The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-23


be viva voce. and not by ballot. The
Constitution should contain clause eS-
ceyting Confederate soldiers from the
provision, and giving them the right 10
vote. whether they can read or not.
and this right, so far as they are con-
cerned. should never be restricted, eN-
cept for crime Three commissioners
should be elected once every four years
in each county. whose duty IT should be
to examine and license such voters who
cannot read the English language out
who, in their judgment. reasonably un-
derstand the Virginia Constitution. wneh
read TO them. This provision WOULD not
materially restrict the right OF suffrage
and is eminently right and proper upon
principle. These requirements, as has
been before stated. make no pronerty
qualification whatever and no education
al qualification. except the ability to read
the English language and this is RENTED
in the case OF the Confederate soldiers.
and distinctly lessened by allowing. un-
der proper restrictions. intelligent white
and colored men to vote who cannot read.
TIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
l come now to a needed change in our
present Constitution relative to the pres
ent free-school system. TO the considera-
ton OF which 1 have given long ana
painstaking reflection. and it is this: me
money arising from the taxation OF the
J property OF white people should be eN-
cluaycly devoted to the education OF
white children. and the money arising
! from the taxation OF the property OF
| coiorod people should be exclusively de-
voted TO the education of the colored
children. The word negro" should be
used in the place Of the word 'colored'
/ and 1 have not used IL because | do not
wish TO offend the fastidiOus sensiblii-
ties OF the Afro-American race. believe
| in the free-schOOl system. Time has
concusively demonstrated its great use
| fulness. and It should be fostered and en-
couarged in every proper manner For
about twenty-five years the white peo-
! pie have taxed themselves enormously
| for the education OF the negro race
History has no instance OF greater lib
| oralty. To demonstrate where the bur
den bears. / quote from the report OF the
| First Auditor OF Virginia. for 1894 10
| show that the entire assessment OF the
personal property owned in Virginia
amounts 10 s6.59o.lss, and Of this amount
the white people own *, 349oH, and the
negroes S32nl44. The total value of
real estate owned by white persons is
| 500 OBS. 625, and the total value of real
estate owned by negroes Is SO l62, $50.
| These are instructive figures, and show
that the white people pay N.W, sos Il, ana
| the negroes the sum OF Sl12l24.6s OF taxes.
! Ii viii be noted that the white people pay
a little over 80 per cent. OF the entire
taxation OF the state. and therefore they
pay more than nine-tenths of the money
! necessary for negro free schools II the
money OF the white people is devoted TO
| tho education of the white children. IL VIII
enable them to decrease their taxation
on this account fully one-third, and yet,
under this decreased taxation, they can
afford to pay free-schOo teachers double
the amount they now receive, thus In
surfing a better class of teachers and a
higher standard OF education.
OUGHT TO DE MADE.
The change is right and proper, and
| ought 10 be made, and IN advocating 1t
have no unklnd word for the negro we
have already spent millions OF dollars
| for his education, and have done our full
| duty. It IS now our duty 10 ourselves 10
lessen the burden OF taxation, and TO give
to our own race the benefit OF our own
money. The enormous decrease in the
reassessment Of our land now going
on makes this change in our Constitution
| imperative, II we wish, as all of us do,
10 maintain our free-school system with
out increasing our taxation.
| There are many other changes heeded
| in our present constitution IN addition 10
those which have been suggested, and
notably Il change 10 prevent the issue of
unlimited capital stock by railroads and
other corporations, also change Is
\ needed similar to that recently adopted
/ by the New York Constitutional Con-
vention taking off all limit as TO the
amount OF recovery for damages
where loss of life is occasion
cd by the negligence of rail
road corporations; also a change is need
| ed abolishine the present abOminable fell
| lOw-seryant doctrine OF railroads which
exists tn Virginia. and is a relic of barbar-
| ism. and adopting in its place the present
| humane and enlightened doctrine on this
subject which is now the law Of Eng
| land-the foremost country In intellec-
tual and material progress Of the entire
world.
The idea that these important and stu
pendous changes can be made by the
! Legislature or Virginia is futile and
foolish. IT Is almost absolutely certain
| that the white people OF Virginia can
I adopt new Constitution. We have to-
day fully 1900 more white than color
ed voters in Virginia. We had, accord
ing to the census OF 1880 1900 more,
and an increase IN hve years Of 1900 Is
| certainly reasonable. We need not.
| therefore, have any fear OF negro SUI
y =
| member or the Virginia Legislature to be
elected this TALL should be instructed 10
vote for a Constitutional Convention, and
what Is better STILL the present Le8isla-
! ture. should be convened in extra session
| by the Governor Of Virginia, for the pur-
pose OF acting on this important subject,
as time Is important. IL was only de-
! feated winter before last, by
| eight votes and II vote could
have been taken at later date IN
| the session, It would have been carried
| by a considerable majority Such, at
least, is my decided opinion. The year and
more which has passed since the
Legislature adjourned has been prolific Of
| important events. and all intelligent men
must know and see that the signs of
the times indicate a financial revolution.
which is as necessary as it is inevitable.
II is the part Of wisdom TO prepare for II
by a change in our Constitution.
Far from being the least important con-
sheraton 10 be presented 10 the con-
vention TO change the Constitution. IS a
clause requiring all contracts hereafter
made in Virginia for the payment OF
money, TO be made payable in silver or
gold, at the recognized legal ratio. at
the option Of the debtor. We have this
undoubted right under the Federal Con-
stitution and we should exercise II. and
thus Vr-rrf oifher silver recommendation
or gold NOV 'lilism. Though IL is a
DEPRESSION. } Will state that, in my opin-
ion. all contracts now payable exclusive
iy in gold are, 70 say the least. OF ex-
tremey doubtful legality. They are
without any warrant OF authority 10 be
found in the Federal Constitution.