The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-28
Dollars VS.. Voters.


The reports of the proceedings of oul
immaculate General Assembly, vouchsafed
us by the Richmond papers, is generally
very meagre. They give full details OIL
squabbles over railroad monopolies, in
which none of the people are interested, be-
cause it makes very little difference wheth-
er Malone, Robinson. or the Pennsylvania
Central is appointed leech but when sf-
fairs of real importance to the whole State
are discussed we can know little about them.
Now one of your contemporaries says:
The consideration Of the House bill to amend
an act to authorize subscriptions to incorpora-
ted companies by certain counties, as hereto
fore amended, was resumed.
Mr.. Bell, of Augusta, offered an amendment
SO as not to require majority OF the freehold-
ers voting to carry subscription, but only to
require three fifths of the vote cast, embracing
a majority of the registered voters of the coun.
ty, city, or town, voting on the proposition.
Messrs. Bell, of Augusta, and Wood, spoke
in support of the amendment; Messrs. Hanger,
Thurman, Thomas, and Southall of Albemarle,
against it. II was rejected by So noes to 80
ayes.
What does this mean2 Mr.. Bell offered
a resolution to amend a bill authorizing
subscriptions by certain counties what
counties p so as not to require a majority
of the freeholders to carry a subscription
| am entitled then TO consider that the bill
does limit the voters in this case of sub
scription to the freeholders. Is that so :?
Does this Assembly pretend to say that
because | am not freeholder | shall not
have the right to express my opinion at a
general election? Do they mean that
am not citizen because | am not free
holder What rights have lost because
that terrible food which we had in the
Valley last September washed away my
house In the outskirts Of town, and along
with it my little garden patch, and SO
reduced me in means that | was forced
to sell even that to get bread to feed my
children through the winter, when work
was scarce and food and rents high? l
have been visited with misfortune, and
does this Assembly in consequence pre-
tend to class me with idiots, lunatics,
persons convicted of bribery or embezzle-
ment, traitors, felons, aud duelists? l
have committed no crime; I have been
unfortunate Is that any reason why
my Judgment is impaired why my
interest in the prosperity of my State or
county is impaired; why my rights under
the constitution of my State should be
abridged
raise the voice of warning, and | wish
it could reach the ear of every non
freeholder in the State. Besoars This is
an infringement of our rights guaranteed
to US by the constitution. Grant the prin-
ciple once, and there is no place to stop.
1t is like little letting of water in quick
sand. A fundamental principle of all gov
eminent is, that solong as the rights of the
poorest and humblest individual members
of the community are safe, SO long will
the rights of every member be safe. De-
prive that meanest individual of bis rights,
and the next one is in danger, and then
the next, and so on, till there is no stop ;
you assault the rights Of every member.
Again say, this time not only to the nom
freeholders, but to the freeholders, aud
even to the broad-clothed gentlemen Q) of
the Assembly, beware! for you are in dan
ger.
Section 20 of the bill Of rights, article
of the constitution of Virginia, says briefly
and comprehensively
can citizens of the State are hereby de-
clared to possess equal. civil and political rights
and public privileges"
And section l, article of the same con.
stitution, says:
"Every male citizen of the United States,
twenty-one years old, who shall have been
resident of this State twelve months, and of
the county, city or town in which he shall offer
to vote three months next preceding any
election, shall be entitled to vote upon all ques>
tions submitted to the people at such election"
/ rather think--'and my language is
plain'--when the tax-gatherer comes for
my share in an imposition in which am
forcibly deprived of a voice concerning its
levy, that shall most respectfully decline
payment, on the ground of unconstitu-
tionality.
On the whole. from all that can learn
of this Assembly, have come to conclu-
sion, in which many in this section join
with me, and which may be fairly express
ed in nearly the language of Truthful
James
Which we had small game,
And the snobs took hand,
To legislate. The same
They did not understand;
And they smiled as they sat at their desks,
With smile that was greedy tho bland
The dollars they were stocked
In way that shows vice,
And our feelings were shocked
At the size of each price
Which was paid for a fool or knave;
And the same with intent to defraud.
U.rrnv NAN