Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-31
Another south Carolina "Idea."

Another South CAROLINE A"e
We gave yesterday one Of the plans
which have been proposed In South caro-
lima for preventing the control OF tha'
State from falling into the hands OF the
negroes, who constitute large majority
Of the voters as the Constitution TO"
stands. 1t was a proposition that any new
constitution which might be frameo
should be ratified and become the organic
lsx II G.. 900 white men voted for II. we
did not. and do not now understand how
that proposition is to be made 10 CONSIST
with the fourteenth and fifteenth articles
of amendment to the Federal Cons'i'u-
ton. But we think we so stated 'he
proposition as 10 enable our readers 10
know exactly what II is. II 1t 10 not
propo.ition to disfranchise the negro on
account Of his race. 1t may serve the pu'-
pose for which It was intended. But we
fear that the two amendments 10 'he
Federal Constitution which we have just
mentioned will be held by the courts 10
forbid any such restrictions on the right
Of suffrage.
Of c;rcumventing the amendments IN
question. 1t Is styled 'the coupon-bailot
plan" and is as follows:
1.-The idea is TO give every man In the
State of voting age and not disqualifled
for crime one vote on condition that he
has pad all taxes assessed against him.
Then we would run the votes according
10 property returns like this: 800 property,
2 votes; $50 property. votes; *oV prop.
erty. 4 votes: $3.50 property, votes; 1900
property. 6 votes; $500 property. votes;
s.. 500 property, s votes; 5000 property, 3
votes: $4,000 property, 10 votes: S5o1o
property II votes: $4,000 property, II
votes; $4,000 property, l3 votes"
In other words, here is q property quail
fication. and nobody claims that the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments pro-
hibit property qualifications In Virginia
up to 1850 freeholders were allowed to
vote in every county in which they held
real estate: and many persons purchased
freeholds TO enable them to vote, as none
but freeholders were permitted to vote
In Hampshire county, then in Virginia,
one large landholder once decided to dis
franchised persons land enough to enable
several hundred of them to VOTE In
other words, one man made several
hundred voters.
Let us add. by the way that at that
day an Illegal vote was almost II not
quite unknown. The voting was done
viva voce, and the voter could vote at
any precinct in the county. there being
then no REGISTRATION law.
The Greenville News anticipates an OBJ
lection that may be raised to this scheme.
and answers 1t ingeniously as follows:
1.-The proposed plan does not discrimi-
nate against the poor man. 1t discrimi-
mates in his favor. 1t gives him vote
on his manhood. and 1t gives the small
taxpayer a vote for each 500 he pays
on and the rich man vote for each
5000 he pays on"
Nevertheless, the poorer voters will
| no doubt, understand that the object Of
a property qualification. let 1t be stated
as 1t may, is to disfranchise partially
men who have no property, and sucl
voters will accordingly vote against an!
, DISTINGUISHING constitution that may conn
up before the people on the question o
ratification.
In the mean time Virginia will hav
the advantage of proflting by the expe
rience of other States.