The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-04
Free Ballot and Fair Election.

Free Ballot and Fair Election.
Apart from any constitutional view of the
question, the capitation tax restriction has
demonstrated itself to be an obstruction to
a fair election and free ballot. The ruling
of the Attorney-General, that where the
assessor has failed to assess the capitation
tax, the party so neglected must hunt up
the assessor and have his name recorded
before he can pay his tax, Is partizan, I'M
just and designed to deprive the citizen OF
one of his dearest and most sacred privi-
leges. When the citizen has registered ac-
cording to law, and paid his capitstion tax,
be having thus discharged his part Of the
duties involved, there ia no justice in refus-
ing his ballot, because the assessor has
failed to do his duty. The partizan spirit
which prevails in the administration
of all the election laws, and the laws
bearing upon this subject, directly or
indirectly, is designed to prevent the vo-
ter from casting an unembarrassed ballot,
and for the law to be so construed as to
practical Acknowledgement. because the
State has failed in its duty. through its Off
GERS. is in conflict with the genius OF our
institutions. In many instances, the proper
vigilance is not observed by the officer In
making his assessments. 1t may be purpose
ly or it may be through carelessness or in
efficiency. But from W hatever cause the
duties imposed upon him by law are accident
ally or for purpose neglected, there is no
justice or right In holding the voter respon-
sible, and depriving him of one of his most
important rights as a penalty for the short
coming of the State.
Numbers of cases were brought to light
on election day where the citizen had regis
tered and paid his tax, thus qualifying him
self to vote SO far as to his affirmative duty,
but because The assessor had failed to place
his name on his books for the captation as
sessment, his vote was refused by the com.
missioners of election, under the construc-
ton of the law by the Attorney General
We cannot see the common sense or the
justice of this. The State has received from
the citizen the con sideration fixed in the
law for the privilege of voting-the price 1t
has set upon the ballot. in violation of its
solemn pledge and the plain command of
the National Constitution, and because the
State, through its officer. has failed to dis
charge its duty, has failed to comply with
its own,law for which it Is paid, the citizen
should be stripped of one Of his most sa :
cred and Important muniments. Is mon
strous to think of. Men who are known by
the election officers as citizens; who have
discharged all the duties pertaining to c.
zenship, have been refused the privile OF
voting for the reason that the assessor, either
through design or incompetency, had not
performed his duty.
This hedging the ballot about with fiimsy
and non-easential technicalities and hair
splitting constructions of the law, does not
comport with the purpose Of government
The object is only to prevent frauds at cleo
tions. Instead Of this the law officer of the
government has, by his ruling, virtually en-
couraged suppression OF the ballot, and
! the perversion Of the plain intention OF the
Constitution, operating as it does against q
fair election and free vote. The tempo
rary advantage thus taken of the citizen,
an especially the colored voter, whose ig-
norance is not properly chargeable to him.
self, will work out its own correction in the
course of time. Men who claim to be hon
est in their every days transactions, may
chuckle and laugh in their sleeves when
they have stricken down one OF the dearest
rights of citizenship but II their consciences
are not insensible to compunctions, they
will not rest as easy as II they had done the
square thing, and accorded to others that
justice they would that others should do
unto them. The colored man is citizen
under the laws and Constitution of his coun-
try-he is a factor in the political economy
Of the State, and there is but one Of two ways
to deal with him-honorably or dishonor-
ably-either to protect him in the rights the
Constitution guarantees TO him, or cheat
him out of them. Those who prefer the
latter course may do so. but there is day
Of retribution coming, as certain as virtue
is its own vindication, and crime its own
condemnation.