The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-12
Reraeuabefi

white adults who can neither read nor write.
Remember, that the Republican policy gave
the people OF Virginia the Free School sys-
TEN. which embraces in its benefcent oper-
alton all alike, rich and poor, white and
colorcd.
Remember, that tie Conservatives Of Vir-
ginia wanted to vote ON the School clause and
township clause in the Constitution as adop-
ted in 1869, separately. They were not sat-
isfed with the privilege granted by Re-
publican President and Il Republican Con-
gress, of voting on the test oath feature sep
arately, but desired to include the school
system and the township system. This was
refused. After events showed what they
would have dore if this request had been
granted. The first amendments proposed
by the democratic legislature, and adopted,
to the Constitution, included the abolition Of
the township system. They would not then
venture on the School clausc-it had become
popular with the masses, and the Designing
schemcrs were afraid to engage with the peo-
pie on question that exhibited its benefits
every day and so plainly that they could not
be overlooked. The township system was
less conspicuous, was less OF everyday ia
miiarity, but none the less beneficial to the
people. Yet in the whirl OF party excite
ment and the influmed prejudice against the
NEGRO party" as the Republicans were
called, the township system was wiped out.
The people did not understand this deep de-
vice at the time; but they do now. The road
| law is one of the results, 10y which the poor
man Is made to keep the public highways in
order, that property may be released from
its fair share of the burden.
Remembers too, that The amendments
| now proposed, II adopted, will be the first
direct step to the destruction OF the Free
Schools. They will take from the people
the right OF fianehise-strlke down the poor
man, both white and black, rs the result Of
his own vote, and place it iii the power of
the property owners, to further outrage the
masses by abolishing the school SYSTEM
They cannot strike at the negro without hit
ting the poor man. 10 require the prepay
men. Of the poll tax before the privilege to
vote, is one of the boldcst assaults upon pop
| ular right ever attempted in this State. It
| places it In the power o: corrupt. party
agents to dlsfranchise one-fourth of the voters
of the Commonwealth, by simply not pla-
| cling them Oh the Commissioners books.
Their names not being there, of course they
| vyO,,l1 ar f,n ooll n1 fNr ri,
when asked for their tax tickets at the polls
and not being able to show them, because of
the failure Of the Commissioner to place
them ON the tax list, they would be deprived
Of their votes. With the amendments adop-
ted, this result could be easily worked out in
the interest OF scheming politicians, the peo-
pie rendered helpless, and the school system
placed in the power Of its enemies.
Remember, too, that these amendments
are the creation and adoption Of the Demo-
cratic party. They are democratic PROPOSE
tons, for they were considered and approx
ed in caucus, passed by democratic legisla-
ture, and now submitted to the people for
their endorsement.
| They show the drift Of democratic policy.
1t is to abridge the rights Of the people
take from them their legitimate instrument
Of defence, the ballot, and then entrust them
to the tender mcrcies Of those whose purpose
it is to dcmolish the public schools. See how
| ingenionsly these amendments were con-
| structed to strike the poor man and protect
| the property holder. They make it a neces-
sary precedent for the poor man to vote that
| he shall show that his poll tax has been paid.
There is no provision, however, depriving
the owner of property of voting because he
may be delinquent in his taxes. His taxes
may amount to $50 or 800; he may default
/ in paying them, but 1t does not affect his
suffrage. The poor man, owes dollar poll
tax. His family may have been sick, work
may have been scarce, his time employed in
working the roads for the use OF the proper
ty owner, that prevented him from earning
the dollar with which to pay his poll tax. 1t
matters motif he cannot, on the day of cleo
ton, show his tax ticket, he is no longer a
free citizen. The high privilege Of franchise
is wrcsted from him. The ballot, with
which he defends his assailed rights, is ia
ken from his reach and the delinquent pro-
| perty owner, and the landed proprietor take
charge of every thing, elect whom they
please, enact such legislation as they may
desire, and hold the toilers OF community at
their sovereign mercy.
! Remember. voters of Virginia, that these
are the methods the Democratic party is
seeking to establish to destroy your BIRTH
right, and make you worse than slaves.
Look at what this party has done in the past,
in the $4,000 unlcttered white adults. Ana
| lyze the propositions it has now submitted to
you-scrutinize their logical bearing and
tendency, and some correct idea may be
formed of what is in store for you, if you
longer entrust it with power. Take, for in
stance, the township system, which provided
that each township should work its own
| roads, and keep them in order by tax on
property, as well as labor. This was one OF
| the provisions OF the Constitution as it came
from the Republican Convention that framed
it, and which Republican Congress would
| not consent that the people should vote on
separately with the test oath feature. No
sooner did the Democratic party feel secure
in power, than it struck this wise and Just
provision from the Constitution, and threw
the entire burden Of the public roads upon
the laborers, to the exclusion Of property.
Without examining tie amendments, the
people voted for them under the party whip,
thus inhicting upon themselves this grievous
wrong. We warned them against the amend
ments, appealed to them to vote against
them, but the warning was tlisregarded, be-
cause It came f ON Republican newspaper.
We again warn you, people of Virginia,
against the insidious and stealthy destruc-
ton Of your rights, which Is embraced in the
amendments now proposed by the democra-
tic party. Just as certain as these amend
ments are adopted and democratic ascend
eney perpetrated the free school system in
Virginia will be destroyed. 1t is because