Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-09-20

Richmond. Va. September 1S-TAe
Veterans in the Soldiers Homes I'm Vir-
giuia cannot vote under the now Con
sttution unless they return 20 the
counties from which they came This
IS the effect of an opinion rendered to-
day by Attorney General Anderson. ir
which such able lawyers as Hon. Hu
Carter and Eppa Hunton. both mem
bcrs OF the recent Constitutional con-
vention fully concur Major Anderson
holds that section "a OF the new instru-
meut preciudcs students and members
or inmates OF charitable institution
from registering save AT their former
homes such persons shall not d.
deemed. under Major Andcrson's con
struction OF the clause. 20 have gainec
or lost their legal residence by reasor
OF their sojourn in such institution
The opinion of the Attorney Genera.
Will affect the three thousand inmates
of the National Soldiers Home at
Hampton. as wei as three hundrol
Coufedcrates in tho Lee Camp Home
here. There seems TO be absolutely nC
doubt that the provision was intended
20 operate just as Major Anderson
holds that DO shall. Indeed So develops
this evening that when the matter was
under discussion in the convention the
position was taken that admission &C.
homes should not giVe change of resi-
dcncc ana the right fo register to Vete-
rams and that the loss 10 the Demo
Gratis through losing The vote OF ia.
Confederate veterans in HcnriCr
would he more than overcome by the
Republicans ~ The Hampton Home be-
ing shut out ALSO. There are some three
thousand of these aud nearly au are
Republicans. The opinion of thc At
torucy-Gcueral was given in rcepon-s
10 "a request of Mr. A. Il. Hollorby. ona
OF the registrars in the HcuriCo pre-
cinct. in which The inmates of the Lee
Camp Home have hitherto voted.
Major Anderson's letter to Air. Holder
by. which cmhodies the essence OF his
decision, Is ass follows
September 11. 1902.
Dear Sir-Enclosed please nnd my
opinion upon the question submitted Co
1ne hy your favor OF The -d instant
II was undoubtedly the purpose ot
the convention 10 prohibit ans inmate
II "A soldiers home or other charitable
institution and institutions of lyarIing
from being REGISTERED Or voting any
where except ln the county or city ga
which such person resided before he
became au inmate of sach institution.
10 was distinctly understood that
eeclion 2f OF the Constitution was
adopted Tor tntS purpose. and that 10
would have the cfect OF p~eNcntlug the
inmates ct the Soldiers Home at
Hampton and of the Soldiers Home in
1ieurico county from voting in thc pre-
cincts where such homes are located
with the exception. or course. of amy
such inmates who happen go be actual
residents of such precincts and lived in
the same uD 10 the time they became
inmates OF The home.
II the inmates of the Confederate
Soldiers Home in Hcurico county can
De registered. the Inmates OF the
Hampton Home are also entitled 20 be
registered. The reason for eNcludine
them, in both cases. was that they ..gLi
no interest in the locality where the
homes were situated and nothing i'm
common with the people of those lO-
Calities i'm reference To- local issues. and
that they ought not 10 vote there. out
in the counties and cities from which
they came and where their homes we're
The inmates Of neither OF tln
soldiers homes are entitled TO fe
registered, and II the registrars in
violation OF the plain prohibition of the
Constitution. shall register them. even
that viii not entitle them 10 vote II
their votes are challenged but il viii
be the duty Of the judges OF election u
reject their votes at the polls. / am.
Very truly yours.
WlL-IAM \. ANDERSON,
ga Attorney