Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-22
SATURDAY. DECEMBER %. 1888.


The Fathers OF The Republic 20 framed The
Tederal Consilin,ion A. 10 require The Presi'
dent OF the United states 10 be chosen by
electors "appoinied'. dhe word In the
Constitution ~ "oppoint y Tor that purpose,
snd not by toe people. We all know how
thst provision has operated. Virtually the
president f. elected by the people, for the
electors are assumed 10 be IN honor bound
20 vote for the man whom their constitu-
ents instruct them 20 support; and II one
wore 10 exercise his lawful right Of voting
for man not Designated 10y the popular
vote, said elector would probably be looked
upon as periured criminal, or at least as a
traitor.
The provision In a city's charter that 1t
shall require a two-thirds vote TO appro-
priate money operates not TO the saving OF
money but 90 the wasting Of it-thst is, after
such law hls been IN force for siew years.
Whyi Becsuso 80 becomes necessary to
buy vote. Tor good object bv appropria'
sing money 10 objects not merltorious.
So also as 10 the veto power Of the Prcsi-
dent OF the United sfatcs. We are not by
any means prepared 10 say that it ought TO be
taken away. bat We cannot help seeing that
81 produces results eN1ctly the opposite Of
those which ~ was dci.ncd 90 accomplish.
A riyer.ard-harhor bin. which. il IL contain
81 only merlmious items. would appropr-
sie. sav. fifteen millions o. dollars. is made
f. appropriate several millions more In or
der 10 secure votes enough in the House OF
Representative and the senate 10 pass IT
over lho Presidents veto.
Yuein1 in 1876, we believe IL was, added
- beer Constitution q provision making the
payment OF pol-iaX prerequisite to
voting. For several years il operated adj
mirably Buf when 10 was Thought 70 hsve
been made manifest that MAHoNE could IN
the North get twice 1s much money to use
fn ra,tng thc faxes NJ deiinqueuts as the
democrat. could ct there or elsewhere Cor
Ahkc purpose the white people resolved to
"eiunate" that provision from The Constr
funon. Il was stricken ont several years
ago.
our North Carolina friends. who have
possibly not thoroughly studied the ques-
ton, uow PROPOSE, We are told, TO pass q
law" 10 rr-tofc "thc OLD law requiring all
voter. to p,y pol-tax. We do not know
yn,l fine Constitution OF North Carolra pro-
,ides as TO the qualifications OF her voters (;
Dot IT these qualifications are specified IN
TIE Constitution. OF course, the Legislature
cannot add TO Them This question has been
decided repeatedly n one form or another;
and as no State has better lawyers than North
Carolina. we take It that The proposition is TO
l,,,s fl law. ii the Constitution viii permit
this to Doe done. or 70 amend the Constitution
it.cf II necessary, n order 10 make the
plvment oi poUl.taX q prerequisite TO
voting. In other words, North Caro-
Ina will take the risk Of having 10
eVpeflencc toe ms from which Virginia was
o, recently freed. Perhaps the North Caro-
lima Democrats are more liberal than ours.
IT not 10 is pcTious experiment which we
avs informed is about u be tried. NOBODY
can tell how many voters who would other
wise have voted the Democratic ticket voted
the Republican ticket IN Virginia in 1870
because they held the Democratic party re-
fpouAble for roquIrIns them 10 pay poll
tlx or not vote. Many men who pay the tax
DO not Ike thc fact that they are competed to
pay TO- Others will not pay 1t. bat will vote
with the man who pays Il for them. In q
word. a law requiring mou TO pay a tax as a
qualification for voting is 10 be claSsed with
those laws which do not operate as they were
intended TO operate.