The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-19

no person who is returned delitquent
for the non-psyment of his CAPT ation
tax shall be permitted to vote until he
shall have produced a receipt therefor
from the proper officer"
In sustaining bis proposition be
said that for the last seven or
eight years suffrage had been
based on neither color, intelligence
nor property. but that in order
to vote man had. with few exceptions,
to be either niger, carpet.bagger, a
scaIawag, or a renegade. While he
recognized the fact that the Constitution
of the United States had been amended,
he wanted the word white" in the Code
stitution. 1t has been claimed by
many that the Flick amendment was
illegally adopted, and if this word was
left out all those lately dis'rancbised
might possibly be again deprived Of
suffrage. In regard to the payment of
the capitation tax, he thought IL entirely
proper that no man who felt 30 little
interest in the government as 10 fail to
paw it, ought to be permitted to vote.
Mr.. Woods opposed the amendment.
While he thought the amendment
admitted the validity Of the amend
ments to the Federal Constitution, yet
it was couched in such language as
would be offensive to their authors, and
il was irnpolitic to use language which,
while it did not alter the effect, made
enemies of the friends OF those amend
ments. He thought the making OF the
payment of the capitation tax prere-
quisite to voting was anti.Republican
and oppressive to poor men.
Mr.. Jackson, of Wood, followed on
the same side. He thought it little
singular that while the patron OF the
amendment was go particular to guard
the rights OF the white men by insisting
on the word white" being inserted, he
should at the same time advocate a
proposition which disfranchised the
poor wAite man who had not been able
to pay his tax. TWAS wrong in prin-
ciple, and while he had a voice to speak
or an arm to raise, he would never con.
sent by word or act to such PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Basel, OF Harrison, favored the
amendment. He thought the rights Of
all good citizens, rich or poor, would be
better subserved by adopting the amend
ment. The most honorable man, no
matter how poor he might be, would
and always did pay his tax, and it was
the lazy, worthless class Of loafers only
who would be dsfranchised by it.
Mr. Armstrong favored the amend
ment. lie differed with some Of his
friends as to the validity Of the amend
ments to the federal constitution. He
considered their pretended adoption as
the basest, ioulest fraud ever perpe-
trated upon a free people. The pro-
posed amendment did not array the
people Of the State against the govern
ment. but upon the contrary it expressly
provided that all who were made cili-
Gems by the constitution Of the United
States should be entitled to exercise tie
right OF suffrage. and he thought it
wise ana Judlcious, In view OF the Iacl
that the validity OF the amendments to
the constitution was doubted, TO adopt
the amendment proposed. As to capita
ton tax, il a man took go little interest
in the welfare Of the State a. TO re uee
to pay the small sum OF one dollar, he
thought he had too little interest to
vote. 1t would only operate upon
those who were too lazy and good for
nothing to work; for no honorable man,
be he ever 50 poor, was unable to pay
this small sum.
The speech of Mr.. Armstrong was
one of marked ability and disclosed the
fact that he deserves to be ranked
among the ablest debaters on the foos.
His manner OF speaking is terse and
vigorous and his arguments are close
and logical.
ALI Burnett, the facial artist, opened
last night to large house in "Caude
The river is breaking up and the ice is
now running out. We hope TOR news
from the outside world in the course OF
the next week. YoRICK.