Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-27
For the SPECTATOR.


Amend the Constitution.
In the early period of Virginia, her patriotic
people carefully guarded the elective franchise
as the palladium of liberty and good govern
ment. 1t is remarkable with what prophetic
ken they anticipated the abuses to which ar
unlimited suffrage would be prostituted. The
doctrine which they held was, that the votel
should be sufficiently interested in and at
tached to the locality where he proposed t.
vote as to secure a patriotic expression Of
home feeling and identity of personal interes
and responsibility in home prosperity ant
burdens that the voter should be sufficiently
located and settled that he would feel thu
operation of the measures which he supported
To accomplish this necessary object, they
threw around the franchise various require
ments in the interest of actual citizenship anc
identity III common responsibility and wei
fare, at the same time extending the franchise
to all such as would make an effort to give
assurance of fidelity to the community. Il
must be remembered that, at that patriotic
period, there were already those who woulc
sell and betray their country, or sacrafice the
welfare of a community for selfish purposes
Vigilance was the price of liberty. Those
entrusted with the elective franchise wert
held responsible for its faithful exercise al
elections, and for failure to discharge the
high trust, by presentment of the grand jury
and fine. To discover the derelict voters the
sheriff was under penalty required to fur
nish list Of them to the grand jury. charged
by the presiding magistrate to make present
ment. See the Revised Code 1919. 81
The founders of the government knew what
liberty cost and how it should be priced and
secured. What rebuke to intelligent voters
who nowadays remain. away from the polls
in disgust, because of the abuse of suffrage.
If any person voted second time at any
election he forfeited 1888 and costs of pro
ceedings. The voter was presumed to be q
patriot and was required to do his duty to his
country. They knew that the source of the
power OF the government must be preserved
pure and in constant readiness for exercise
What contrast in the present day do some
voters present. who stand around the polls
and offer to sell their votes for the highest
price they can get, and sell second time, il
practicable I! The enquiry Involuntary
springs up, us this the same country; are
variy; only a part can rightfully claim a
lineage to the patriots of the Revolution. A
new partner has been put into the government
who has not had an opportunity of acquainu-
ing himself with the complex system, or the
crucial ordeal which attended its Inaugural
ton and the dangers which may precipitate
its overthrow. He does not understand his
environments, or who his true friends are,
and hence he falls an easy prey to the artful
partisan.
The existing struggles between the great
parties confuse and bewilder the weak and
illiterate," the voices of reason and patriotism
are silenced by the danger of party strife, and
the country is deprived of pure and calm
judgment expressed at the polls Here is the
source of our political troubles. The conser-
vative masses, if properly guarded from i'm
proper influences, would give fair expression
of judgment. The fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the United States constitution
preclude any radical change in suffrage by q
State convention, if one were convened. Some
slight amendments might be proposed, if this
were favorable iuncture. 1t must be obvious
that the conditions are not favorable. To re-
move the voter as far as practicable from the
pernicious influence of the super-serviceable
partizan, and the corrupting influence OF
money, the recent election law was passed
by which the voter is relieved from the pres
ence and influence of partizans, and permitted
to prepare his ballot according to his own
judgment and choice. This mode is the
nearest approach that we have had in recent
years to free and fair election. The new
mode embarrassed some, but on another occa-
sion all will be familiar with the requirements
of the law and will vote with freedom and
satisfaction. The influence OF partizans will
be checked, and the ballot purer. The law
may be amended so as to remove objections
and save expense. The voter who has not in
tellgence enough to prepare his ballot will be
excused from voting until he can.
MODERATE
A NATIVE OF HIGHLAND ROBBED IN
CHICAGO.
John Gilmore, native of Highland coun-
y
last Saturday night He was sent to the
County Hospital suffering from a severe
wound on the head. One of the assailants,
John Riley, was arrested. After acting as
clerk in the Treasurers Office in Richmond
for two years, Gilmore removed, about
three months ago. to St. Louis, and, it seems,
he then went to Chicago:
Large Union Meeting.
A Union meeting in the interest of the Y.
NJ. C. A. was held in the First Presbyterian
church last Sunday afternoon. That spacious
building was filled to its utmost capacity. The
programme consisted of prayer. vocal music,
and addresses. Brief, but earnest and spirit
ed addresses were delivered by the following
A. Murril of the Wesleyan Female Institute,
Rev. George W. Nelson of Warrenton, Prof.
G. B. NJ. Zerr. Principal of the Staunton High
School, Rev. William Cumming, Pastor of the
Second Presbyterian church. Hon. H. st.
George Tucker, Rev. II. F. Shealy. Pastor of
Christ Evangelical Lutheran church. Hon.
Joseph A. Waddell, Rev. J. H. Boyd, D. d.,
dStOT VI Tue MttuOulSt LplSCOpdl OuuTCu
South, and Rev. ]. A. Quarles, D. D., OF
Washington & Lee University. and dismissed
with the benediction by Rev. DR.. J. H. Boyd
The importance of raising the requisite sum
to pay off the floating debt of about $1,000 Of
the Y. NJ. G. A., and of making provision fol
its future success, were eloquently and i'm
pressively set forth by the different speakers
in brief but earnest. addresses which met
with hearty response on the part of the very
large and deeply interested. audience, who de
sire the success and perpetuity of the Associa
ton.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE.
From Gettysburg to Fort Delaware.
In the room of the Camp of Stonewall Jack
son Confederate Veterans on last Monday
night, which was filled to overlooking with
ladies and gentlemen, Rev. DR.. Finley. Of
Thinking Spring. delivered an exceedingly in
t4resting lecture on his experience as prison
er of war on the way from Gettysburg to For
Delaware. He was one of the heroic soldiers
who reached the lines of the enemy on tn,
hoiUhfa at GattvshurO and moo cor,fnrod a