Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-05-06
The Poll Tax Question Settled,
From the Richmond State.

We give below the explanation Of
Attorney General Field concerning
the vexed question Of the payment Of
the poll-taxas prerequisite to voting.
1t was called for in view Of the cleo
ton ordered in the First district to
fill congressional vacancy and al
'though perhaps too late to be of any
use in that election, as it takes place
to-day, yet, as the principle is fully
settled, and plainly so once and for
all time by this opinion, we give it
for general information, and would
suggest that all who are backward in
paying their poll tax should preserve
it for reference and institution. Re-
duced to its simplest terms, the Attor-
ney General decides that in all cleo
tons after the Ist Of January of each
year the payment Of the capitation
tax for the preceding year is a pre-
requisite qualification. This should
settle it. In order to be vo-
ter at any election happening within
the present year, the tax receipt for
1873 must be presented at the polls.-
Attorney General Field says
Dear sir,-Your letter Of the 2Ist
yesterday is received.
In answer thereto will say that the
capitation tax required to be paid be.
fore voting at the special COMPRESSION
al election to be held in your district
on the az inst. is the tax for 1878,
assumed between the Ist day of Feb
ruary and the Ist day Of July Of that
year, and payable on and after the
last named day.
The fiscal year has nothing to do
with the right Of suffrage. The "pre-
ceeding year" is the one indicated
and named in the constitution and
law.
Whenever and wherever an cleo
ton occurs, after the Ist day OF
January in any year, for any Office
made elective by the people, the capt.
tation tax required to be paid before
voting as the tax Of the next proceed
ing year.
AS a matter Of construction purely,
this conclusion seemed irresistible. -
But II does not depend alone upon
construction. BY the seventh clause
Of the ninth section of chapter fifteen
Code OF 1873, page 1914, II is declar-
cd that "unless otherwise expressed,
the word month shall be construed to
mean calendar month, and the word
year calender year; and the word
"year' alone shall be equivalent to
to the expression Of "year Of our
Lord"
Nothing Is left to oonstruction.--
The Legislative will is declared.
In this there is no hardship to the
voter, nor the deprivation of any
right lie has from the first day Of
July Of the preceding year up TO
and including the day before the
election Is held to pay his capitation
tax Of one dollar, and II in this time
he has failed to appreciate the value
Of the right Of suffrage, to the extent
OF paying his capitatlon tax, the
question may we'll be asked and con. |
sidcred whether he Is worthy to be
the custodian Of such franchise.
am, very truly yours
JAMES @. FIELD, Atty. Gen.
RICHMOND, April a6th, 1870.
Dear ST. tin reply 10
your question, will say that the vot.
a. has the right at any time, before
the day Of election, and before the
delinquent tax list Is made out by the
Treasurer, to pay to the Treasurer the
capitation tax. II Is the duty of the
Treasurer when this tax Is rendered,
to receive 1t and receipt for the same,
The payment may be made al the
Office Of the Treasurer at any time.
or at the place in the district which
the Treasurer has given notice thai
he will be for the prpose Of collecting
lanml