The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-24
BREAKERS AHEAD.

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During the progress of she recent election
npaign in Virginia, Ne earnestly warned
lie ,.ey.}le of the danger of the precedent of
fs.s.iiating the fundamental law of the State, as
siiplicd in the adoption OF the proposed amend
n,nts to the constitution. We did this, not SO
..,lch by reason of the inherent defects OF the
s.ncndments, as the pernicious and harmful eA-
), nple of thoughtlcssly and recklessly changing
.s organic law. We argued that the PROPOSE
f.m was merely feeler to test the question
whether the people could be induced to ADOPT
r concentrations of so grave character, the
,..,.rits of which they had had no opportunity
of Judging. Success then, we commended. would
cn,5ollcn the patrons OF these amendments to
.ture upon still more radical changes, until
Glally the constitution would be stripped OF
all the progressive features which contemplated
s.te improvement and elevation of the conli-
ion OF the masses. We also cited the action OF
s1e subcommittee on amendments, which met
At Orkney Springs last summer, and incubated
,,,c following additional amendments to be sub
..,:ttcd to the present legislature, and il by it
:. lopted, to go before the next general election,
and il affirmatively determined by that trlbil-
nal. to be submitted to the next legislature as
.:,e final act to constitute then part OF the
Constitution Of Virginia. The amendments,
:. substance, now proposed are;
lat, An amendment to the article Oh suffrage
sMuifing the capitation tax imposed ny la"
~ be paid as condition precedent TO the eA
xcclsc of the right OF suffrage.
81. Amendments to the SAME article aool
s,aine the secret ballot and the present system
1t registration.
81. An amendment to the article on finance
authorizing the Legislature TO IMPOSE c1pl n;t
ion tax of 81 instead of 81 upon each male cit
i.en over the age of 2l years, to be devoted &c
,hc support of the public school system.
l,h. An amendment striking cut that feature
ii tile article on education which requires inc IN,
t,rgisiztt,re to levy tax of one mill annually
B, mon fine real and personal property OF the
state for the support of the public schools.
In presenting these propositions to our rea-
.,,.rs, our limited space will inhibit as full
discussion as their serious nature demands
we must therefore content ourselves with point
s.:e out some objections only: and leave
.r another occasion a more careful analysis Of
s-scir tendency and purpose.
The abolition of the ballot system ana the
substitution of the uipa cocs, is direct assault
upon the freedom of elections, and transpar
mt purpose to inaugurate legal system o.
Intimidation and force at elections 1t IS wei
.,nown that many men would be prevented
from recording their real sentiments at thu
se,,s. if they were compelled TO call out thu
tickets they voted. by reason OF the cireum
stances that would surround them. In time
u high party excitement, we arc well awar
that very doubtful means are employed by par
iszsn retaincrs to carry their points, and tn
t,ct Of dependence void prove potent IN
str,mentality in perverting the objects OF tn
ballot and making it the agent merely OF recor
ding the wishes OF the wealthy and influential
= and not the real sentiments of the voter. Ex
pcricnce teaches us that prescription for opin
Jon sake is as common now as 1t was IN I'll
= dark AGES, when tIs forces OF religious sect
Instituted the inquisition, the gaillotine, tn
rack and the block. The same excuses, 1t
true, are not INDUCED III, but it is reasonable
SUPPOSE that many voters would yield thei
ia!o: before they would give up their bread
lind to that extent the fury of party will lea
Its devotecs, for instances are ifnumeraoie a
through the South, where employment for tn
Door las been made conditional upon thei
voting as their employers directed. =
The secret ballot is simply method for tn
softer to record his sentiments as to public me
and questions, and to that degree partclpat
IN the formation of the laws by which he is t
be governed. 1t is 1 matter into which no on
has a right to inquire-which the voter has
perfect right to keep to himself, if he SO chooS
~. and to exercise his Judgment, without lie
m iilndfance from any enc. 1t is, in short, tn
only way in which fair expression OF popuaa
sentiment can be had, and the proposition to a
bolisl, it is simply declaration that elections il
virginia shall hereafter be fraud.
The third and fourth propositions may b.
considered as one and the same. The purpor
is to relieve property of the duty Of assistin!
to enact healthy laws for the protection o
property. We have no objection to the lncreas
OF the capitation tax from 81 to 81 for publl
free school purposes, but we do object to tn
release of property from the levy of one mil
annually upon the real and personal propert.
81 the State for the support of the publi
schools, 80
Tire public school fund now consists OF TIN
interest on the literary fund, amounting t.
$S7, 900, the capitation tax of 81 and the tax o
one mill per annum on real and personal prop
erty.. It is estimated that these will aggregate
4f37,O 1t is further assumed that the in
crease Of the capitation tax, added to the in
terest OH the literary fund, would yield, apar
from the one mill Oh real and personal proper
sy, til e sum Of s5s7 900. Upon this hypothesis
It is argued by one of the Committee. Mr.. Jas
II. Dooley. that it would be an advantage te
t1,c public school interest, to make the change
proposed.
It is well known fact that the public schools
Of Virginia, outside of the eiGies, are not what
they ought to be, and what it was contempla-
ted they should be, when the free school sys-
tenn was Introduced. To make them eficien
to give to all poor childrenin the State the adj
vantage of at least an elementary education, it
will require at least double the amount OF funds
how appropriated to that purpose. And we
can see nothing rational in the proposition to
abate the tax on property, while it is Increased
on persons. The protection of property-the
enactment of wise laws to govern its relations
to governments the great object OF legislation
1t is dependent for its security upon the INTEL
,I1o,, II