Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-05-06
COMMUNICATED
Editor Ne,eS:-


While Congress is engag-
ed in death struggle to free the Ballot
Box from the Bayonet, we have here IN
Virginia, influences at work, silently,
insidiously and effectually polluting the
Ballot Box-which are more dangerous
to liberty than the Federal bayonet.
Irefer more especially to the practi-
cal workings and demorslizing effects of
the law, which requires the citizen to
pay his poll-tax before he can vote.
1t is true the Constitution was amend
ed by a vote of the people, making the
poll-tax one of the qualifications to vot-
ing, but it was never discussed before
the people, and its. disastrous effects I'M
derstood by them.
The theory of those who conceived
the unfortunate measure was that it
would cut off from the ballot box a
large portion of the colored vote of the
State and bring more money into the
Treasury. The law has signally failed
in both respects.
Another reason was that no citizen
ought to be allowed TO participate in the
affairs of Government who has contribu-
ted nothing to its support. The enforce
ment of the law has proven that the
votes of those who would not pay the
poll-tax, and could not be forced TO do
so, are now bought by such candidates
and their friends, as are able to pay u
dollar vote. In such eases the dollar
goes into the Treasury 1t is true, but
the voter, instead of being better citi-
zen, has, by the operation, bribery add
ed to his want of patriotism.
The party who pays the dollar for the
vote is guilty of bribery, and in viola
ton Of law, dcgradcs himself to an
cqality with the voter who sells his vote
for the dollar.
The bribcr is no better than the brib-
ed, and both on conviction, ought to be
disqualified from voting and holding
any Office in the gift of the people.
This law puts Office in Virginia, in a
measure beyond the reach of every poor
man, no matter how worthy or how
we'll qualified. The consequence is that
the offices are being filed by the unscru-
pulous rascals who work in by fraud.
The TrcasurerS and County Court
Clerks that are dishonest, can almost
control the elections of their counties.
and serious complaints have been niade
against these officers IN many counties
Of The State. In many instances, it Is
said, they have allowed tax tickets and
their receipts to be used for purposes of
voting, without requiring the tax TO he
paid, the tickets and receipts being re-
turned when used at the polls.
Some effort has been made to correct
these abuses and frauds.
1t Is Il misdcmcanor for any person to
pay the poll-taX of another, with the
understanding or argument that the
voter is to vote for any particular per-
son.
If the honest voters of the county.
who pay their olea poll tax, will be Oh
the watch, the buyers of votes, as well
as those who sell, may all be brought TO
punishment.
The writer has evidence, deemed al
most positive, that u pool Of money has
been contributed TO buy up voters to
carry what Is known as the Court House
Ring ticket and that money has been
sent, and whiskcy engaged for every
precinct In the county
The combination Is well known all
over the county, and IL the honest men
Of the county, who want fair elections
and the ballot kept free from pollution,
will only sec to IL, that every man who
Is suspected Of buying voters, and every
one suspected of selling. are reported to
the next grand jury-this crying evil
may be scotched, and eilcctualiy broken
up. X