The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-22
INSIDE VIEW OF THE CONvEN.
TION PLOT.
What the Leaders Really WRut..-
Property Qualification for Suffrage
..-POOr Men Not TO BE Allowed TO


What the Leaders Really Waut-.-
Property Qualification for Suffrage
..-POOT Men Not TO BE Allowed TO
Vote.
From the ShCphcrdstown Jefferson County Reg.
. ister.
The following letter, addressed by a
prominent Democrat residing in the West.
Grn part Of the State, TO fellow Demo.
crat here, has been handed us for rpuhlica.
tiOn
August |, 1861
DEAR Sul-YOurs of ----- reached
me few days since, hut being absent
from home ! was unable to reply until to.
day. You ask what We really intend to
do if We succeed in calling Convention
reply that we have several objects in
view, all of which we expect to carry,
but ii II Convention is called, among them
| can only state the following rs being
most important
In the first place, the mode OF voting
now prescribed by the present Constitu'
tion, namely, by ballot, must be abolish.
ed, and that OF 6ird r0ce voting instituted
in its place, for il this be established as in
former years, we cannot only know how
certain parties vote but we can bring
such pressure to henr upon the more
dependent classes, rs will compel them to
TO vote Rs We desire, regardless Of their
own sentiments, and by this means we
can WELD much more influence than by
the present system.
Again In my opinion there are too
many people voting, and property quail.
flcatiOn should he required Oi every one
before he exercises the rights Of franchise
how much real estate man must possess
before exercising this privilege, Of course
will be determined by tho Convention !
think the property qualification will not
be greater than before the war By this
means not only the greater portion OF the
negro population will he deprived OF
voting, but also many Of the lower class
es Of whites who have little or no interest
in governmental affairs.
In the third place our present Constitl.
ton strictly prohibits the contracting OF
State debt, which should be without de-
Law abolished, as no internal improve.
ments can be carried on without State aid,
and by permitting the State to create a
debt, we can construct railroads through
that portion o the State that is undcyeE
oped and thus make now almost worth
less real estate, both marketable and val
liable, which ut the same time will be Of
great peCuniary advantage to certain indi.
yiduaIs now holding such lands
You say in your letter that many Op
pose the Convention on the ground Of
taxation, and ask what will be the proba.
bic cost Of holding Convention. | think
ii will not exceed one hundred and filty
thousand dollars, which consider small
price ior the reforms named above. Your
county can certainly afford and ChGGriully
contribute her share (Which will not eX.
coed twenty thousand dollars towards
this great movement. These reforms can.
not be accomplished without taxation,
and we cannot disguise the fact that the
taxes for n year or two must necessarily
be increased 10 considerable degree, but
all in my opinion will be amply repaid in
every respect by the many advantages Of
the proposed new Constitution over the
old one, When these reforms are estAb.
lished, and the County Court system
supergedes the Boards Of Supervisors,
think the fundamental law of our State
will be as near perfect as any one may dc.
sier at all events far superior to the Con-
stitution now in force.
Wishing you success in your county at
the coming submission OF this great qles'
ton, and hoping to hear from you again,
am, most respectfully. ....