The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-27
Who Shall Vote?


been pretended that there are more than a
few score negroes in Richmond who habitu-
ally vote the Conservative ticket. Isis much
better that these few should have no voice In
selecting candidates than that the great mass
OF the negroes should be tempted TO
profess Conservatism in order to control
our nominations.
The new committee, we do. not doubt,
will find that practically it will have 10 en-
force the rule which has always heretofore
been enforced-a rule without which 1t IS a
farce to hold primary clectlon-namely,
that the man who takes part in the primary
election must consider himself pledged not
to oppose the nominees that may be elected
at the primary election. The names OF the
candidates are all before the voter, and il
among them he sees one that he cannot vote
for even IL nominated, his conscience ought
TO teach him at once not TO vote. We DO
not claim that the obligation to support the
nominees OF q primary election rests upon
ANYBODY who does not take part lii II.
We can well understand that man might
have good reasons OF his own Tor not
supporting particular candidate. We
firmly believe in the right to scratch the
ticket. But the man who participates in
nominating election or convention surren-
ders these rights. He voluntarily agrees
with his friends and neighbors to DECIDE by
voting whether their or his farorite SNAIL De
the candidate OF the party; and II Is 100
late TO back out when his is beaten. Il
mans conscience will not allow him TO vote
for his neirhbor's favorite so be it. But let
him say so by staying away from the Young
place. Let him respect his own conscience
bv al means; but let him also respect his
ncirhbor's rights. Let him not play game,
intending to pocket the winnings but not 10
paw The loss. Every man can reserve his
RICH; TO scratcll-his right to refuse to sup
port an Objectionable candidatc-his right to
vote against such-by simply re1ra'nlng
from pledging himself. The pledgei is given
bv voting at u primary election, whether
word is said upon the subject OF not.
Now. as to the negroes. The only resSon
tha, can be given for allowing them to vote
at the primary election is the desire to keep
them from voting together. 1t is assumed
that il is bad thing to have the people OF
Richmond divided on color line. But
this is a grave mistake-that is, If we are to
make any concessions to the negroes in order
to keep them from so dividing. In Rich
mond we have not yet experienced the
worst evils OF negro suffrage, because the
negroes have all voted together and for the
Republican candidates. But let the nc
groes once set themselves up rs
balance Of power, and we shall soon
find the whites demoralized. There arc
more than five thousand negro voters in
Richmond. Suppose, instead OF acting
with the Republicans, three thousand OF
them should determine to act with the Con-
seryatiycs this spring, and should say, We
evil vote at the primary election for the
"candidates who are opposed TO disfran'
q chising people for petty larceny" how
many OF the candidates would be on the
other side! Or should say, eve will vote
cat the primary election for the MayorWho
uwill put us on the police" which candl-
date for nomination would throw away
three thousand votes when one thousand
NAV make the nomination Or should say,
awe will vote at the primary election for
"the CITY Sergeant who, when by-standers
"are summoned, will put us on lurles:"
What would HUSDLEY, Cook, Moore, WAC
SER, WRIGHT, LEE, or Tyler say to them !
Which OF them would throw away three
Thousand votes when half the number would
insure Ills nomination? So rs to mixed
schools. Whenever, ii ever, the negroes are
permitted to say at a primary election whom
the Conservatives shall nominate and vote
for at the regular election, they will have the
power Of nominating every councilman ana
alderman in the city, and by this means OF
making such rules rs may suit them Tor the
government Of the public schools. Thus also
the NEGROES could secure certain proper
ton Of negro officers-that IS, by agreeing
to vote at the primary election only for cam
didates who were willing to give the negroes
say a councilman or two in each ward.
Look at the question calmly, and you viii
see that YOU may well fear these modern
Greeks though bearing gifts. Admit them in
to the citadel, and our ruin is complete. The
negroes who are real Conservatives Will sup
port our ticket whether allowedto vote nj the
primary election or not. But ii not, we dare
not allow negroes to dictate our candidates
TO do so would be to give them the control
OF all the institutions OF the city. II were
lunacy--the very error OF the moon-to
suppose that they would not avail them
selves OF their voting strength to secure ;
recognition, il not OF their absolute equal
ity, at least OF their claimed right to serve
as Jurors and policemen, and in every othe1
capacity.
We have no fear OF these results, because
we know the white people OF Richmond
will never allow negroes to dictate their can
didates. But let lis suppose that the Cit.
Committee, which, "it is claimed and no
denied" has upon it II number OF the bes
independents (of other days. that tn
city ever boasted OF, had agreed to let the ne
groes vote OH the 9Th of May, and let IL
imagine the result. What would it have
been: First, not one of the candidate
would have allowed his name to be used a
the primary election except such as hac
some reason for Supposing that they would
be acceptable to the negroes. The DiSpatch
would to-day have been full OF cards from
men announcing themselves as candidates
at the regular election, and refusing to sub
NIT their Claims to the decision OF the