Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-05
John wIsE's ARGUMENT.


of Selden and others against the board of
state canvassers and Jones and others
against the same, these cases involving
the election law of the State of Virginia.
Many colored people from Virginia and
the District of Columbia were present.
The reason Tor this was the announcement
in all the colored churches of Washington
on Sunday that this case was to come up
and that the colored people should be
present to show their interest.
Mr.. Wise reviewed the present state
constitution of Virginia, which 1t was
declared had been adopted with an un-
derstanding that it should be submitted
to vote of the people before 1t should
become effective, but after that promise
had been made throughout the state the
convention OF one hundred delegates vot-
ed against such action.
Mr.. Wise, speaking Of the manner in
which the constitution had been put IN
force. said; "That forty-seven members
of the constitutional convention attempt
ed, in violation of every pledge given by
their party, without any constitutional
or statutory authority, to act definitely,
in defiance of the law under which they
were assembled, to impose upon the vot
eas of the State Of Virginia as the organic
law of the state constitution embody-
ing many subjects never heretofore en-
braced in any constitution of Virginia,
never submitted to the voters OF Virginia
for their approval, aud framed and in
tended to disfranchise twO-fifths OF the
voters who elected the delegates to the
convention, or as many as the appointed
agents of the dominant faction should
thereafter see fit to deprive of suffrage.
"That the design last referred to is
manifestin sundry devicesinserted in the
constitution under pretense OF guarding
the electoral Franchise, as follows
THAT under the constitution and laws
of Virginia as they existed when the con-
vention was assembled the lawful voters
of Virginia, that is to say, every male
twenty-one years of age who had been
resident of the State twelve months and
of county or town in which he offered
to vote three months preceding auy cleo
tion, WIS entitled to vote, provided he
was duly registered !"
The complainants charge that the dom
inant faction in the convention de'lber-
I ately planned to destroy the electorate
fixed by the theniexisting constitution
] of Virginia and to that end attempted to
repeal the registration law above referred
to without submitting their action to the
people contrary to the powers OF the con-
yention. 1t increased the term of resi-
dence of voters in the State to two years,
and in the county or town to one year,
and in the precinct to thirty days.
To these qualifications itadded the re-
ouirements that the voters should be
registered and should pay State tax. II
added to these requirements and annulled
. the pretended broad grant of franchise
- by recurring that there should be q
new general registration in all the COUNTIES
of the State during 1902 and 1903 a
sucb times and in such manner as nigh
be prescribed by an ordinance OF sai(
convention.
Mr.. Wise further aralyzed the ne'
constitution of Virginia to show how II
its practical operation it results IN III
disfranchisemen of colored voters. in
constitution provides that the board
!. of registration shall restrain iron
+ registry any person who applied 10
$ registration except those "entitled I
= register under said constitution prior t
January l, 1904"
I The boards are given to hear evidenc
and receive testimony touching qual
h ication for registration. 1t made th
acts of the majOrities of the boards ID
81 acts of the boards themselves.
1t finally descended to the appolntmer
of three designated individuals in ever
maCisterial district of the counter an
in every ward of the cities OF Virginl
- who could be relied upon as partisans
he the faction hostile to the colored vote
70, TO carry out these plans, whereby no oil
hut the persons which it intended shou
be registered and allowed to vote Shout
; be placed upon the registration lis
in any magisterial districtor ward oil u
State.
a The convention enacted into the Co
.titution itself that its appointees shou
lc onlv register such voters of Virginia
io presented themselves to them and we
. citizens of the United States and preser
ed the following additional qualification
"First, certain soldiers second, a
son'of such soldiers; third, owners
property upon which for the year ne
= preceding that in which they offered
- register they had paid at least 81 OF ST
taxes fourth, persons able to read a {,
,Oc section of the constitution submitted
them by officers ofregistration SUBMIT
to them by officers of registration ano
DC. G give reasonable explanation OF the san
or who, if unable to read such ! secn' ecu
were able to understand and give, a reas
able explanation when it is read to tn
Cs by the officers"
In great detail Mr.. Wise explailI
.. the intricacles ofithe constitution ana
and methods of voting to show scheme
q "a Oy which colored voters generally could
= kept from that privilege. de claln