Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-20
A self-Disfranchiscd state.


The new constitution adopted in Geor-
gia recently contains provision which
If continued will cut down the representa-
ton of that State in Congress. In their
haste to dlsfranchise the negro. the fran
ers of the new constitution did not discov-
or that such a measure was two edged
tool. which would cut white as well As
black. democrat as well as republican.
The fourteenth amendment TO the consti-
tuition of the United States provides that
when the right to vote at the State and
National elections is denied to any male
inhabitant OF the State twenty-one years OF
age and a citizen of the United States, or
in any way abridged, except for partieipa-
ton in rebellion or other crime, the basis
of representation therein shall be reduced
in the proportion which the number Of
such male ciuzens shall bear to The whole
number of male citizens twenty-one years
of age in such State.
Under this provision of the United States
constitution any abridgment OF suffrage
except for crime, To- a State, must reduce
Congressional representation proportion
ately. Now by the new constitution in
Georgia it is prescribed us a qualification
that the citizen "shall have paid all
taxes which may hereafter be required of
him. and which he may have had an OPP
portuni,y Of paying. agreeably to law. ex
cept for The year OF the election" Under
the old constitution il was only necessary
for the voter to have paid his tax the year
before the election in order to be able to
vote but under the new qualification he
must make up all deficiencies in taxes,
for any number OF years of delinquency,
or he cannot vote. 1.-The new and more
extended disqualification in the constitu
ton of 1877" says a Georgia correspond.
ent of the New York World evil result in
the permanent Acknowledgement Of large
number of the voters of the State and
consequent decrease in Congressional rep
resentaton. Under the old constitution of
1868 a voters disqualification to vote by
reason of non-payment of taxes ceased.
yearly. Under the new constitution OF
1877 such disqualification increases until,
in the case of poor men, it must become
impossible of removal and permanent.
Every year the disqualification accumu-
lates, and every year the DISTINGUISHED will
increase in number, until 10 the course OF
eight or ten years, deem it no exaggera-
ton 10 say that from sixty to eighty thou
sand of the voters of Georgia will be per-
manently DISTINGUISHED, and at the next
apportionment of representatives the State
will lose several representatives, and thus
be shorn of her power and dignity in the
national councils"
There is already call for an amend.
ment Of the new constitution, before it has
gone into operation. in order to make II
change to prevent the threatened reduc-
ton of representation of the State in Con-
gress, and great wonder is expressed that
the Gordons, Hills and Stephens's of the
State had not knowledge and sagacity
enough to have seen that the disfranchise-
meut ofthe negroes would work its revenge
by lessening the power of The State in
Congress. What scheme will next be
concocted to make and keep the South
solid for the democracy?