The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-01

on those whose industry has accumu-
lated visible property. The profigate
and the vicious enjoy equally with
the industrious the protection of the
laws, the free education of their chill
dren and the administration of JUS
tice, and they should not jeopardize
by their votes the excellence of those
laws, unless they contribute some
thing to support government, and
thus show an interest in its admins
tration.
The joint resolution does not pro-
pose to disqualify from voting those
who fail to pay property tax, for the
simple reason that property when
taxed can be seized by the tax col
lector and sold, and payment can be
thus compelled.
The comptrOller's report shows that
the school delinquent and uncollected
pOll-taX for the year 1882 was over
S92, OOO-enOugh money to give four
months instruction to 10000 chill
dren of those poll-taX delinquents. If
the proposed change in the constitu-
ton should have no other effect than
to induce those who should have
paid that tax to pay it in future, it
will relieve to that extent the indus
triOus element of society whose prop
erty is taxed to educate the children
of those delinquentS.
The character of those who should
have paid that delinquent poll toX
cannot be disguised. They consist
chiefly of the thriftless, idle and semi
vagrant element of society of both
races, whose number, as shown by the
above figures, is alarming. They are
often the fathers of children for whose
education others are taxed, and
use the elective franchise reckless
of results, and too often on election
day they are the plant tools of de-
signing men. In many localities they
are so numerous that our best citi-
zens will not become candidates for
positions of trust, because they Will
not resort to the means deemed neces-
sary to secure the element known as
'the floating vote"
The joint resolution proposes that
the payment of the poll tax shall be
at least thirty days before the cleo
ton. Thus some security is found in
the fact that no one would attempt to
control the vote of corrupt man by
advancing money to pay his poll tax
thirty days in advance of his vote. 1t
proposes also that the collectors GER
tificate of the tax payment shall be
stamped when the vote is cast, and
this affords security against frdudu-
lent repeating.
The tax collector of any county can
furnishing startling revelations con-
corning the character of these de-
iinquent poll tax payers. They often
represent the extremes of society.
The bankrupt husband living in lux
lry, pays an AL valorem tax on the
property of his wealthy wife, and
laughs at the effort to collect from
him poll tax. The poor negro. who
has but one horse, is compelled
to. pay it, for its collection
can be enforced by the sale
of his horse; while the vicious and
reckless of both races who own moth
ing, and constitute the most active
element at elections, escape its pay
ment altogether.
If property qualification Is feared
as likely at some time to follow the
adoption of the proposed amendment,
it is respectfully suggested that the
state constitution in article IL, section
10. already contains it. 1t is there
provided tn 1t no one but tax payer
in city or town can vote to levy
tax for school purposes. If a syS-
TEN of local taxation for schools
shall be extended to the
the rural districts, the same rule must |
be adopted, or property would be con- |
tiscated under the taxing power, by |
the votes of those who have children
.afn1 RI &c hnI hnf
all of your committee concede this to |
be true, and favor such tax in school |
districts. The undersigned cannot |
subscribe to the doctrine that the pay
ment of property tax is necessary to |
qualify one to vote in city or school |
district. and yet. that not even poll |
tax should be required of him who |
votes for governor and state officers;
unless it be true that the good of So
ciety is more involved in local cleo
tons than in general elections, where
the highest interests of the lives. lib
erty and property of all the people of
the state are concerned.
The proposition involved in the
joint resolution is not new and is
recognized in the constitutions of
many of the states.
In Georgia the citizen cannot vote
unless he has paid all the taxes due
to the state. Constitution Of 1851
In Tennessee no one is permitted
by the constitution to vote unless he
has paid poll tax.
In New Hampshire no one can vote
who does not pay taxes to support
government, and this has been the
law since 1898.
In New Jersey, as in Texas, no
pauper can vote.
In Pennsylvania no man can vote
who has not paid state or county
tax, at least one month before the
election.
In Rhode Island no one can vote
who is net "really and truly possessed
If real estate of the value of S134
ibove all membranes" and his deed
must have been recorded ninety days
before the election.
In Connecticut the voter must. be
If good moral character, and must
rave paid county tax before he Of
ers to vote. Constitution of 1873.
The tendency to relieve the ballot
)oX from the incubus of vice and ig-
torrance is shown by the constitutions
# other states.
In Massachusetts the voter must be
lille to write his name and read in the
English language the constitution OF
lis state, while Missouri, Colorado
nd Florida fix period in the near
uture after which an educational
qualification shall be required.
While the undersigned do not advo-
ate property qualification, it is re-
pectfully submitted that lib
rty is only such when regu- :
ated by law, and that the
nion of communism and democ- 5
acy has through all time, when sue.
essful, eliminated in despotism the {
most terrible. There is no error con
erning government more fallacious !
han the belief that elections or the
allot are the sole basis of liberty. 9
'hough liberty requires elections. yet Z
Then they are not controlled by intel =
gence and patriotism, they become :
IS most terrible enemies.
Those who achieved our independ- 7
nee were more jealous than we OF K
heir privileges, and when they or q
aniZed new territories, suffered no !
ne to vote unless they had fixed in e
crest in thesoil. The act of the con- o
ress of July Is. 1887. organizing the :,
northwest Territory, now covered by y
he states of Ohio, Illinois and Indi-
IA, permitted no one to vote at q
,rritorial election unless he owned v
fly acres of land. [Sec. 10.l
The men who made this law were e
l0 cOmD2niOnS of Washington in | X