Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-24

Sidcncc.
Thus il appears that under the former Consultation
the free Negro had precisely the right of suffrage
as the sohue 1t was EVERY MALI isuApirA ST,
without amy distinction Of color difference of quai
cation.
The Convention TO revise aud amend this Cons.itu-
ton assembled on the 2Sth of August 1921. MIR Van
Buren, was member. The various parts were carved
up among separate Committees. The Committee on
the Right Of Suffrage consisted of seven members, viz;
Messrs. Sanford, Van Rensselaer,, r. r. Livingston,
Fairie, Young, Cramer and Ross-(Mr Van Buren, not
| of them.)
On the 18th September they reported the following
amendment TO the Constitution, viz Every ,rdte male
citizen OF the age OF 2l years. who shall have resided
this State six months preceding any election & G.
(extending considerably the right OF suffrage for the
whites, and doing away entirely the resicfoaeof the
freehold rghD" shall be entitled to vote at sueh cleo
ton in the town ward in which he shall reside for
Governor, Lieut. Governor, Senators, Members of the
Assembly &c.
On the 10Th September this proposition came under
debate Mr. Ross said " it will probably be asked,
blacks TO be excluded. answer, because they are sell
dom, if ever required TO share in the common burthens
or defence of the State There also additional rea
sons they peculiar people, incapable, my Judy
mcnt, of exercising that privilege with am of dis
erection, prudence, Independence. Aier other rea-
sons he added, And sir fear that an extension TO The
blacks would serve to invite that kind of population 10
this State an occurrence which should sincerely
dePlore."
| Gen. Van Rensselaer, submitted a substitute extend.
ing the right to every male citizen, certain quail
fcations-Col. Young moved TO insert ,chde"
Mr. Peter A. Jay always FanacD opposed Col
Young amendment, and went TO the other extrerue-
lie said II had been clearly stated why they were de-
slrous of extending the right of suffrage some who
did not at present enjoy ill., but he has wholly omitted 10
explain ,chy they deny to others o actually possess
-" When this Convention first assembled il was
generally understood that provisions would be made
extend the right OF suffrage, aud some were apprehe
sve that ii might be extended TO degree which they
could not approve. But, sir, it expected that
this right was in instance be restricted much less
was II anticipated desired, ot person ,oas 10
DC distrdnchised Why, sir these men to be exclud
ed from rights which they possess in with their
countrymen? What crime have they committed for
which they TO be punished? Why are they, who
were born as free as ourselves natives of the
Try, ana dertotng from nature and political instfu
TONS the rights and privileges ,ohich zoe hare noo
70 DC deprtosd q all those rights and doomed to remain
forever as aliens among us ?" would submit to the
consideration of the committee, whether the
OF the gentleman from Saratoga is consistent with the
Constitution of the United States That instrument
ne privileges and immuntes Of citizens in the several
states Now, sir, is not the right of suffrage pri-
vege' And can you deny it to citizen of Pennsy
MA who comes here and complies with your laws
~ because he is not six feet high because he is of
dark complexion -? But where is the necessity in the
present instance? The whole number of coored peone
in the State whether free bondage amounts 10 less
than ortieth part of the whole population When your
numbers theirs forty TO one do vou st;I Cor
them ?" $3.50 M
Gen. Root answered Mr.. Jays arguments He said
among other things, ave have told by the honorable
gentleman from Westminster, (Mr. Jay and shall be
again told that we are about deprive these people of
franchise, with which they vested Sir il is
impossible TO remodel your constitution without chang
ing the relative rights OF yonr citizens. II is said that
lhese people are entitled under our const
luton and that it is proposed deprive them of this
prvilege-Are there not others who are in n neosnr@
dsanchised by the report of this committee which re-
cures nothing but residence and have paid 10
qualify man to vote for Governor and Senators %
Mr. Clarke was against retaining the word arLfe''
am unwilling (said he) TO retain the word ,otite
because ITS detention is repugnant TO all the pncnes
and nouons OF liberty TO which have heretofore pro.
lessed 10 adhere, and to our Declaration of
which is concise and just expose of those principles
=" The people of color capable of giving their
CONSENT and ever since the formation of your Govern
men they have constituted portion of the peope from
whence your Legislators have derived their lust
ers; and by retaining that word, you deprive large
ana respectable number OF the people of this State
oil privileges and rights which they have enioycd in
common with us, ever since the existence of our
Government, and to which they are Justly entitled =
or 10 tnis declaration we all profess to be willing
to subscribe, yet by retaining this word YOU yolate
one OF the most important maxims it contains -
" we are usurping To ourselves, power which we do
not possess and by so DOING deprive them of privilege
10 which they are and always have BEEN Justly entitled
An invaluable right-a right in which we have prided
ourselves as constituting superiority over every
other people earta right which they have enioved
of suffrage" e s"'
Gen Van Rensselaer, withdrew his amendment and
the question REQUIRED the original report of the
ntiee, Air. Jay moved to strike the word white
Mr. Kent supported the motion of Mr.. Jaw ale was
disPosed however, TO such qualifications and con-
eions as should prevent them from coming in bodies
from other States TO elections We did not come
TO this Convention to disfranchisc any portion of the
community, or TO take away their rights Suppose a
negro owning freehold entitled TO vote in Vernon,
removes TO this State: Can constitutionay excInJe
HIM from enjoying that privilege? The Constitution of
he United States provides that the citizens of each
STATE snail be entitled to all the privileges and immun
ties OF citizens in the several States; and il deserved
consideration whether such exclusion would not be OPP
| posed 10 the Constitution of the United States"
| Col. Young said, " The minds of the blacks are not
competent 10 vote. Iney much degraded to es
Innate the Vaice Or exercise with fidelity anu discretion
nat important right. would be unsafe in their hands
iher vote would be at the call of the richest purchaser
ii lhls class OF people should hereafter arrive AT such
uegTee OF Intelligence and virtue, inspire
then VIII be proper TO confer this privilege upon them
t present emancipate and protect them but ithhold
that privilege which they will inevitably abuse Look
10 your Jails and penentiares. BY whom are they fill
ca! by the very race, whom it is proposed to
rights" 49, f'
! MI Van Vechten-" The amendment teported nv the
select committee contemplated deprive electors of
ior Oh Ttt lohtch they haze enjoyed since he adoDo
me CONSTITUTION" lie asked why this should be
done! Those electors freemen and have been re-
cognzed as citizens of The State nearly half century,
nave under The sanction of constitution and laws d
~ acquired the legal qualifications Of electors Have
they done any thing 10 forfeit their right of sufrage?
are they not taxable, and do not many of them nav
thelr proportion OF taxes in with white
ms cannot be denied. How then can we in framing
permanent form OF government justly deny them The
rights OF free citizens, account of their present
empon by law from militia duty and their practical
empuOn from serving as jurors? Do our preiudices
against teir colour destroy their rights as citzens
" ne should therefore vote for striking out the word
'ohte IN the amendment before the committee in order
TO reserve involae the present rts of ali
tic electors" go '
MIR. Liyingston-"What are these vested rights, Sir
we are standing upon the foundations of society The
elements OF government scattered around US All
Tghs are buried, and from the shoots that spng from
lnei grave, we are TO weave bower that shall over