Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1889-11-16
THE RIGHT 10 VOTE

pc6u uc1loO TIC hiSho VI o0i%Ao SC
that the laws of this country did
not guarantee TO him the privileges
which he has striven to exercise.
The Article XIV Constitution of
the United States reads:
"All persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject 10 the
jurisdiction thereof, are citlzens IL the
United States; and OF the state wherein
they reside"
This then includes all colored |
men and as it is evident as well as
specifically declared that all citi-
zens shall be entitled to vote there |
can be no question on that subject
This not being explicit enough.
the law-making power of this coun
try proceeded further in Article
XIV when it declared.
/. 1.-The right OF citizens of the
United States 70 vote shall net be de-
MED or abridged by The United states
or by any state on account of race, col
or, or previous condition.
4. Congress shall have power to en-
force this ~ ticle by appropriate legisla
ton"
So much for tie laws of the
United States on this subject.
For the benefit OF states rights
Democrats who although they
have sworn otherwise are yet
ready to render first allegiance to
the state, we viii quote from the
Bill of Rights OF old VIRGINIA:
NsSThat all men are by nature equally
free and independent, and have certain
inherent rights of which, when they
enter INTO - state of society, they can
not. by any compact deprive or divert
their posserity, namely, the enjoyment
Ct See and liberty, witt the means 1T
ac ing anu posse Iug nrnreriv. 81
pursuing and ODtSsnihS psness a.
safety"
That is plain, but positive Ian
guage. No provision in the Con-
stitution OF the United States is
more radical or far-reaching. 1t
declares eternal principles, and
sends laundering down the ages
the names of the men who could
and did draft such document.
Norman enjoys liberty as under
stood by the law who is denied the
right TO vote. Article ILL of the
Constitution Of Virginia reads:
Every male citizen of the United
States, LwenJy-one years old, who shall
have been resident of this state twelve
months, and OF the county, city OF
town in which he shall otter TO vote
three months next preceding any cleo
ton sh. II be enllLleO 10 vote Tor mem
beers OF the general assembly and AL
officers elected by the peop1e."
There can be no misunderstood
ing on this subject. The state law
clearly defines who shall be allow
ed 10 vote while the United States
law declares that no state shall dt
nv to citizens the right TO vote.
When a state, city or county
fails to provide the proper facilities
for voting it debars citizen the
privilege to exercise that power
which the laws Of tie United States
say he shall exercise.
Colored men, citizens of thu
country contrary to the plain pro
visions of The law were unceremo
niously DISTINGUISHED in the face O
the fact that the law Of the stat
of Virginia declares that it shal
shall not be done save upon con
viction for ''bribery in an election
embezzlement of public funds, tres
son, felony or petty larcency." Tn
colOred man, ISAIAH THOMA
residing at Is e. Baker ST., an
who applied for, and was denie
the right Of suffrage was so treat
ed in violation of not only the law
of the United States, but of th
State of Virginia. This was equa
ly true concerning the 100 colore
men in HenricO County and til
thousands OF DISTINGUISHED me
in Lynchburg. 1t is needless I
declare that the parties refusin
them the right Of franchise belle
ed them dead, for the burden
proof in that case rested with til
accusers. These men were aliS
previous to and on election da.
DR.. JOHN II. LEWIS, who ws
marked dead is one of the large'
property owners in HenIico COul
ty, his vile being party to a sn
for nearly quarter of million
dollars. He was treated in tn
vnonnar