The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-08
THE SUFFRAGE PROBLEM.
A Suggestion to eliminate the Igno-
rant and Ncnal in our Elections.

rant and Nenal in Our Elections.
! Editor Of The Times:
! sir.-I am greatly eradicd that Tho
! Times with its accustomed integrity. and
J courage has taken "a stand in favor or
/ tho cali Of % convention chiefly for the
| purpose OF securing for Virginia an
! amended and restricted suffrage ] agree
! with YOU that such action on Che part az
| tho state should DE just fnd fair with
| no provisions calculated TO create sus-
] pici0ns that it was the intention or tho
| people of Virginia 20 violate existing pro-
/ visions ~ the Federal constitution, but
I submitting in "a spirit Of proud and hon-
| orabla fidelity To requirements which they
! have uo power % alter. there should De
! bold manly and conservative action,
| clearly Within the purview of the exist
| Ing conditions. in the supreme law eli
! inmate as far as practicable from the
! body pou-ic the ignorant vcnal and un-
] toachahie and thus secure for themselves
| and thclr posterity the peace security
| and prosperity of the Commonwealth.
/ Government as created in the States %
/ the American Union. arc based upon the
/ postulatc. that the people are sovereign.
| that power in the people is litc light in
/ the sun. natural. inherent and unlimited;
| but tho powers necessary in the admins
| trsti0n Of government cannot be eXcr-
/ cised hv Dee people themselves. They
! must delegate their powers directly or
! Indirectly fer agents. elected hy those
| classes of citizens to whom they condde
/ % voice in the selection. i'm the exercise
OF their sovereignty the people limit and
/ restrain their agents by tne mandate Of
/ The organic law. but they go further and
/ limit and restrain themselves by pre-
| srri ing iu the constitution that those OF
! themselves who possess certain Quaiih-
] cations shall alone De entitled 20 exercise
| the right of suffrage.
| Suffrage is then the basis OF an free
| representative government il is through
| The right " suffrage that power ema-
! mates from IT'S source the sovereign peo-
! ple 90 sovereign conventions. 90 lesisia-
| rures TO the choice OF the Executive, 20
| courts of law and 90 county and munich
| pal government and hence it is of vital
. Importance 90 the well being OF repre-
/ sentative government and the due pro-
I lection of the social system which tt
creates that sunrase shall be guarded,
/ projected and secured against force.
| fraud. bribery and ignorance
| The state constitution should clearly
! euumerate what qualifications the citizen
| must possess in order 20 authorize him
| ID exercise the right of suffrage, leaving
/ 10 the legislature the right 90 prescribe
I the times places and manner of holding
I elections and making the returns there
! o.
En- She 6rst constitution of virginia suf-
| frage was confined to free holders. I'm
| The constitution of 1870 the housekeeper
| and head of IT, family who had been ass
I 9o-sod with part OF tho revenue due the
! State and had actually paid the same,
! before the election, was added 20 the
/ list. Under the constitution of $50 all
] white men of the proper age were entitled
! 20 the right of suffrage.
| This is set a. question tO be solved by
| time. whether any government can Zoe
stable and protective Of the right and
I liberties of the people which is founded
| upon am unrestricted suffrage. and it viii
! bo we'll for our national Legislators. I'm
{ formulating conditions upon which gov
/ ernments are TO bee established I'm our
recent acquisitions. 10 give 10 this ques-
/ ti0u the most careful and thorough COM
/ sidenuon. Unfortunately for Virginia,
! "the munihccnt mother sovereign
states making them her equal preferring
| liberty 10 power" she Will Doe hlndered
in Tie rem0dcliing of her laws upon The
( subject Of suffrage by the existing pro-
visions of the Federal constitution.
/ IT. was the opinion of the liustrous
men who made Virginia glorious, and
made her glory precious tO her sons. that
/ the greater the restrictions with which
/ Tho people by their sovereign viii guard
| cd the right OF suffrage. the more cor-
| tain aud secure were their rights Of life
/ liberty and property for the protection Of
/ which the first free representative gov
| eminent was by them ordained and es-
! tabHshed
! The amendments Of the Federal Con-
/ sututi0u prevent Virginia from returning
| ~ the policy OF lUj. N0r would such
! action. in my Judgment, n the present
| condition OF the State bee wise or proper.
| The supreme law of the land makes the
| black man a citizen and places him on
I am equality of political rights with the
| white man. under e. system of unrestrict-
cd suffrage. imposed upon our people by
arbitrary power. But it is wise and
! proper Tor the State 90 go rs FAR IN the
! path OF conservatism as this supreme
law will permit securing and asserting
) the right oil the white race TO rule as
( essential TO the peace and SAFETY ot the.
people. without distinction OF race or
| color The problem Is difhcult one.
/ but not beyond the reach of fair and
| Just solution. After mature reelection b.
| has occurred 90 me thar the problem
could be wisely and safely solved hy
I
! placing suffrage upon the basis OF pro-
| perty and education. and THIS creating
| two classes Of electors or voters in The
State. the first class 90 consist Of land-
| holders. whose estate whether "a free
| hold. an estate for life. or for years. shall
| be of the assessed value OF - dollars.
| The other class Of citizens who can read
and write the English language. or OF
| foreign BIRTH the language OF the c0un-
try OF their nativity. There are In Nir-
/ glnia a very large number Of white men
who are owners OF real estate who can
neither read or write. and who are new
ertheless good and intelligent citizens.
! who would be disfran hised II suffrage
was based upon education On the other
hand. there Is much larger number
| at white citizens engaged IN business IN
! city and county who can read and write.
and who would be disfranchised II sur
frage was based upon real property. BY
creating these classes OF voters. but very
L g.. I'll. Ia Nfrctvfa mnf1Il Aa