The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-30
The Elective Franchise.

Tho Constitutional amendment requiring |
the prepayment of the poll tax as qualifiea-
ton to the exercise of the right OF suffrage will
have the effect to diminish the popular vote
of the State at least 100000. In the city Of
Stanton, where we have polled over 1900
votes. there are not at present over seven
hundred who are qualified to vote under the
constitutional provision. At the last election
for members of the Legislature there were
1900 de!inquents in Augusta county. When
II is remembered that this is one Of the most
intelligent and wealthy counties in the
Commonwealth, we may form some idea OF
the number that will be disqualified in the
entire State, anu it will be found, we think,
that the figures we have given will fall short
rather than exceed the aggregate thus de-
prived of the elective franchise. We are sat
isfied that the trainers OF the amendment
did not anticipate such a result, and we can
hardly believe that they carefully consider
ed its relations to the Federal Law and the
amendments to the National Constitution
when they determined to submit it to the
vote of the people, and rush it through I'M
der the whip and spur Of party. The act OF
Congress providing for the restoration OF
Virginia to her original relations to the
government and representation in Congress,
contains a clause especially inhibiting the
impairment OF the right of the elective fran
chise, and the amendments to the National
oil
franchise shall ever remain sacred.
On the 26th of January, 1870, an act OF
Congress was approved by the President to
admit the State of Virginia to representation
in the Congress of the United States on GER
tain conditions.
First. That the Constitution OF Virginia shatt
xeyer be so amended or changed as to deprive
aay citizen or class Of citizens OF the United
States of the right to vote who are entitled
to vote by the Constitution Aerebyrecoga'sed,
except as q punishment for crimes as are
now felonies at common law, &c.
The 14th amendment to the National Con-
stitution provides that 'sall persons born or
naturalized in the United States,and subject
to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens Oh
the United States and of the State wherein
they reside
It is clear to our mind from the reading OF
the statutory enactment and the fundamen-
tai law of the nation that it was beyond the
power of the State of Virginia to in any way
impair the right OF suffrage or restrict the
right of citizenship. This view is fortified
by the apportionment for representation
in Congress, the basis of which in the South
was enlarged by reason of the enfranehlse-
nent of the colored man; giving this section
thirty-fve members of Congress more than
she had under the old superintendent. The
Increased numerical vote was the basis OF the
increased representation, and the practical
Acknowledgement of portion OF that vote,
by imposing constitutional restrictions,
would imply that the representation would
have to be diminished.
1t was evidently the intent, as the Ian
guage clearly conveys, OF Congress, IN the
adoption of the law We have above quoted,
as we'll as the 18th amendment to the Con-
stitution, to inhibit any such restriction as
is imposed by the Constitution of Virginia,
as recently amended. requiring the prepay
menS of spe cited tax as prerequisite to
the exercise OF the right toyote. And while
the purpose was to strike down the negro
vote by this requirement, it has had wider
range, and takes in the poor white man also.
This class of persons is just as essential to
the well being Of the State, as those more ia
yored of fortune. The labor element is Just
as much factor in the organization OF gov
eminent and the prosperity of commnni-
ty as the man OF property, and while the IA
borer may not receive more for his toll than
scantily supports himself and those DEEPEN
dent upon him, yet he is none the less an
indispensable and valuable part OF the body
polite. In time of danger, when State and
Nation are threatened, it is this class OF per-
sons whose bodies and lives are exposed to
death in defense of the property OF the citi-
zens and the autonomy Of State, and if the
laws and policy Of the government can COM
mand his life in such emergencies, there can
not be any justice or right in depriving him
of participating in the government, through
the ballot, which his all is dedicated to de-
fend If the citizen can be commanded to
bear arms, public policy demands that he
should be privileged to vote, and if taxes OF
any kind are assessed against him, let them
be collected by due process Of law. The
Constitutional Amendment Of Virginia to
which we refer, is in conflict with the spirit
and genius of our institutions, as we'll as the
national law and constitution, and the test
should be at once made whether the laws
and constitution of the United States are
subordinate to those of the State OF Virginia.
Democratic Protest.