The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-21
PAYMENT OF POLL TAX.
The Requirement in the Amendment
is Nothing New.

To the Editor: Those who oppose
the ratification of the Constitutional
Amendment were evidently Intending to
create the impression that the payment
Of Il poll tax as a prerequisite to the
exercise of the elective franchise is Il
qualification never dreamed of before
the days OF reconstruction. 1t may
prove interesting to the public therefore
to recall the provisions of our organic
law regulating suffrage, prior to 1868.
Our Representatives in the Colonial
Congress at Halifax finished the work
of framing the first Constitution on the
18th of Decmeber. 1876 One of the
provisions of that Instrument was as
follows:
Section S. That all frecmen of the
age of II years who have been inhabi-
tantS of any county within this State
twelve months immediately preceding
the day of election, AND SHALL
HAVE PAID PUBLIC TAXES, shall
be entitled TO VOTE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH HE
RESIDES"
This provision was modified, by the
Amendment contained in clause > sec
ton III, by the Constitutional Conyen-
ton of 1880, so as to exclude from the
right of suffrage every free negro, free
mulattO, or free person of mixed blood,
descended from negro ancestors to the
fourth generation inclusive Though one
ancestor OF each generation may have
blen Il white person):" hut was not modi-
fed or altered III any other respect until
the reconstruction Constitution was
adopted ON April "a. 1868. The special
requirement. contained in section { of
the Constitution framed at Halifax that
i'll order to qualify Il male person to vote
for Senator he should have been pos
seSsed of freehold of fifty acres of
land for six months Immediately preced
ing the election. was. after Il contest
inauguratod by David s. Reid in 1913,
dispensed with by amendments. Article
H. clause =. of the Amendments of 1880
so altered the Constitution of 1I16, rs
TO require the Governor to "be chosen
by the qualified voters for members of
the House of Commons. The Consti-
tuition Of the United States (Art. |. sec
ton III, clause II provided that the elec-
tors. who should choose representatives
in Congress should have the qualitica-
tionS required for electors Of the most
numerous branch of the legislatures" So
that all those persons otherwise quail
fed, and who had paid public taxes
and thereby acquired the full right to
vote for members Of the House of Com
mons (called since 1868 the House of
Representatives.. were entitled TO vote
fer members of Congress. Governor, or.
under the acts passed in pursuance Of
of bn | mil
ed States). for presidential electors. prior
TO April ~, 1868. Under the statutes
IN ante-bellum days property was listed
for taxation as of April 1st OF each year.
and IN order to allow males who arrived
ri the age of 21 between April 1st and
the first Thursday in August the oppor-
tunity to vote. the statute permitted
such persons to list for taxation before a
deputy sheriff and pay tax at the polls
tltevised Code Chapter 90 section 5a.)
Many persons now living in North Caro-
llna have seen Il voter pay tax and take
receipt from deputy as he handed
ais ticket TO Il judge of election.
The difference between the new and
the old requirement is only in degree not
in kind. II 1T was not wrong under the
Old regime for white men to be required
to nave pad as a prerequisite A PUB-
Lie TAN. it cannot be wrong in prin-
ciple to exact the payment Of ALL
POLL TAN due FROM ALL. including
the negroes who claim the right to vote
The statute now disfranchisss, for ser
vice It's Il regular Juror, any person ether
wise qualified Mho has not Paid Tax
for the preceding year. The experience
OF generations APPROVES this regulation, as
the wisdom of our forefathers indllceo
them TO prescribe the payment of public
tax as a qualification for suffrage. is
it strange that We should expect this
particular provision of the new amend
ment to have wholesome effect?
AEIrDN