Constitutions--U.S. states

The editorial writer claims that northern newspapers have not presented an accurate account of suffrage in the South. The article discusses how the requirements for voting registration will “disfranchise only the ignorant and the thriftless negroes.” The author notes that there may be some areas where black citizens meeting these qualifications are still refused the vote. He argues that “the remedy for this condition…is not the repeal of the Constitution, but the just and equable enforcement of the Constitution.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-12

Creator(s)

Unknown

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt about a variety of telegrams he has received pertaining to current issues, such as the trial in Idaho concerning Senator William Edgar Borah, the work of Special Assistant U.S. District Attorney Grace Humiston (Mrs. Quackenbos), and a revised constitution for the Territory of Oklahoma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-10

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

President Roosevelt watches from Washington, D.C., as a man labeled “Oklahoma” rides the “statehood” goat. An American eagle cries, “Hold fast!” On the ground are papers: “laws” and “Constitution.” Caption: Not quite, but almost.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-30

Attorney General Moody discusses new state constitutions passed in some southern states designed to keep African Americans from having the right to vote. Moody declares that under the Fifteenth Amendment these new laws are unconstitutional. He calls for change so that African Americans are treated equally under the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-05

Creator(s)

Moody, William H. (William Henry), 1853-1917

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary thanks the employees of the Patriot Book Company for sending Roosevelt a copy of The Constitution and its Framers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-10

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes to the Board of Directors of the New York County Lawyers’ Association regarding a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would provide that no court or judge shall hereafter declare any legislative enactment unconstitutional. Roosevelt discusses the history of this power, and finds the proposed amendment to have troubling implications, but argues for a possible solution to its problems. Roosevelt quotes from Professor Thayer’s book Life of Marshall to support his arguments. Roosevelt’s main argument is that the limitations on the legislative branch of government must be more precisely defined, and some body of government must be able to give the legislature authority to act above its limitations in case of emergency, but that the courts may not be the best body for this, since this draws them necessarily into political partisanship. Roosevelt proposes instead a Constitutional Council composed of ex-judges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks H. B. Munro, Harvard government professor, and will send his letter to Archibald “Archie” Roosevelt. Focusing on the Constitution is best, but items on the examination confused Roosevelt and Archie. He admits they did not review state matters, such as forming state constitutions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt says that Henry L. Stimson’s recent letter was very nice. Roosevelt sympathizes with the part of the New York state constitution discussed at the 1915 constitutional convention for which Stimson was responsible and agrees with him on the principles for which he stood. There are also several other issues that Roosevelt has with the proposed constitution. Roosevelt enjoyed seeing Stimson and Robert Bacon and relates that Stimson’s father, Dr. Lewis Atterbury Stimson, came to visit Roosevelt the next day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt tells Reverend Rainsford that he has been so busy with other matters he has not had time to go into state matters like the Constitution for the state of New York. He invites Rainsford to visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt is pleased with the conclusion Attorney General Bonaparte came to and appreciates his advice. Roosevelt suggests edits for Bonaparte’s letter and memorandum addressed to William H. Murray on the Oklahoma constitution matter. This exchange is likely related to objections Roosevelt had to segregationist and racist clauses in the new state constitution. In a post script, Roosevelt mentions an editorial that advises similar action to that which Bonaparte advised in connection with Assistant Attorney General James Clark McReynolds and tobacco antitrust cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt instructs Attorney General Bonaparte to initiate lawsuits to remedy the actions of former New Mexico Governors Miguel Antonio Otero and Herbert J. Hagerman. He asks Bonaparte to consider having a speech made to explain what is wrong with the proposed Oklahoma constitution. In the postscript, Roosevelt asks Bonaparte if they could visit about how to approach anti-trust cases involving railroad companies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt informs Attorney General Bonaparte that Oklahoma Governor Frank C. Frantz will meet with Bonaparte on Monday and encloses a telegram from the attorney for the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention to Frantz. Roosevelt has already informed the men that Bonaparte had advised him not to express his opinion of the Oklahoma constitution. He would like to talk over the decision of Judge John L. Pancoast with Bonaparte. Roosevelt also encloses “two letters addrest to representative Watson about the Oklahoma constitution.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appoints Judge Gill a member of the board which will apportion the Indian Territory into fifty-five districts, from which delegates will be selected to attend a convention to create a constitution for the proposed state of Oklahoma. Roosevelt has designated Judge William H. H. Clayton as the other judge authorized to be given this duty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appoints Judge Clayton a member of the board which will apportion the Indian Territory into fifty-five districts, from which delegates will be selected to attend a convention to create a constitution for the proposed state of Oklahoma. Roosevelt has designated Judge Joseph A. Gill as the other judge authorized to be given this duty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Responding to Henry Lee Higginson’s appeal that President Roosevelt send federal troops to Telluride, Colorado, Roosevelt explains that he and Secretary of War Elihu Root have been communicating with Governor James Hamilton Peabody, and they will send troops when he requests them. Currently, Roosevelt has no power to act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ralph R. Duniway recently read an article by Theodore Roosevelt on the proposed Arizona Constitution, and reflects upon Roosevelt’s argument that it is a republican constitution like that of Oregon, assuming that Roosevelt is arguing against the allegation that it is a pure democracy, and not a republic, because of the recall of judges. Duniway feels that the ballot initiative, referendum and recall of judges have already pushed the government away from being a representative republic, but concludes that a case presently before the Supreme Court will decide the matter. He sends Roosevelt some documents relevant to the case, as he believes he will be interested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-18

Creator(s)

Duniway, Ralph R. (Ralph Rolefson), 1869-1920

Senator Lodge supports statehood for New Mexico Territory and delivered a speech in favor of the bill. He would be pleased to meet with Governor Curry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-24

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Senator Lodge and President Roosevelt share similar opinions on the proposed Oklahoma constitution, with Lodge being particularly concerned about one provision which would “destroy representative government,” should it be allowed to pass. Lodge suggests that putting the constitution before Congress would be enough to change the provision. Lodge is thrilled by Governor Curtis Guild’s massive win in the recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election, but is concerned about how many votes the Independence Party candidate received.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Victor Howard Metcalf updates President Roosevelt about the tense situation growing between Japan and the United States over the segregation of Japanese children in schools. The California Supreme Court’s decision will be based on whether or not the treaty with Japan had a “most favored nation” clause. This will determine what the United States’, and thus California’s, obligation is to educate immigrant Japanese students in the same manner that it educates immigrant children from European descent, who are educated as if they were American children. United States District Attorney Devlin seems to think the clause was not included. This needs to be determined to decide whether or not segregating the students was in violation of the treaty. Metcalf notes hostility to the Chinese that is nearly as bad as towards Chinese immigrants and mentions that both parties are in support of legislation to restrict Japanese immigrants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-02

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Using Biblical parallels, George U. Young discusses the experiment of democratic government as a progressive expression of the minorities’ desires. He especially highlights the importance of having leaders who endeavor to stay on paths of “virtue and manliness.” He believes the Arizona Constitution is the most prominent expression of this experiment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-14

Creator(s)

Young, George U. (George Ulysses), 1867-1926