The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-14
The canitation Tax Restriction


Our contemporary of the Pulaski People
states that the vote on the repeal of the
capitation tax restriction upon the ballot.
does not take place this fall-that another
Legislature has to pass upon it before it
can be submitted to popular vote. This
is not correct. Two Legislatures have al
ready passed the repeating act, and the
final action is to be had on it this fall at
the ballot-box. 1t is important, too, that
this should be kept in mind, and a full
vote be gotten out so as to remove this
unjust and anti Republican obstruction
to free ballot. 1t should not be forgot
ten how it was endorsed by the people,
The VALLEY VIRGINIAN was the only pa
per in the State that exposed the wrong the
proposition inf icted, and the public faith it
violated. The Conservative press did not
discuss it at all. But the Executive Com
mittee of that party had its tickets litho-
corpOrated as part of it, and sent to every
county in the State as the ticket to be
voted. 1t was the party ticket and many
voted it, not really knowing what the con-
stitutlonal amendments were. Those who
would have opposed them, had they been
informed, were ignorant of the import and
their adoption was thus secured by large
majority. From that time to this. we have
made it one of our most exacting duties
TO present this question to the thoughtful
Of IL
have the satisfaction of believing that the
clause will be stricken from the Constitu-
ton by the voice OF the people next No
vember.
1t was one of the primary causes of the
disruption AID overthrow OF the Conserva-
tive party. 1t was an act Of bad faith, and
| could have borne no other fruit than dis
aster and ruin to the party that perpetrated
| it. To secure its repeal, the Republicans
| retired from organized action in the can
vass of 1877 and forced the debt question
upon the people, with view to dividing
the party that had been guilty of the wrong,
and then uniting their strength with the ell
ement that would favor the restoration Ct
the Constitution of 1869 to its original de-
mand on this subject as we'll as to effect
repeal of the whipping-post law, an equita-
| BILE settlement Of the debt and the protection
of the public schools. The Re-adjusters came
out squarely for all of these propositions and
while we differed from them on the debt
bill, the other questions were of such vital
| Importance to the people, that the Repub-
licans determined to support them, and by
placing them in power, secure the reforms
they wanted and which public policy as
| we'll as justice demanded. The Readjusters
proved true to every promise made, while the
Bourbon faction opposed every one OF the
propositions we have mentioned. 1t is for
| this reason that we support the Readjusters
now, and oppose the organization that is
contending against them.
1t is important that the people should
bear in mind that it will require major
ity vote in November next, to make effec-
| tive the action OF the last two Legislatures
on the repeal of this restriction. 1t will not
do to trust to the promises of those who
have heretofore uniformly opposed the re.
peal. Every precaution should be taken
and every effort put forth to make the vote
as pronounced as possible, for if there is
the least Indifference on the part of the
Liberals, the Bourbons will take advantage
of it and defeat one of the most vital inter-
ests to be determined.
This price upon the ballot has been the
cause Of untold corruption and injustice
1t has been one continuous source of bribe-
ry, debauchery and Generalization. and
every consideration that should animate
good citizens in the exercise of the right OF
| suffrage, should influence them to vote to
place the seal of condemnation upon law
| that has nothing but harm in it.