The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-10-27
The Poll Tax.

=. oVuSlhl ut-
llsefed on request ofthe Warren County
Election Commissioners, that per,ous
VINO escape assessment of Poll tax are
not disqualified from voting by rea-
son OF non-payment of the same, the
Commercial Herald says:
III Is plain that it makes the Asses
sor's Office more important, and adds
greatly to the political power OF that
official. He may fail to assess per.ous
otherwise qualified TO vote, aud they
eau register and vote. That gives
him the power to permit many to vote
without paying the poll-lax, and TO
exact the tax of others.
The purpose OF the constitution ia
so plain, that he who runs may read.
1t Intended TINT only persons who pay
ihelr lakes within the time prescribed
shall vote, and tue opinion OF the At
torney General warrants US in sug.
gesting that the Legislature should
mend the laws, so that all will have to
pay, or be ,llslranchised. 1t Is viola.
Tive OF the constitution, The letter and
the spirit, that some may vote vino
have not paid their poll lax. while 1t
is exscted OF olhers.'
There is no question but thai this
same opinion-ifappIied-. would prove
sthrusl into The vitals fthat proviso of
tho franchise article which has proved
most effective of all, in carrying out
the disqualifeations which the constl-
tutional convention was commissioned
to dispense. In some counties, Wash.
ington for instance, there is a large
proportion OF the negro population
large enough if moulded aud welded
to overwhelm the white vote--which
could easily evade the assessor, be he
ever so vigllant. And If assessed, reg
istratlon of the obscure through false
names could easily defeat that hold.
In fact Il the tax roll be not check
upon the voting list, there is no limit
to the confusion which might eusue.
| But despite the adverse quality of
this opinion, we do not regard It as
consequential. The county registrars,
al least of the black counties, are pre-
sumably IN sympathy with The spirit
of the franchise article of the constitu-
tion which will require no iuterperta-
tion In this day and generation. And
we have no idea that q construction
| will prevail to any material extent
which can only by elaborate argument
and physiological niceties, divorce the
language of the article from its intent;
an intent which grew out of bitter
lessons and dire necessities. No harm
will result and no wrong be done by
continuing the observance of the plain
meaning OF the constitution. As those
who would acquire suifrageship under
this opinion, are of class closely ap-
proximatipg vagabondage.
So much has been said of the ma
ture of this opinion of the Attorney
General-a gentleman for whose pur-
! ity of life and legal lore We have
the utmost respect--prcfatory to these
suggestions; that the incident should
teach that ii would be good general
policy for the county election COM
missioners and registrars-at least III
the black counties call In the aid
of local counsel when this class OF
: laws are subjested 10 questions OF
construction; leaving appeals to higher
authority 10 the questioners. Aud that
, jim said counties at least-the office
OF county registrar is Of decided i'm
portance. It is well to remark III this
: connection that while the circuit clerks
are registrars, they are SO by appoint
ment aud not ex-ofiicio. Just such
case as is presented in a neighboring
county, Of a negro circuit clerk-and
In that county alono consequently Of
a majority OF negroes registered o.
three to one--caused the constitution
al convention leave 10 registrars to bt
provided for in the code. And th'
codIfers made the office appointive
that persons in sympathy with th'
8 States suffrage policy would be SUR
: to be secured. AS new registrars ar
to be appointed in January, this refer
onse 10 The matter cannot be pro
nounced untimely.
)
DIR. Orendorff showed us some Japa