Alabama's Effort

An Alabama Senator proposes legislation “to forbid a citizen of color holding office.”

The state of Alabama is now in the throes of a constitutional convention called for the avowed purpose of nullifying the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Senator John T. Morgan, in plain violation of his oath of office came forward with a proposition to forbid a citizen of color holding office. Prof. Booker T. Washington made a plea for the brother in black and it is now an open question as to whether reason will prevail or passion will hold away. For our part, we not disposed to do aught than protest. There is a huge conspiracy against the colored people in this country. The United States Supreme Court is a party to it, for by its decisions it is uprooting principles of the government itself. We may be temporarily injured but it is an evident fact that the white man will yet be permanently disabled. Principles, like God are eternal, and the abuse of them will in time bring its own punishment.

“Alabama's Effort,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed June 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/801.