The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-23
Aftermath of Election.

Here is Mr.. knoXs article in full:
Since the late presidential election the
southern people have been favored by the
northern press with a great deal of adj
vice. aecompanied in almost every in
stance with assurances of deep interest
in our welfare 1t has been something
like forty years since the civil war ended.
If it is ever to appear at ALL 1t IS time
that some spirit of magnanimity towards
the people of the south should begin TO
assert itself in the north. In the face OF
these kindly expressions and perhaps
well-meant advice comes the proposition
of senator Platt of New York to reduce
the south's representation In Congress-
/ suppose, of course. that his bill Will be
couched in general terms and nominally
apply to all the states, but we Will not
be mislead In interpreting the real object
of the measure.
Purpose of Plat Bill
This measure. no doubt, is framed, I'M
der the provisions of the fourteenth
amendment, as a punishment to those
southern states which have undertaken
Suffrage reform. Most enlightened people
in the north now admit that the adop-
tion of the fifteenth amendment, and the
reconstruction measures coincident there
To- whereby our former slaves were in
vested with the right of suffrage and
placed in the control of the governments
OF all the southern states, and yet many
OF them do not hesitate to condemn in
,nmeasured terms the efforts of these
stctes to relieve themselves, so far as
ttev may in view of the limitations Of
The federal constitution, of the great dis
aster which this mistake inflicted upon
tnem.
Partisan and lmplacable.
But without regard to the partisan and
implacable spirit which inspires this
measure, the inquiry Is pertinent as to
whether the southern states which 1t Is
proposed to punish have, in the new
constitutions which they have adopted,
violated either the fourteenth or fifteenth
amendments of the federal constitution.
~ First, as to the fourteenth amendment.
Mr.. Blaine. in discussing this question,
expresses the view that the adoption OF
the fifteenth amendment seriously mod
fed the effect and potency OF the second
section of the fourteenth amendment-the
only section OF the fourteenth amend
rnent which relates to the reduction of
representation. Under that section a
state could exclude the negro. qua negro,
from the right Of suffrage. If willing to
accept the penalty of the proportional loss
Of representation in Congress which the
exclusion of the colored population from
the basis of apportionment would entail.
He says:
Mr.. BIaine's View.
'.when, therefore. the nation, by sub
seouent change in its constitution. de-
clared that the state shall not exclude
the negro from the right of suffrage. 1t
neutraiized and surrendered the contin-
gent right before held, to exclude him
from the basis of apportionment. Con-
rress is thus plainly deprived by the fif-
feenth amendment of certain powers over
representation in the south which 1t pre-
viously possessed under the provisions Of
the fourteenth amendment Before the
adoption of the fifteenth amendment, II
state should exclude the negro from
suffrage the next step would be for
Congress to exclude the negro from the
basis Of apportionment. After the adop-
ton of the fifteenth amendment. II a
state should exclude the negro from suf-
frage. the next step would be for the
& supreme court to declare that the act
vas unconstitutional, and. therefore, null
and void. The essential and inestimable
value Of the fourteenth amendment still
remains in the three other sections. and
pre-eminently in the first section"
Not an AbrIdgement.
! know OF no southern state which has