The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-02
A Poll Tax.

A constitutional amendment was adopt
ed in Virginia last November requiring
every voter to prepay State poll tax.
On Thursday week county elections were
held throughout the State, and the vote
polled was very light, owing to non-pay-
ment of the tax. In some counties, it is
said, not one vote was pOlled, the voters
Of both parties having neglected or for
gotten to pay the tax.
While all the States contiguous to Mary
land have poll tax, the policy of this
State has always been adverse to a tax Of
this kind. Our fathers Inserted prohibit
ton of it in the Bill Of Rights, and
although number Of Constitutional Con-
ventions have been held to alter our
organic law, it has never been eliminated.
1t would seem, therefore, that the reasons
which caused this inhibition were good
and have stood the test OF time and ex,
perienee. Nevertheless, there are many
persons in the State who favor a tax by
the poll, getting the idea, no doubt, from
the surrounding States which have levied
such tax.
The 18th and 10Th articles of the Bill of
Rights read as follows;
Art. I. That the right ofthe people to par
tieipate in the Legislature is the best security
Of liberty and the foundation Of all free gov.
eminent; for this purpose elections ought to
be free and frequent; and every white male
citizen, having the qualifications prescribed by
the Constitution, ought to have the right OF
suffrage.
Art. To- That the levying of taxes by the
poll is grievous and oppressive, and ought to
be prohibited; that paupers ought not to be
assessed for the support Of the government;
but every person in the State, or persons hold
ing property therein, ought to contribute his
proportion Of public taxes for the support of
the government, according to his actual worth
in real or personal property; yet, fines, duties
or taxes, may properly and justly be imposed
or laid, with a political view for the good
government and benefit of the community.
The idea of poll tax is based upon a
very fair and plausible theory which holds
that the burden of government is for the
good of all, and thata all men ought to bear
proportionate share in it, according to their
worth in realty and personally, and that
those who are possessed Of neither ought
to pay poll tax if it be only the nominal
sum of one dollar, and the right of suffrage
made dependent upon its payment. The
theory, we say, is plausible one, but in
its practical workings it has been found Of
corrupting and burdensome tendencies.
There always will be class Of men who
will not pay their poll tax, but look for it
to be paid for them by the candidates who
are voted for at elections, or by joint con
tributions Of clubs, or the friends of the
respective candidates. This is corrupting
aud burdensome and tends to demoraliza-
ton. Ia all closely contested elections an
immense sum has to be raised by the re-
spective parties to pay the poll tax of men
unable or unwilling to pay it themselves,
but whose votes are important in the
general result, but who cannot vote unless
their poll tax is paid. If it be commended
that this condition of their voting is wrong
and ought not to be imposed, as it actsas a
restriction upon the right of suffrage which
ought to be free to all men, then we an
swer that such tax cannot be collected
without it, and would be perfectly useless,
except as means of DISTINGUISHING a
large class of voters, which according to
the theory laid down in the Bill of Rights
would not be desirable, as in government
of the people all the people ought to par
ticipate in it.