State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-13
MIR. VAN buren, AND The RIGHT
OF SUFFRAGE

ariclc I'LL our paper ISSUED ON SATURDAY.
showing that Mr. Van Buren, opposed ani-
0e'Sdf Suffrage and, as the only means OF
countcractng that effect which it Should
have upon the people, they declare the ar
hclc false. Fortunately, for the cause OF
truth ana for our own vcracity. we have
PROOF, complete, perfect and undeniable
-PROOt which no Van Buren, man. how
ever reckless, dare call in question. This
morning poor man, who labors hard fDr
an honest living, and does nat on account
of his poverty wish to he deprived of the
right OF votlng-brou0ht us the published
debates Of the NJ \. Contention of 1921,
containing the speeches on that occasion
we have also before us H0haRds Life Of
Mr.. Van Buren,, written, as the author adj
mits, partly for the purpose of commenting
MIR. Van Buren, to the people; and from
both these Mgh authorities, we shall now
PROVE the sentiments OF Mr.. Van Buren,
to be, what they have been said to be,
against universal suffrage.
On page 277 of the debates of the Com
vention we find the following:
"Mr. Van Buren, felt himself called on
to make a few remarks in reply to the gcn-
tleman from Delaware Co. He observed
that it was evident, and indeed some gen
tlemcn did not seem disposed to dispute it..
that the honorable gentleman from Della
ware contemplated nothing short Of npirer-
sal suffrage. M. ]. u. dill not Jeiiere
that there were twenty members Of that
committee tcho, lrere the bare naked 0Hes-
ton Of universal suffrage pHt 10 fhen,
'could rote IN its fauor; and he arcs rerU
Snre that its adoption 1cas mot crpecfed, and
1r0utd not meet tie Uie,cS Of their coasfitn-
CAtS."
Again, on the same page:
"One word on the main question before
the committee. We had already reached
the verge of univirsal suffrage. There was
but one step beyond. Ind are gentlemen
prepared to take that step? We were
chcapcning this invaluable right He was
disposed To 90 rs far as any man in the en-
tension ofrotjonal liberty; bit HE couid not
consent to underralue this precious pyiriiege,
so far as to confer 1t rHH an undiscrimiaa-
ting hand upon EVERY ONE, black or
white, who would be kind enough TO con-
descend to accept it."
The same may be found in tEs5~ Hollands
life, page 1871.
Again on page 2S1 we find the following:
VIZ g." D' {" ooCHp6U me UOOf JOr
some time, IN expressing his sentiments de-
cidedly against the amendment, and against
untrersal su6rGge."
And on page 2S7 we find the ayes and
noes OH the amendment which rave rise to
this discussion, and there Mr.. Van Buren,
records his rote against permitting "ma lie
citizens, Of the age of 81 years who shall
have been three years an inhabitant of this
state, IN. W and for one year resident
in the town." TO vote, &c.
Again on page 500 we find the following
Mr.. Van Buren, said, that as the vote
he should now give on what was called the
highway qualification, would be different
from what il had been on former occa-
sion, he iclt ii duty TO make a brief cX-
p!anatlon OF the motives which governed
Inn. The qualifications reported by the
ilrst committee were of three kinds, viz:
the payment Of money tax, the perform
ance OF militia duty, and working on the
high way. The two former had met his
decided appreciation; to the latter he acish-
ed to add the additional qualification, that
the etector shouid, if he paid no tax, per-
formed no militia duty, but offered his vote
on the sole ground thai he had laborcd ON
the highways, also be a householder and
that was the only point on which he had
dssented from the report Of the committee"
And page 367 the following;
AT this moment lie would only say, that
among the many evils which would flow
from Il wholly unrestricted suffrage, the
following would be most injurious, viz -
First. 1t would give TO the city of New
York about twenty-five thousand of votes :;
whilst under the liberal extenton of the
right on the choice of delegates 10 this con-
vention, she had but thirteen or four
teen thousand. That the character of
the increased number of votes would be
such as to render their elections rather Il
curse than hlessing,--Which would drive
from the polls all sober minded people"
And on page lSl OF Hollands life we find
this view confirmed, thus:
"Ihc qualifications required in the report
of the committee, besides temporary resi-
dencc, were, as has already been stated,
paying taxes, or doing military duty, or
working on the highways. Mr.. Van Blu
rem was in favor OF adding to the latter al
tentative, the further restriction of being a
householder. He expressed his fears that
the extension contemplated by some of the
amendments proposed, would not be sane
toned by the public appreciation. and would
occasion the rejection Of the whole by the
people. In this connection, Mr.. Van Blu
rem remarked, on another occasion, 'that
were the bare, naked question of universal
suffrage put to the committee" of the
whole she did not believe there were
twenty members who would vote for it,
He added; "Onc word on the main ques-
ton before the committee. We had reach
ed the verge Of universal suffrage. There
was but one step beyond. And are gen.
tIemen prepared to take that step? We
were cheapening this invaluable right. He