Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-29


Calmly looking at passing events have been ns.
onished at the eageIness with which the votes of MIR
an Buren, while member of the New York Conven-
on IN relation to free negro suffrage have press
ed into the service of the protesting friends Of judgo
WHIT OF whom be il said sac transit gioria 1nundi.
w hat DO the facts demonstrate the ensemble of MIR
van bufens opinions that subject 10 be Why
plainly and simply this Being the represe NATIVE of
portion OF the people of State Mr. Van
buren, member of the Convention called to alter the
old Constitution, which granted the free man of color
c privilege OF standing regarded the right of suf-
irage, on as high ground the white man, not being
disposed, rather not being able disranchise the
Tree man of color, and the time reconcile other
conctng views of the subject of suffrage which aaa-
ted the Convention succeeded nevertheless by the pro-
visions Of the new Constitution i'm taking down The free
man OF color from that equal rank, with the white man,
which the old Constitution allowed him TO occupy 1
6ey the maleyolent ingenuity of his enemy after
siiy reviewing the proceedings in the Convention on
the SUBJECT I'D make thing Of the part Mr. " Blu
ZEN acted than is just above stated And is it for so re-
s,r,cng tree negro suffrage that he is to be indignantly
c,h =, ~ ns people oil INC Sonth who are opposed alto
geer 70 free negro surage Such opposition indeed
an unaccounuble Oddly" Now if Mr. Van Buren had
eSered his influences had done any thing to keep the
cc negro on te equal footing which the old Consti-
tuition placed him, with the white man then all who on
pose Tree negro suffrage might, with show of rea-
son anu consistency overlook the fact that his nom
savehoidng State, and oppose him. bat that he did as
Is the nndeniable fact only labor but successfully
to reduce the number of free negroes enjoying right
OF suHfage oy SO raising the requisite qualification
hen as to place beyond their reach their ha-
bits OF Industry and economy such as to make them
good citizens Of State in which there are no slaves il
ws TO see the free negro every where deprived of the
right OF suffrage If the Past the best Prophet of the
Future and Patrick Henry used to say was, the
sIncton OF free negro suffrage by the Convention of
New York, may be fairly assumed be an earnest of
the ultimate exclusion of the free negro from the polls
even IN The free States. II be doubted that Mr.
van Suren successful effort great an extent TO
dis'Fancse the free negroes Of New York. is the chief
reason OF the active and agitatiag opposition of the
Nerthern Abolitioniss, TO his election the Presidency
Shall we OF the South deory him of the We
y act by doing which, he has incurred the hostility of
tho worst enemies of the South Rather let us salute
him, "Ibe friend of the South"
But suppose Mr.. Van Buren, had exered his influence
10 enlarge the number of free negro voters in New York
as successfully as in truth he did diminish IT, what
solid ground of objection could that raise in this State
70 ms election to the Presidency of the United States
Does not every tyro in politics know, that the Presi-
oeht oil the United States and Congress 10 back
nun, could not by any action of theirs, in any wise
aiect the right OF suffrage in this any other State? II
skhown TO every man who at all acquainted with the
structure OF our Governments that the Preside and the
congress, even if they earnestly desired it, cannot by
er united and most energetic action, give the right TO
vote 10 SINGLE free negro in any State in the Union
And yet this camor about the free negro suffrage in New
YORK, s raised here TO induce the timd and the unin
formed to believe that if Mr. Van Buren, be elected to the
Presidency the free negroes in Virginia " in be put on
an equal footing with the white man = Really can
not admire the liberal spirit, the PATRIOTISM or the
sound Judgment, the honesty of the man. who
attempts to make such impression. SENEX.