The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-04-24

order to prevent great inequality as to
power to vote between different free
holders, q maximum number of add
tional votes may be prescribed. The
average size of farms may be ascer-
tanned approximately and the basis be
so fixed as to avoid great inequality
as to the number of additional votes.
To illustrate, if the average of landed
possession is 400 acres, and 40 was
the basis for an additional vote, the
greatest number would be 10; and if
80 acres was the basis, 8 additional
votes would be the limit, and so on.
TO this may be added as many 9TH
or usefnl provisions as may be desir-
ed, including, If thought wise, one to
compensate men of special education
al qualification for lack of ownership
of land by giving them additional
votes as an equivalent. Indeed, the
plan suggested harmOnizes with every
other, but think renders all else un-
necessary. 1t would of itself secure
us in every county in the State against
all apprehension of the domination of
ignorance and vice. The plan is plas-
tic, and admits of modification. ANY
apprehended evil may be effectually
guarded against. Its practical execu-
ton will present no difficulty.
Its recommendations are its eff
cheney, its harmony with the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and the
act of Congress admitting Mississippi
to representation in Congress; its
fairness and justice, in depriving no
man of his vote; it's vesting the pow
er to control in the yeomen of the
country, who are the overwhelming
majority, and therefore, on Demo-
cratic principles, should govern it; its
simplicity, directness and honesty,
being an open and undisguised meth
cd of placing the government i'm the
hands of those who may be safely
trusted to govern it in the interest of
all. Then, it would elevate and
aggrandize ownership of the soil, and
make it attractive.
AS stated, an approximation to
equality of votes among the landhold-
ers be obtained, but an objection to
inequality in this respect has less in
it than may at first be supposed, for,
where one had little land or none, lie
would stillhave his vote with or with
out an additional one, while his neigh
Dor might have more, but that voter
may be his father, brother, or other
near relation or his friend, whose in
crease of power as a political factor
would inure to his advantage, and it's
possession should not be q cause of
dissatisfaction any more than the pos
session of greater wealth by that
nelghbOr is now a ground of complaint
by him. And the power of combina-
ton among those, having less, so as
by aggregation to overcome the few
having more than the average in COM
munity, is a safeguard against harm
from any inequality in power by indi-
viduals.
The objection that this plan wonld
create an aristOcracy or classes is I'M
founded. 1t simply seizes upon the
actual existing condition of things
among us, and recognizing and main
tanning manhood suffrage, depriving
no one of his right to vote, superadds
to manhood suffrage the additional
power to govern the country by con-
ferring it on those to whom it is be-
lieved it may be safely intrusted.
There is no patent of nobility, no
comforting of superior rights on iDdi-
viduals by name. There is an en-
largement of the power of the great
multitude who own the country, /
grant, but am ready to create such
an aristOcracy for the government of
this State1as the farmers and other
freehOlders would constitute. Among
them virtue, patriotism, conservatism
are found. They are the hope of the
country. If they cannot be intrusted
with the governing power, who can be?
They now govern it, and l desire to
secure their continued government
beyond contingency. 1t is true that
wish to vest the power to govern in
those who possess the chief intelll-
gence, virtue, experience, in govern
ing, and real wealth of the country.
take land alone as the basis because
of the wide distribution of it's owner
ship, it's visible, fixed and permanent
character, the ease with which it's
ownership may be shown in view of
our system of registration of title pa
pers, and because the owners of the
soil are safe custOdians of power to
exert controlling influence in gov
eminent. Any supposed confusion
or difficulty from mortgages or con-
veyances or other incident of land is
fanciful. Every possible difficulty
may be prevented.
THERE'S no complication in the plan
suggested; it is wholly free of COM
plexity, perfectly simple.
1t is mistake to say it will give
the control to the rich. 1t will secure
it to those who have it now, the far
mers and other freeholders of country
and town, and it will doubtless amuse
them to be told that they are the rich
and the aristocratic of the land.
There is no such thing as an inher-
ent or natural right to vote. All men
are born with equal rights, SO far as
God-given rights are concerned, but
that does not embrace the right to
vote, or that one shall have as many
votes as another. Under the plan
suggested, though, the equality of
men as born is fully recognized. 1
propose as they are born equal, that
each shall have the same, so far as
birth affects it, and give additional
votes not from birth or because oft,
but because of conditions existing
apart from that. The right to vote is
conferred. 1t belongs to every social
organization to prescribe who shall
vote. The object is to so confer it as
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