The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-22
More Reconstruction.

1t cannot have escaped the attention OF
our readers that there are In the North al
least, II not In the South, certain persons
who are in favor OF deprIying Virginia OF
portion Of her representation IN Congress
beeause Of that feature OF her State Consti-
mtion which requires capitation tax TO be
paid az a prerequisite TO voting. This
scheme IL supposed to be one which, II they
obtain possession OF the next Congress, the
Republicans will forthwith attempt 10 carry
ont not only in this but in any other south
ern State that may have any law which viii
give them an excuse for such a measure.
Their endeavor will be TO pass law re-
apportioning representation, which law Will
give TO the North larger relative vote In
the national House Of Representatives, and
by consequence In the general Electoral
College. On this subject we have received
the following letter:
NEW YORK, October 10, 1890.
| Editors of The Richmond Dispatch
Dear Sirs,--Ata late meeting of the Re-
publican National Committee the following
remarks were made on Mr.. JeweiPs resoiu"
| ton:
Mr.. JEWELL: al think an effort in
Virginia. South Carolina, and Florida
should be made for both electoral and con.
eressional tickets. NV information is posi-.
tive that we can succeed in measure on
both"
Mr.. r.. c. PLATT: "Mr. Chairman,
am willing TO make every possible effort for
electoral votes, but by all means we should
try and gain members Of the House. II is
more important in that section, as we may
not need the electoral votes but our con-
tempidted reconstruction, by which we must
guarantee TO every State republican form
of government, cannot be consnmmated
unless we get majority Of tue House Of
Representatives"
Mr.. NEW: would such members be
likely to vote for,such measures in case they
were elected? Unless they would, j see no
good reason to waste money on them which
can be put to better advantage"
Mr.. PLATT: "When we had Republi-
can members from the South prior to 1874
they never hesitated TO go with us in all our
measures, and have no doubt they would
do so again."
Tue resolution was adopted.
We shall not at present devote much time
or space to this contemplated outrage upon
the South, as we canBot well understand
how such an outrage is TO be consummated.
II the Republicans had not heretofore yio-
lated the Constitution so frequently and
recklessly in their efforts to provide for the
continued ascendancy OF their party, we
should hardly deem such a scheme worthy
OF notice. But when we recall the nfamies
of reconstruction we ought not 10 doubt
that the Republicans will be equal TO the de-
mands of the occasion, even ii they have 10
overlook in Rhode Island and Massachusetts
what is a crime in Virginia. The following
Is the provision OF the Federal Constitution
upon which these enemies of mankind pro.
pose to base their action:
Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according 10 their
numbers, counting the whole
number of persons in each State, excluding
Indians not taxed. But when the right 10
vote at any election for the choice OF electors
for President and Vice-President OF IT. q
United States, representatives in Congrf IS.
he executive and judicial officers Z 4 a
State, or the members of the Legisl Ature
thereof, is denied to any OF the ms .ie in
nabitants of such State, being twe' Jty-one
years of age and citizens OF the United
States, or in any way abridged, kept for
in rebellion or other crime,
he basis OF representation there in sh,Il be
Ieduced in the proportion which, the num-
Der of such male citizens shall bear TO the
whole number of male citlze.ns twemty-one
years Of age in such State - Consti tuition
IF the United States, + fourteenth amend
Went, second section.
1t would be well FOR our candidates tor
Congress to inter- ,gate their competitors
On this subject. If these dare TO aTow
themselves In lavor of it, The whites viii
desert them. If they denounce the schEme
he negroe q will desert them.