Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-12-06
FsOm the Ohio Journal Of ElucaliOn.
Reading a Prerequisite to Voting.

Under the above caption we see announced
in the newspapers the passage Of an amend
ment TO the Constitution Of the State Of Con.
necticut. which is as follows: That every
person shall be able to read any article Of the
Constitution, or any section Of the statutes Of
the State, before being admitted as an eector.'
This is announced by the papers Of our State,
il is true, and accompanied, perhaps, with the
remarks Of some Connecticut paper, but in no
instance have ! seen it editoriaIly indorsed.-
The reason is evident; many, shall sag most
Of our editors, are candidates for some Office,
and fear lest the votes Of the ignorant may thus
be lost Policy speaks louder than conscience.
The right Of suffrage is often and truly priced
as the dearest right Of freeman, but when ex-
eroised By incompetent, unqualified persons,
becomes an instrument Of oppression.
The above amendment expresses my opin-
ions exaacily, aud | do hope the day is not far
distant when such an amen1ment will be made
to our Coast.ution, No person shoad be per
mitled to vote unless be caH read, and for sew.
eral reasons weiyhty and important to the pur.
ity of our government. They are too Lumer-
Gus to be considered infinitely or discussed full
". One is, that the elector unable to read,
knows not for whom be casts his vote. He is
forced, from his ignorance, to rely upon the
representations and interpretations of others,
which may be true or false. Such person
can be, and frequently, if not generally, is ta-
hen advantage Of by unprincipled demagogues,
who scruple to use no means which will &C
complish their ends. could cite cases, were
it necessary, but do not wish TO name political
parties. The voter comes TO the polls, two
tickes are placed in bis hands Of the same co
lor size and form, but bearing different names
upon their faces. He desires to vote for the
candidates Of a certain party, but Of his own
personal knowledge is unable to decide which
to place in the ballot box. This of itself. is, or
ought to be, sufficient to disquafy him.
Again, it is well known that political intel
ligence discussions measures platforms, etc.,
are heraded to the people almost entirely by
the medium Of the press. The little that stump
speakers effec! IN their noisy manner. will per-
NIT of no comparison with the quiet, yet gi-
gantic deeds of the press, But from his ignor-
ance, the man who is unable to read is shut
out from this light, and is incapable of form
ing su ch judgments as every voter is supposed
to be able to form. He is placed, mot men
tally, but) politically, upon the same footing
as drunkards and idiots. But we will not e.
numerate farther,
Then. this is no partial law, in favor Of any
party or class. There is no person so old or
so young, so rich or so poor, SO weak and
decrepit, so noble or so base, who is unable to
learn to read. Not one. Not one, we repeat
who cannot with little difficult and common
diligence, learn to read the laws of the land
There can be no exception to the above, hut
the blind. 1t is the misfortune OF no one. buI
only negligence, or worse still, crime, in no
improving the advantages around him.
Again, we say. amend the Constitution SC
that no one can vote who cannot read the Eng
sh language. L, WELLS STANLEY