Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-09-09

as to place Mr.. Van Buren, in direct OppC
sitiOn to the course actually pursued b,
him, and TO attribute to him the uievs ana
opinions upon whiCh their OWN PARTY &C
ted, Is TOO BAD. This is the case with
the PaIIadIums's remarks 10 relation "a
the right of outrage, and the extension VI
that right 10 the blacks, as a brief yeiw o
the Convention will show.
The constitution Of New York which
this Convention was called to amend
gave the right Of voting 10 "eVery male
iGhabitant possessing freehold oftwen.
ty pounds" 1t was, principally, the a.
bolishment Of this freehold qualification
which gaver se to the Convention Of 1921.
That Convention was composed of some
Of the most distinguished citizens Of the
State, federalisls as we'll as democrats.
The severest contest was on this freehold
qualification. Mr., Van Buren, was one
Of1he champions for its abolition, while
Chancellor Kent, (who stood at the head
ol the Clay Electoral ticket IN 1882 as
we'll as the other federal members, we're
his stern and unbeDding opponents. The
ledeTalIsts contested every inch of ground
for the preservation of the freehold quail
ticatlon: but the elOquence Of MIR, Van
Buren, triImphed over their aristocratlc
notions, and the right OI suffrage was ex'
tended.
A committee Of the Convention having
mad rapport that six months residence
in the State, and he having paid taxes, or
worked On the highways, or done military
duty," should be The qualifications of an
elector- Chief Justice Spencer "a distin.
guished federal member, moved 10 amend
The report by requiring freehold quaIif
cation of t,OO hundred and fifty dollars.
On this amendment Mr., Van Buren, made
the following remark, which may be found
at page 465 in the Debates of the Now
York Convention.
''ifI could possibly believe added
MIR. Van Buren ''lhat any portion Of
The calamilous consequences could re-
suit from The rejection Of The gentle
mans (Judse Spencer's) amendment
which The honorable gentleman from
Albany chancellor KenO has so
feeliOgIy portrayed, would be the
last man in society who would vote
for it. But believing as ! conscienli-
ously do, that those fears are altogeth.
er unfounded, hoping and expecting
Mat the happjeSt results t0jH JollO,O
from the a6O(iti0" Of The freehold
uatfcatiOn; and knowing besides
that this S ate in abolishing The free
hold qualification, will be but uniting
herself 10 The march of principle,
which has already prevailed in every
Sale in ths Uuiou, except Two or
three, IshaH cheerJuILy record my
UOte against the amendment"
His vote was then recorded against
the freehold qualification, and the
amendment of Judge Spencer was re
jected.
So much for The charge that Mr., Van
Buren "voted against extending the
privilege of voting to the poor white
man."
Now for the charge that he voted 10
favor of "extendiOg that privilege to
muIaltOes."
The federal members, being unable
10 resist the overpowering sentiment
of The majority, in favor of the "pOOr
white man." changed their plan Of
operation, and with a view 10 procure
the rejection Of the constitution by the
people, offered and advocated an
amendment TO extend the right Of suf
frage to the cOtOrsd population, al
though such population were not com
PEELED 10 perform The duties of cili-
zens in time of war: and although
they. the federaIistS, had just VOTED
AGAINST extending it TO WHITE inde
pendent JresmenM This amendment
was resisted by Mr.. Van Buren,, IS
we'll as the democratic members gen.
orally, and with the same success
which had attended their former ef.
forts. When it was under consIdera.
ton, Mr.. V. B. expressed himself in
the following language:
ave had already reached the verge
Of universal suffrage. There was but
one step beyond, and did gentlemen
propose TO take that s'epe We were
cheapening this invaluable right. lie
was disposed 10 go as far as any OIh.r
man 10 the extension of rational .rber
~; but he would not cOnscAt 10 un
dervaIue this precious rriVilege 80 fal
as to confer il with Un iiScrins snaEirs
hand upon every one, BLACK Of
white, who Would be kind enOugh 4