The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-07-27

q
ton laws to manage the public concerns
As these questions relate sois,y 20 !he
r6airs of the State Of New YORK; "e
car, see no impropriety ia dlsslng uisned
no,;v. horn citizen answering them, but
r. our humble opinions (on this last point }
are oyerrued by those who certainly
have a better opportunity, and pe.!ef
yiyht to iudre; the only part we can act ID
40 submit Without murmur.
Very respectfully, your le,'ow-c1.,Lsm'' Ra1h.n
WLLIAMI. TILLINoHAsr, naroe''
LAwRENcr RICHARDS, Blacksmlth.
V,IIIAM MircHELL, Shoemaker
Srru LurHES, Housewright.
WILLIAM MILLEn, Curner,
n.yIp BRows, Watch 4 Clock Maker
Hon. Marlin Pan Burec,
Vice President OF the U. ,.
rThe Committee thought it unnecessa-
NV E,r Mr.. Van Buren's information to
state. that in Rhode Island no c't'sens' now
ever otherwise qualified, oan vote, uhiess
such as own land; and their eldest sons;
while in. Massachusetts all c',sen' can
vote who havo resided in the state one
wear and the county six months, ano nave
WAsHssoroN, July 9th, 1888.
G.r.lemen.-I have the honor to ack-
nowlodee the receipt ofyour letter, request
inc information concerning the manner In
which the right Of Suffrage IS regulated IN
the State Of New York, together watn ~
opinion upon the utility and prac'icn oP-
GRAFTON Of the system now IN force 'ne,e.
l can have no objection Whatever 70 iu1,
r;sh The information you desire, but feea
somc delicacy, under the circumstances
Of the case in expressing an opinion on
the several points to which you reier.-
The right Of suffrage not only coh'ro's'.".
election of the State functionarles, Du!
that of the elective officers Of the Gonera'
Government, is, by the Federal ConS'au.
ton. made dependent on it and 10 ,nlA
Ycsnect. il is undoubtedly to be CONSIDER
cd not only as a matter OF primary I'M
,ortonce TO those who are Immediately an
,eresied in it, but as subject Of interest
- ali narts Of the Union. The settle
ment Of all questions connected with inls M
franchise in any particular state, mas
however, usually been regarded as DC. DC.
lougina exclusively to the people OF !na'
State :: and under ordinary circumstah-
ces any interference by citizen OF a,
mother State, would justly be considered
ns imuropcr. Thus viewing the mat'er'
certainly should not have ven'lred an o.
pinion upon any point bearing on the cues '
lion now under discussion IN hhooe Isl
and. had it not been for the reques! con,
taioed in YOUR letter, which the relations
hold TO the people Of the United o'a'cs'
make il my duty to respect. vi
Nv the first Constitution Of New ork'
The nossession of a freehold estate oi Inc
yalue Of $3.50 over and above oil deDts
cborged thereon, was necessary to enlItle
n uerson to vote for Governor, Lieu'
Governor and Senators-Members oi AS
sembIy were chosen by persons paying
taxes, and possessing freehoios o. .ns
clear value Of $50, or renting tenemen's
orthe annual value Of FIVE dollars.
The obvious injustice, and asceraIneo
inutiIity Of this regulation 'oSe'"e'u w. "r =
other causes, led in 1891 to the car M o' .
Convention for the revision OF our o,a'I I
Con.,;l.,,iou-of that Convention 1 mac
,h. honor 10 be member, and in the as
charge Of the duties imposed upon me oy
.h., s;,ua,;on l Iabored, and in conjuncf-
ION % with q majority Of the Convention, Ia
,'".,sd vs 49, I.occessfuily, to abolish the free-
hold qualification. The principle on 'aa.h wnich
i ,heu advocated and which was es'aoms" ..unS' :
.d hy the amended Constitution, oA'enS-
.ash. r;oht of voting for all elective oM.
90, Of the State Government, TO eve,y
citizen who should contribute to the sup
nor, oc Government, either By the pay
men, Of taxes in money, or by labor Oh m
.ns highways, or by service, according 10
a. H. the Militia. The results Of exPe-
,i%, ,;sscs e and the progress Oflib'rai opinions