The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-01

he shall offer 10 vote three months next
nreccd,np any election, shall be entitled to
vote Tor members OF the General Assembly
and alI officers elected by the people: Pro-
yided. that no officer, soldier, seaman, or
marine of the United States army or navy
sbalI be considered resident OF this State
hv reasen Of being stationed therein: and
provided. also. that the following persons
shall be excluded from voting:
First. Idiots and lunatics.
Second. Persons convicted OF bribery In
anv election, embezzlement OF public funds,
treason. felony, or petit larceny.
Third. No person who while citizen Of
this State has since the adoption Of this
Constitution fought a duel with deadly
weapon, sent or accepted challenge TO
fight duel with deadly weapon, either
within or beyond the boundaries OF this
State. or knowingly conveyed a challenge,
or aided or assisted in any manner in fight
ing duel. shall be allowed to vote or hold
any Office Of honor, profit, on trust under
this Constitution.
Having been adopted by two success
sivcly-eleced Legislatures, :. ,gill he sub
mitted to fllc people at the next general
election for adoption or rejection. It's OBJ
ieet is to do away with the payment OF the
capitasion-taX as prerequisite for voting.
WHY CERTAIN DEMOCRATS VOTED TO REPEAL
THE POLL-TAX LAW.
In the House yesterday Mr.. MuntOrd
Democrat). of Pittsylyania county. i'm eX-
blaming why he voted for the bill to abol-
ish the poll-taX law, spoke substantially As
follows
Mr.. Speaker.-I desire to explain the
reasons which influenced me in casting
the vote which has Just been recorded
an explanation which / intend not so
much for the members who surround me
as for the people whom | have the honor
i'm part 10 represent upon this floor.
As is we'll known TO my friends, in
company with my Democratic col
leagues, / opposed before the people of
Pittsyyania during the recent canvass
the repeal OF the constitutional provision
recurring the payment OF the capitatiOn-
tax as a prerequisite TO voting; but see the
result OF that election. The methods by
which that result was attained, and the
practices rcsorted TO by the two political
parties. have convinced me that the opera
lion Of this law has been TO debauch the
voters OF our State and furnish easy OppOr-
tmity for destroying the purity and sane
tity Of our elections.
In my county, Mr.. Speaker, money was
sent to leading members OF the Rea1iuster
organization TO pay these delinquent taxes;
and canyaSSers were appointed TO ascertain
and report the names OF such OF the dclin-
quents us would vote the Readiuster ticket
II their taxes were paid for them; and thus
a deliberate bribe OF one dollar was offered
each OF these citizens in order 10 secure
their votes.
No doubt, Mr.. Speaker. in other locali-
ties similar practices were rcsorted to by
the Conservative party. Now, while ]
consider the prepayment OF one dollar TO
be but q small pittance TO require the citizen
To- contribute before he exercises the high
and important privilege OF hecleCtOn fran
chi>c, yet | cannot give my endorsement to
measure which feel assured i stripping
our elections Of the little purity and Sancti-
ty which surrounds them, and offers a
premium to bribery and political
corruption. our efforts should be 10
purify our elections and deepen the appre-
citation among the people Of the high and
important privilege which they exercise in
determining at the ballot-bON-thc men and
measures they shall obtain in our Govern
ment. Every measure which has such an
end i'm view will always receive my most
cordial appreciation and support. Beliey-
ing this law 10 have an exact opposite cf-
feet. | have cast my vote in favor OF SUBJ
hitting to the people the question whether
il shall longer remain - part OF the Con-
stitutiOn OF this commonwealth?
Mr.. Lyons stated that he had voted
against this Joint resolution two years ago.
hut henow thought itpropcr that he should
change his vote.
Mr.. T. Wiley Davis voted aye" in
order. a, he stated, 10 in concert with his
colleagues, Ne,sr>. Lyons and SpotSwood,
who voted "Ayc."
Mr.. c. L. Taylor was not present when
the vote was taken. being absent on leave.
INFORMATION ASKED FOR.
The following resolution, offered by Mr.
CardWell, was adopted:
ReS0rcd, That the Committee on Roads
and Internal Navigation be requested 10 in-
quirc and report to this House rs soon as
practicable what conditions OF the contract
authorized by act OF Assembly approved
February -. 1879, transferring rights and
franchises Of the james River and kanawha
Canal Company 10 the Richmond and Ale
ghany Railroad Company in regard to the
establishment OF tishWays, South-side con-
.
James River and KanaWha Canal Company
and assumed by the Richmond and Allie
ghany Railroad Company remain uniul-
filled.
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS.-Nlarks rs.
Spencer. Argued by ". W. Henry for ar-
pcllant and Major Charles :. Stringfellow
and j. A. Jones, Esq, for appellees, and
submitted.
/ POLICE CoURT.-The following cases were
disposed OF Yesterday:
Monroe Quarles (colorcd) was fined g
for fighting and abusing Henry Thompson.
+ lie was also charged with asSaulting and
+ beating William Page. This case was con-
/ tinued till to-day.
Charles Motley (colorcd), charged with
stealing one pocket-book from the person
Of Mrs. Burford. The case was continued
till Thursday.
Hattie Ward and Mary Johnson doth
colored) were fined s. each for lighting in
the house Of james Il. Fry.
Peter Brown (colorcd( charged with
stealing railroad iron-the property OF some
party unllnown-waS discharged.
Ned. Moseley (colored), charged with
petit larceny, was discharged.
HUMPTY DUMPTY LAST NIGHT.-A very
fair audience witnessed the performance OF
George II. Adams'S lIumpty Dumpty at the
Theatre last night, and ii is really true that
the performance was different from the old
shows OF similar name, and full Of new
tricks.
The pantomime was entirely new and
the mechanical tricks excellent. George
Adams as clown was a. clever as could be-
and repeatedly brought forth roars OF
laughter. At one time he Sprang from the
stage into one Of the private boxes, which
Nvas emnfv. and here Lis 0riginal criticism,