Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-06-03
MIR. Zeph. Turner On Registration.
EErom the War; emf on Index
WOODVILLE, 9th May 1856

WooDVILLE, 9th May 1867
JOHN w. FINKs-Dca7 Sir: l would sug-
gest to you the very great Importance of I'M
pressing upon the people the necessity OF being
registered, preparatory to voting at the coming
election for members Of the Convention.
An impression prevails-I think generally
amongst the people, that the members OF The
Convention are to be elected according to the
present apportionmcnt OF representation IN The
House oil Delegates. This is 4 very great er-
ror. The Wilson bill provides that the Con
vantion shall consist Of the same number Of
members that the present territory Of Virginia
elected delegates to the House of Delegates in
1860 This was 10i The bill further pro
yides for registration Of the voters white and
black and, after The registration has been
completed and The returns made to the military
commandment, that he shall then apportlon this
representation Of l04 members amongst the
several counties und districts Of the iSfate &c
co1lia1 to the registered r0ie'a rttHa"en " ht"'.
[ do not quote the exact language or The law
but this is what it means. The Dill lurthcf
provides that none except registered voters;
shall vote at the approaching election.
In view Of the provisions OF the bill, 1t seems
to me that the necessity Of beng registered
should be apparent TO every man who desires
to live under government preserving even
the scmblance of freedom.
The Wilson bill leaves it wholly discretionary
with the military commandant as to the system
Of electine the delegates to the Convention,
whether by counties or districts; and as Gen.
Schofeld has not as yet made known his pur-
pose in this respect, and as it is not known
what representation each county Or district
will be entitled to, [ think all nominations and
suggestions Of members of the Convention are
premature and unwlse
The returns of the Commissioners CT the
Revenue made to the Auditor tor 1866, show
that there were iii the State last year, adult
whites l3l $50; adult blacks 5000; in all
2O7.llO. This, divided By l04, would make
the basis OF representation for one member OF
the Convention about 1000 votes,
Fauouier has 227G whites and l ,O06 blacks,
In all 3,2S2. This leaves you about TOO votes
short of the number necessary to elect two
members of the Convention You will there
fore readily see the Importance to tauquieT OF
full registration.
The same reasons apply also the counties Of
Rappahannock and Culpeper, as each OF them
is short Of the number necessary to elect one
member Rappahannock has ISL whites and
1876 blacks=1647. Culpeper 1912 whites and
GIL blacks=l743,
The aggregate returns of the Commissioners
show white majority in the State OF S., 600.
Deduct from this 10000 for disfranchlsed cit
izens-ana | think this greatly exceeds the
number and it leaves at least 45, 900 majority
of white voters.
If the white votars, with this very large
majority, iu their favor, permit the State gov
eminent to pass under the control OF the pestl-
lent set who are now so earnestly seeking to
gain possession of it, have only to say, that
10 my best judgment they will most richly
merit their tate.
Very truly, yours, &C.,
ZEPH TURNER.