Will Not Disfranchise Us.

The Republican Party is looking at “the constitutions of the several southern states” that “disfranchise the Negro” to “wipe it off the statute books.”

As the time approaches for the convening of the legislature for the purpose of arranging the mode, manner and date for the holding of the constitutional convention it is becoming plainly evident that somebody is thinking that a mistake has been made.
It was declared to be the purpose of this convention to disfranchise the citizen of color and to engraft this act of disfranchisement in the constitution itself.
But since that time a political landslide has taken place and carried down with it the Democratic Party and its fondest hopes.
The victory was so emphatic and complete that the Republicans have an overwhelming majority in both branches of congress, together with a President of the United States who has never yet failed to respond to the demands of the party managers, who were instrumental in placing him there.
Certain political leaders are now pointing to the constitutions of the several southern states and dwelling upon those instruments which plainly disfranchise the Negro.
This has alarmed all of them as it is evident that the purpose to make operative by congressional action the 14th Amendment of the United States which provides for the reduction of representations in all states where this has been done.
Speaking on this point, the Richmond, Va., Dispatch of the 15th inst., cautiously remarks:
“As we said in our last issue, Congressmen Hay and Swanson […] the belief that success will [..] and any attempt made to reduce representation in the South because of Negro disfranchisement. Indeed, our Washington correspondent is informed that the President will discountenance the movement. At any rate we do not see how Virginia could be touched by any Federal law on that subject. There is nothing in the Virginia Constitution or statutes, which makes any distinction with regard to suffrage on account of race or previous condition of servitude. So in no event would Virginia be affected—except in so far as the discussions in Congress might give warning or be of profit to the Virginia constitutional convention, which will assemble next year.”
What does this mean? This journal has been virtually the official mouthpiece of the Democratic Party of Virginia, in-so-far as it managers represent that organization.
If the Negro disfranchising clause is not in the constitution of Virginia now, and the managers are already pointing to the fact as an argument against the reduction of representation in Virginia, who believes that it will be placed there in the face of the overwhelming Republican majority which confronts the Democratic Party in Congress?
It may be that those states which have changed their constitutions may yet be found making up test cases to prove their own Negro-disfranchising laws unconstitutional or reconvene their constitutional conventions and wipe it off the statute books.
The situation is becoming embarrassing to the politicians and amusing to some of the people.
Affairs are adjusting themselves and as usual, God and right seem to be on the side of the Negro.

“Will Not Disfranchise Us.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1333.