax upon tea
| levied by the British government to COM
pei them to bear in part the expense OF
| their own government. 1t was not the
| amount of the tax, but the principle In
| volved which led colony after colony to
resist its payment to the extent first
| of non-commercial intercourse with the
mother country, and, as last recourse,
the adoption of stronger measures.
| Shortly after the war between the
| states Mr. Schurz was sent south inves-
| tigate and report upon conditions here.
| In his report. he was duly shocked to
find that the southern people, after be-
| ing defeated in their effort to withdraw
from the union, and after being compell-
ed by force of arms to resume their place
in the union, were exhibiting a DISPOSE
ton to resume control Of their own af-
| fairsi This evil result, In the opinion OF
Mr. Schurz, az shown In his report can
be prevented only by continuing the con-
troll of the national government In the
| states lately In rebellion, until free la
| Dor is fully developed and firmly estab-
| lished This desirable result may be hast
| ened by a firm declaration on the part OF
the government that national control in
the south will not cease until such results
| are secured
Mr. Schurz, as explained by Mr.. Blaine.
was selected for this particular mission
| because, as Mr.. Blaine states at that
period of a political career consistent only
in the frequency and agility of Its
| changes Mr. Schurz happened to take an
| extreme position on the southern ques-
| tion."
General Grant, on the other hand. who
| was sent south about the same time to
| report as TO conditions prevailing here,
| says:
'The citizens of the southern states are
| anxious to return to seif-goyernment
| within the union as soon as possible;
that during the process of reconstruc-
ton they want and require protection
from the government that they are
in earnest and wishing to do what they
think is required by the government not
! humiliating to them as citizens and
| that 'if such a course were pointed out,
they would pursue 1t in good faith
."rhe questions" continued General
Grant. heretofore dividing the people or
the two sections, slavery and the right
of secession, the southern men regard as
| having been settled forever by the trib-
| unal of arms l was pleased to learn
from the reading men whom | met that
they not only accepted the decision as