The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-23

their share, should not be allowed the
right to assess heavy taxes on those
who do pay.
Mr.. Foreman said he made this mo-
ton not because he had any interest in
this particular measure, but because II
ignores the principle on which the laws
of the State are founded. The consti-
tuition provides people shall vote
without any such restriction. The
principle advocated by the gentle
man from CabeIl, would apply
with equal force to State and
fed to vote Mt n State or county cleo
ton, he ought to be allowed to vote at
municipal election. The principle of
this bill was that engrafted into the
law of the old State, and all would recol-
lect what a rush and scramble there
used to be among candidates to pay
mems taxes to secure their votes.
Mr.. Lamb hoped the words would
not be stricken out. 1t was Il local
matter. The bill had been brought in
at the request OF those particularly in
terested. 1t concerns them alone, and
they ought 20 be at liberty to decide it
for themselves. 1t violates no princi-
pie of the Constitution. The Constitu-
ton was intended to regulate elections
in which political matters are TO be de-
cided, and it adopted a very proper prin-
ciple in relation to such matters. An
individual whose life, and liberty, and
rights of person are concerned in the
legislation of the State, has u right to
vote, independent altogether of the
question of taxation and property; but
in the subordinate corporations they
exercise no political rights. They are
corporations instituted for managing
their local concerns, laying out streets
and alleys. and making improvements
necessary to the convenience of the in
habitantS of a certain small district OF
territory. They have no political pow
er, whatever. The reasons that apply
to county and State elections do not ap-
ply here at all.
Mr.. Wheat thought that after what
had been put in, this must be stricken
out to avoid inconsistency. If they
were ;qualified voters, and registered,
they could not be prevented from vot-
ing whether they paid taxes or not. If
that were not so, he favored striking
out any how. 1t was the old james,
town doctrine-the aristocratic princi-
pie of old Virginia, that man should
not vote unless he paid taxes. 1t was
in conflict with the spirit of the Consti-
tuition. There was nothing that was
not political. Politics enter into every
thing.
Mr.. Lane said it was well known to
everybody that in the larger cities and
towns, there was always "a floating pop
ulation, who come in and stay tive or
six months, that have no interest at all
in the municipal elections They pay
no taxes, yet they control our elections.
He presumed it was to guard against
that class as much as adding anything
to the treasury, that this provision was
incorporated in the bill. If they had
not interest enough to pay taxes, they
ought not to pay taxes. 1t is TO guard
the private property as well as the
public interest
Mr.. Lamb said, in reply to Mr..
Wheat, that when the Legislature made
private corporation and provided that
its elections might be held by its stock
holders and none others, they were vio-
lating the constitution and the natural
and indefeasible rights of suffrage, Just
as much as they would be in
this case. 1t is proper and right
in itself, that in regard 10 these
minor corporations which are express
ly estopped by the law of their being
from the exercise of all political pow
er, that the right of su tfrage should be
confined to those who are specially in
terested. The bill provides that per-
sons duly qualified as voters and duly
registered as such, shall have the right
to vote it they have resided in the cor
pOrate limits six months and paid the
tax. There is no inconsistency in it,
1t is AN additional qualification resting
on different principles from the qualiti-
cation prescribed in the Constitution to
regulate elections where political pow
ers Vie TO be exercised. There is
practical limit to that principle. You
do not apply ii in any other case. You
never dream of applying it to the case
OF a private corporation, internal i'm
provement company, and others which
you are establishing every day. 1t
would be regarded in GASES of that kind
as mOnStrOuS.
Mr.. Foreman remarked that the ar
gument of the gentleman from Ohio
was, that the present case was precisely
the same as the voting of stock hoIders
in II private stock company. There
was no kind of similarity. This cor
poration is much more like IL State.
county or township government. In
the case of private corporation the
parties go in voluntarily and invest
their funds, and know the terms of the
charter. Here community is incor-
ated by enactment of the Legisla-
ture. Gentlemen might as well say
the affairs of the State We're
to be managed by those specially
interested. If the men who have the
property and pay the taxes in the cor
porate limits ought to do all the voting
the men who have the property and
pay the taxes in the State ought to do
the voting for the State. The CITY gov
eminent is only State government in
miniature. The same principle is in
volved.
at suggestion OF Mr.. Ferguson, the
section was amended by defining that
the taxes shall have been assessed and
paid sin said village within the pre-
ceding year." this amendment having
precedence of the motion to strike out.
Mr.. Ferguson proceeded to say in
reference to the principle involved, that
he had always been in favor of the ex-
tension of the right of suffrage in all
our state elections. In those elections
the rights of person and property
every right, absolute aud relative is
concerned; and therefore he was for
giving every member of the State of
proper age and sound mind, and other
proper qualifications fitting him to be
entrusted with the ballot, the right to
vote. Some of his friends who were
very anxious to extend the largest lib
erty, wanted every body in the world TO
vote But they had to restrict this lib
erty very much for the safety of the
State, and he referred to the restric-
tons imposed by our own cOustitu-
ton. The principle is the same in the
case or municipal corporations. This
Dill prescribes as a qualification of
voting that the party shall have a
certain length of residence and shall
nave paid taxes The reason is obyi-
Gus. They all knew it was the ten
dency OF the most worthless part of our
population to congregate in cities and
ElIIages-persons whose principal bu-
slnesS Is to drink rum and spend time
Ipunu grogshops- They wont go into
the country and perform honest labor
They have nothing YOU can lev ~,
such persons ought not to have the
right to vote away the money OF those
VINO are aiding in the Improvement of
village or city. 1t is for such i'm