The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-19
Constitutional Amendments.


In recurring to.tl,e constitutional amend
mcnts proposed by the Democratic party of
Virginia. through the Democratic I.egisla-
t,lrc, and which are to be voted on by the
people at the election in November next, we
arc controlled by sense Of duty to the peo-
pie. There are deep designs in these en-
graftmcnts upon the fundamental law of the
State, which do not appear upon the surface.
They are insiduous, wicked, radical, reyolu-
tionary and diabolical, and involve interests
so far reaching and momentous, that no man
who reyeres the right OF citizenship as now
secured, can lightly regard them.
The amendment proposed to article 3, sec
ton of the Constitution is one of the most
arbitrary and despotic of the whole series,
and to it we desire to call especial attention
this week, and to impress upon each voter
the magnitude Of tho interests involved in
the change.
The Constitution as it now reads provides
in section of article 3, "tIiat every male cit
izcn of the United States, twcnty-one years
of age, who shall have been resident Of this
State twelve months, and of the county. city
or town. three months next preceding any
election, shall be entitled to cote apon all
questions submitted TO the people at such cleo
tons, and provided, also. that the following
persons shall be excluded from voting: first,
idiots and nnatics second, persons convict
ed Of bribery IN any election, embezzlcment,
treason or felony; third, no person who,
while citizen of the State has since the
! adoption of this constitution fought duel"
&c.
The amendment proposed to this article
and section, to he substituted for the clause
| following the words preceding any cleo
| ton" and reading shall be entitled to rote
! upon all QUESTIONS submitted to tie people
| at such election.'' reads
land SHALL HAVE PAID TO THE STATE
BEFORE THE DAY OF ELECTION TEE CAPT.
TATIoN TAX REQUIRED By LAW FOR THE
PENDING YEAR. SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
VOTE Fol. MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL AS
sEMBLY AND ALL oficers ELECTED BY
| THE PEOPLE
And after the word felony, the clause Tor
petit larceny is added. The amendment
also provides that the General Assembly
shall have power by Il two-thirtls vote to re-
| more disabilities incurred by this {third) arti
cle.''
Briefly, then, here is presented for adop-
| ton the following propositions
| lst The Acknowledgement Of all who may
fail, from whatever cause, 10 prepay the
! poll tax.
| I'd. To substitute for all questions on
which the people are entitled to vote. MEM
BERs of the General assembly md all Off
GERS elected By the people.
| 3d. Petit larceny is added to the dsquali-
| flying provisions of the Constitution.
4th. Dueling is encouraged, and has re-
moved from it the perpetual condemnation OF
| the law.
The first of these propositions I'VE have
heretofore considered, and have called atten-
ton to its practical operation should it be
! incorporated into the organic law OF the
State. We have claimed and established
beyond controversy, we think that it is de-
| signed to strike down the poor man, and
wrench from him the only weapon Of defense,
the ballot, with which he is invested under
feiture Of the elective franchise proposed be-
cause of delinquency i'll the payment Of the
tax on property. The freehold proprietor
may default in the settlement OF his obliga-
tions to the State, and still preserve the right
to vote. The poor man may, from various
causes which he cannot control, fail IN pay
| ing the poll tax, and he is reduced to sub
stantial vassalage.
| This proposition is nothing more than the
| revival of the dogmas Of feudalism, and ta-
ken in connection with the I'd propositions, is
| feudalism intensified.
| The people are not aware Of the monstrous
results that would legitimately follow the
adoption of this amendment. We shall brief
| ly explain its operation. and what would fol-
low.
| Under tile Constitution as it is, the cleo
| tive franchise is unrestricted. The people
have the right to determine all questions or
subjects of whatever nature, that affect their
interests, comprehenicd in the cardinal law
of the State now submitted to them. The
proposed amendment takes from them this
right, and limits the elective privilege to
members of the general assembly or other
! officers. Under this amendment, the Legis
lature could impose whatever restriction it
might please to the determination OF any
subject. For instance, il ar amendment to
the Constitution were adopted aDolishing the
public schools, it might be provided that
none but .ireeholders should vote upon it.
And so with any other subject. 1t would be
simply return to feudalism, with its arbi.
trary and despotic exacti0ns OF the great
There is nothing in the Constitution OF The
United States to prohibit freehold Gualifi-
cation to vote upon questions or subjects OF
State policy. So there is no discrimination on
account Of race, color or previous condition,
the Legislature would have the power to i'm
pose any restriction it might chose. The
operation of the amendment would affect all
alike, white and black, who were not free
holders at the time the question or subject
was submitted.
Indeed, it is impossible to explain the cx-
tent Of the power that might be exercised by
the Legislature under this amendment. The
word subject or question would embrace al.
most any arbitrary change. and the adop-
ton Of the proposition would as cffectually
take from the people the right to determine
matters affecting their own rights and inter-
ests, as though they had never had any.
There was evidently q deep design covered
up in the proposition. II it were not the
purpose to deprive the people of their rights,
why propose the amendments? The ballot
is unrestricted now. 1t covers all subjects
and questions, and makes them subordinate
to its verdict. II it were not to restrict their
liberty, why is this enlarged and dangerous
power asked for the Legislature?