Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-23
ANEW RADICAL GAME IN GEORGIA

a new dodge Of the ''party of progress"
to retain control Of the State Treasury Of
Georgia, has been brought to light. In the
new constitution of the State, as adopted
by Radical convention, it is provided that
s.no poll tax shall be levied except for edu-
cational purposes, and such tax shall not
exceed one dollar annually on each poll"
This clause of the constitution was regard
ed as fair and just by the people of the
State, and they have submitted cheerfulIy
10 the tax to support their educational in
stituticrs. But failure to pay it disquali-
fies the delinquent from voting, and here is
where the shoe pinches. Nearly one-half
the population Of the State is composed of
negroes, and The influence of the white
Radicals over their colored brethren
has not'been promotive of industry, nor has
it contributed to their material prosperity.
In fact, the great mass of these "men and
brethren" are so circumstance that they
are in a chronic condition of financial en-
barrassment, and this poll tax of one dollar
per man is too oppressive to be borne. They
cannot and do not pay 1t, and the conse-
quence is that the Radicals lose a very large
Ter centage Of their most reliable support
era. TO correct this mistake committed
bv the Constitutional Convention, applica-
ton has been made to the Federal govern
ment to interfere and prevent the enforce
ment of this provision of the Constitution.
As in the case of the Ku-klux business,
however, there is in reality no ground to
proceed upon, and the evidence Of ''perse-
cuted citizens" must be manufactured to
slit the occasion. Mr.. Isaac Seeley
has written from Washington to ex-GOv-
ernor jos. Z. Brown, informing him that a
movement is begun to secure the passage
of an act by Congress to prevent the fur
Their abridgement of the right to vote by
the assessment and accumulation of poll
taxes" Mr.. Seeley continues that he de-
sires to be furnished with instances where
citizens have been prevented from voting
by challenges for non-payment Of taxes
After specifying the kind of evidence re-
ouired. he continues: "If instances have
not heretofore occurred, let cases be made
ND at this election, and if Democrats will
not challenge, let Republicans challenge
each other" Mr.. Seeley encloses printed
blank form of the affidavit, in which the
j.iitued citizen is not only to swear that he
has himself been prevented from voting,
through non-payment Of poll-taz, but also
tstbat scores OF voters in this county were
thus prevented from even offering 20 vote"
Mir. Brown replied, refusing TO lend his
aid to the movement, and denounced it as q
ssdishonorsble trick, practiced for the pur-
pose of Geceiving members Of Congress,
and misleading them" He denied that
there is any legislation in the State of Geor-
gia which interferes with the right of any
voter, white or colored, to exercise the cleo
tive franchise, who has laid the taxes re-
quired by the Constitution. He denies the
right of Congress to impose any penalty on
the State for enforcing this provision of the
Constitution, except to reduce her number
of Representatives in Congress, in proportion
to the number of voters disqualified by it.
He concludes as follows:
"The Republican party has been con-
stantly weakened, until it is almost destroy
ed in Georgia, by the repeated acts of Con-
gress, during the period Of reconstruction,
prompted no doubt by unwise oOunselors pro
Tossing TO speak forthe State, who either mis-
understood the true condition of things here,
Or wilfully misrepresentedi il. In either case
the effect was the same. Congress has been
mised and popular sentiment here has been
outraged TO an extent that has rendered il
impossible for The supporters of the admin
istration TO stand before it with any prospect
of success. | think it is time this unwise
leoislation should cease, and | protest
aGainst further enactments of the character
contemplated by you, and Others who as
sist YOU, in your proposed movement. The
wisest thing, in my judgment, that Congress
could do for Georgia, would be to concil-
ate her people and show them that it is the
intention 10 deal Justly and literally by
them. II a general act was passed, sweep
inc from the statute book, the last vesiige
of political disability that rests upon any of
her citizens, and she were left as other
States are to manage her own internal af-
fairs, in her own way, it would do more 20
restore peace, harmony, loyalty and good
government in the State than anything else
that is now in the power Of the Federal
Government TO do