The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-08-26


impartial judgment of the country will ar
rive.
Capitation Tax Restriction.
Judge Allen and his party, following and
adopting the advice and the notions of DR..
Motfett, are committing great blunder in
this contest by assailing free ballot. in
opposing the repeal OF the unconstitutional
restriction upon the privilege of voting
There is not an intelligent gentleman in the
Democratic party who does not know and
believe that the constitutional amendment
requiring the capitation tax to be paid as
prerequisite to voting, was designed to Cir
cumvent the Constitution of the United
States. Its object was to diminish the Re-
publican vote by fixing price upon the
right of suffrage, and to that degree de-
grade the elective system. Whatever objec-
tions may be urged against manhood suff,-
rage. it must be admitted that the present
method of restricting it, is source OF i'm
measurable corruption, and calculated to
instigate and encourage antagonisms and
arrangements between classes, and disturb
the order and peace of society. The poor
man, whether black or white, is compelled
to work the public roads, although he pos
sesses neither vehicle nor animal to travel
them-to shoulder his musket in times
of war, and by his labor create values as
the source of government support. Yet
because he cannot pay his dollar pOll-taX, at
a stipulated period, he must be deprived OF
the privilege of saying who is to make the
ditional humiliation placed upon him be-
cause of his poverty. This harsh and des-
potic State constitutional provision was de-
signed primarily to strike at the negro, and
deny him that which the Constitution of
his country says he has right to enjoy.
No thought is given to the long servitude to
which he had been subjected as chattel
slave-forbidden access to books and
schools; moral training and development
discountenanced and even inhibited by
statutes. and the most sacred sanctities OF
social existence held as a sealed book to
him. His labor has educated many OF the
very men who are now engaged i'll this cru
SADIE against his rights, and this organized
purpose to inficI upon him degradation and
humiliation. The best interests of govern
ment and society, of civilization and h u
manity, demand that instead of incess ant
warfare being waged upon the rights OF the
colored citizen, he should be encouraged
and stimulated by kind treatment, indul-
gent consideration of his history and chris
tian endeavor for his improvement.
In aiming at the negro, toe, the poor white
man is stricken down. Out OF the 71,O00
capitation tax delinqueEts in Virginia 10000
are whites. There is scarcely one of these
disfranchised citizens who does not contrib
ute to the prosperity and progress OF the
State through his labor, and create the val
ues which are the basis of the revenue sys-
tenn of the State. He may not himself have
the essential dollar in his pocket to pay his
own tax. after supporting his family ON
meagre wages, but his sweat and toll create
the wealth which more favored persons en-
JOY and are enabled to meet their obliga-
tions to government and keep its wheels in
motion. The labor of the country is its
salt. Without it property would be worth
less 1t is the defence of homes in war,
and the machinery which moves the gov
eminent in peace, and to deny it partici-
patton in the privilege which it really Gre
ates and makes possible, is an assault upon
the foundation principles of Republican in
situations.
And why is this constant warfare being
made upon the negro? Is it proposed to
make political necessities the excuse for
striking at constitutional rights and by. in
siduous methods strip the citizen the laws
have made, of the privileges the statutes
clothe him with? Will not christian men
reflect over his history and weigh their duty
i'm the light of the past and present-eXer-
else charity towards the defects which are
the emanation of a system which they
themselves encouraged and sustained, and
take step forward in the path which
leads to higher civilization, to more hui
name attainments, and the enlightenment
and elevation of those who have been kept
in ignorance and moral stupor by our own
laws and institutions?
There is a great moral responsibility just
here, and whether it is recognized now or
not, the time is coming when it will be
made transparent, and the penalties OF a
gross moral delinquency press heavily
upon those who consult their prejudices and
party necessities, instead Of the progressive
forces which upheave social and political
systems and scatter the agencies which re-
press the underlying principles of Republi-
can government and christian civilization.
Gen. Hampton's Iowa Letter.
A friend has sent us the Chicago Times,