380 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE

ized to do so , and therefore , in reach - , we have done in order jo keep the ing the result of our deliberations , un - | negro from exercising the suffrage . controlled and unaffected by hostile l What care I whether the tesi we have criticisms , we are obeying the special put be a new one or an old one ? What mandates and behests of the people of care I whether it be more or less ridic the State of Louisiana . A few days uious or not ? Doesn ' t it ineet tie ago I recollect reading an editorial in case ? Doesn ' t it let th white pai the most persistent and hostile news - vote , and doesn ' t it stop the negro

this Convention has from voting , and isn ' t that what we had , which stated the fact that this came here for ? ( dpause . ) That ' s Convention had shown a most remark | the first restriction placed on our able imperviousness to the criticisms powers . Now the oth r day this same of the press . I took that implied crit - raper , to which I hare already al icism as the highest compliment that luded , referred to the fact that this could be paid to this body : for it has Constitution had posto nel the ging stuck by its colors regardless of any into effect of certain portions which criticism , and adopted a constitution had just been adopted . My fellow which it believes to be the proper one delegates , this is but a continuation for the people of the State of Louisi 1 of the spirit of hostility which has ana . And , my fellow - delegates , I say been evinced toward this convention to you that this Constitution which from the beginning . for they have we are to sign to - night is , in my opin blinded themselves to the fact that 11 ) . ion not only a good constitution , but very act which called us together pio under all the circumstances surround - hibited us from shortening the term ing us . I say to you that I believe it of office of any official whose term is the very best Constitution that we would not have expired prior to the could have adopted . ( Applause . ) general elections in 1900 . Vhat cause Whilst not every line of it has met

of criticism is there . then , if we do my approval , and whilst I have not noi put certain clauses of the Constitu subscribed to everything that is stated tion in effect before i93 ) . As to a in it , I do not believe that if I had

few others , whose terms do not fupire been allowed to draft an instrument . ! before 194 , we have carried out the untrammeled by any of my fellow policy indicated by the act calling us delegaies , I could have framed one together , and have allowed the oficials which , taken as a whole would have to serve out their terms . met the situation to my satisfaction

The difficulties which we have had more perfectly than the instrument

to face have then been , first . That which we are about to sign . ( AJ -

we were not free to deal with the suf plause . ) But I say to you , as George

frage as we desired , by reason of th D . Tillman said to the South Carolina

fifteenth amendment , and , second , We ( ' onvention , when the labors of that were , by the act calling us together , ( ' on vention were criticised : “ We have prohibited from removing itny official not been free ' ' ; we have not drafteil before the year 1900 . the exact ( onstitution that we shouid But , my fellow - delegates , in addjuon like to have drafted ; otherwise WC

to that . I say that the problems which should have inscribed in it , if I know confronted the constitutional Conven the popular sentiment of this State . tions of Mississippi and South Caro universal white manhood suffrage . lina were trifling , when compared winn an i the exclusion from the suffrage 0

those with which we had to deal . Be every man with a trace of African have the most heterogenous population blood in his veins . We could not do of any State in the American Union , that , on account of the fiftain The Southern portion of the State , in amendment to the Constitution of The terested in sugar culture , has drified l ' nited States , and therefore , w did toward Republicanism . because they what has been so well expressed by believe that in that lies protection to the Supreme Court of Mississippi . and the sugar industry of * he State . Whilst what has been referred to approvinsis I differ with them , and whilst I do not by the Supreme Court of the t ' uited think they are correct in their opin Scales in the late case of Wilson is ions , nevertheless we have seen a the State of Mississippi , ' The Supreme trend to the Republican party in the Court of Mississippi . in file ( as of southern part of the State ant to Ratcliffe Vs . Neal , says : " Wilhin the wards the doctrine favoring a protect field of permissible artior , a U : ive tariff . In the northern part of the linitiations imposed by tlie

- " . ! State the cotton planter views the Constitution , the convention stept thie question from an entirely different field of expedients to obstruct the X - standpoint and there we have the ercise cf suffrage by the negr rac free trade Democrat . You have the And the Supreme Court of the Inited Latin races in the southern part of States , in the Wilson ase referring 1 the State , and you have the old Anglo to thai . said that they hall svepi he | Saxon in the northern portion of the field of expedients , but they were per - | State . You have the people in tl missible expedients , and that is what northern part of the State with the