Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-21
The Capitation Tax.

~. That recognizing their obligation
and proclaiming their intention to sup
port and obey the Federal and State
Constitutions as the only sure protec-
ton of the civil and political rights OF
the citizen, and the only safe bulwark
against encroachment upon the liberties
Of the residuaries Of sovereignty in all
popular governments, the Re-Adjus~
tiers reiterate their purpose to vindicate
and maintain the constitutional rights
OF the citizen TO the exercise OF q free
and priceless suffrage"
The above is one of the plsnks of the
platform Of the 7th of July convention.
What does it mean, this priceless suf-
frace? The price so called by its OF
ponents, under the constitution TO en-
title..a man to vote is the capitatien--tax
required by law for the preceding
year. The Conservative people Of Vir-
GINA with great unaminity adopted an
amendment 10 the constitution fxirg
this price only few years ago. The
white people Of Shenandoah and Of the
other Valley counties voted for this
amendment almost 10 a man. The
negroes Of East Virginia did not pay
their capitation tax, and yet participa-
ted In the school fund made up largely
ofthis tax. A part Of the school money
pad by the people Of Shenandoah and
other Valley counties was, and is now,
sent east to aid in the education Of the
children of these negroes. 1t was right
therefore that this stimulus should be
applied TO induce the payment by the
negroes Of East Virginia Of the small
pittance Of one dollar Ii the shape OF
tax which enured entirely to their benc-
ft. 1t was for this reason mainly that
the above amendment to the consti-
tuition was so unanimously endorsed by
the white people of the Valley. If the
effect Of the amendment has b0en 10
work the Acknowledgement Of the ne
groes Of East Virginia we Of the VAL
ley have no regrets especially as the ne
groes voted in 1869, to a man, for that
clause.in the State Constitution which
was.submitted TO a separate vote Of the
people, which. il it had not been de-
feated, would have precluded ninety
nine out OF every hundred white men IN
the State from holding Office. The
legislature Of last winter passed reso-
luton to submit another amendment to
the people doing away with the pay
ment of the capitation tax as q pre-
sequite TO voting. The legislature to
be elected in 1881 must approve Of the
resolution before this amendment can
DO submitted. The 7th OF July COM
vention declared in favor Of it. The
same body Of men that put sanother
electoral ticket IN the field to divide the
democratic vote Of Virginia, the 10.
evitable result Of which. will be tc give
the State To Garfield next November,
declares IN favor Of a priceless suffrage,
which means the restoration 10 the
negroes OF East Virginia Of all the
political power they ever had, without
the contribution of one copper under
the laws for their education-and yet
the people of Shenandoah are asked to
endorse the action Of this convention,
and support the electoral ticket put
forward by it. We would direct special
attention to the following very able
article on the subject from the Rocking
ham Register. 1t should be read by
every farmer in the Valley.
"TIme and again we have invited the
5axspaYers and property-holders Of the
Valley to a serious consideration OF the
determined purpose of Anew scheming
politicians to change the organic law OF
this Commonwealth so as to allow the
solored voters Of Eastern Virninia 10
vote without paying their head tax
This matter rises about petty politics,
aud touches the property and the we'll
being Of the laboring, industrious and
Conservative class In this State. We
all remember the overwhelming ma
joritY by which the law, as it now
stands, was made "a part Of the State
Constitution. This was done at time
when the conservative people OF the
State were free to canvass the whole
matter, unbiased by prejudice, and un.l