Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-24

he elective franchise. But more
yet. The Legislature has the
power not only to say the poll-tax
must be paid on or by certain
time, but it has the power to say
hoao much that tax shall be. 1t
could lay that tax just as high as
it might wish-high enough to
place an election in the hands of
capitalists. Think you such is not
probable? The improbability ar
CUES not the want of power; and
the history OF the Federal and
State governments for the past
few years, speak like "angels trum,
pet tongued' to beware of placing
dangerous power in the hands of
legislative bodies, for they often,
aye, rarely fail to use it for the
most sinister purposes, By over
readings and usurpations the legis-
lative departments have encroach-
ed upon the others, have overawed
the executive and judicial depart
ments of our State and Federal
governments, have destroyed the
equilibrium in our system of gov
ernmeRt, have broken through all
checks, and uncmbed, have rushed
into forbidden fields, caring naught,
for they swear by none greater
than themselves. Now we, who
have beheld the usurpations of
legislative bodies, and the abuse
of powers conferred ; and who now
see that the whole tendency of
our government is towards Gen.
tralization Of power in the legisla-
tive departments, instead of pla-
cling this very dangerous power of
the ballot-tox virtually within the
grasp of our Legislature, should be
tightening the curb and drawing
the rein. Let not this sacred right
of the people be placed within the
keeping of Legislature but let
it be placed in the ark where no
sacrilegious hand may touch it ; let
it be carved entire upon the face
of our constitution so as to admit
Of no variableness or uncertainty
let it be engrafted in the funda-
mental law of the land, SO that
the power may remain in the peo-
pie. Nothing less will give rest
to the franchise question, quiet to
the State, and security to liberty.
But were we to waive all the OBJ
jections considered, are there not
others that should of themselves
make the section odious 3? he
provision places the right of the
elective franchise on false basis.
1t goes not upon the broad, liber-
al, and only correct theory of re-
publican government, that every
man standing forth in the dignity
of God made manhood, is a free
man, and an intelligent part of the
government, and as such is emit
tied to a voice in the government;
whilst moved by love of country,
and required by law to defend that
government lhaving a life to be Of
fered when the government is en-
dangered, and to be protected as
resultant obligation) he has an in
defeasible right to join in choos-
ing the makers and executors of
the law. No such elevated basis
is granted ; but the right to vote
is sought to be placed on the sor,
did basis of dollars-a foul SANDER
on republican form of govern
ment. The right to exercise the
elective franchise is attempted to
be made a chattel interest. Privi-
leges are to be sold, and the State,
through its agents, is to be the
vendor, to sell privileges for two,
three, FIVE or more dollars as may
suit the caprice of Legislature.
One of mans dearest rights is to
be thrown upon the market. COL
shame where is thy blush =
But dismiss even the latter objec-
ton and is there not another that |
should make the people spurn with
contempt this section, and shun it
as the breath of the deadly Upas
We want ito secure the freedom
of elections and purity of the bal
lot box" The provision in ques-
ton as certainly abridges the Stree
dom of elections" and tends to cor
ruption as temptation leads to
sin. Tens of thousands will sell
their votes in order to get money
with which to purchase privileges
from the State, OF voting, and to
pay the tax gatherer, With
high poll tax, thousands of poor
whites and tens of thousands of ne
yroes could not vote only by sell
ing their votes for what the privi-
Ieges would cost !: and then CAPT.
talists could surely mark out a pc
itical campaign upon the lids of
heir coffers-the government
would be virtually placed within
heir hands. The door to fraud and
corruption would be thrown wide
open. Now the idea of one clause