Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-29
FOR TIE ENQUIRER
g ,rnrG 10 fhc 1cie. u .ununa"

Calmly locking at passing e7ents, have beer
ions:cd at the cagcrness with which the votes OF Mr..
Van Buren,, while member of the New York Conven-
tion III relation free negro suffrage have been press
ca into The service of the protesting friends Of Judge
"m', OF whom be il said, sir transit c!oIla 7Rls,sd
"nnt 90 the facts demonstrate The enscz7hc q NJ.
| van b"fcn "?.H'ons OIL that subject, TO be? why
plainly aad sli:sy this Being the REPRESENTATIVE of
portion Of the people Off State dir Van
Bnrcn, i'cni'r oil the Convention called 10 alter the
cid Constitution which granted the free man Of color
Tie privilege OF slandIng rs regarded the right c: su
frage; high ground the white man. not being
disposed rather, 10, being able 10 disanchise the
free OF color, and at The time 10 reconcile other
conflicting views q the subject Of suffrage which eaa
ttd The Convention, succeeded nevertheless By tie pro-
visions OF the Constitution, in taking down tie free
an OF color from that equal rank, with the white man,
which tie old Constitution allowed him to Occupy
defy the male rclen, ingenuity Of his worst enemy after
fairly reviewing tic proceedings in the Convention
the subject make any thing Of the part Mr. V Blu
rem acted than is Just above stated And is il for
s.rIcllng free negro suffrage Ina, he is 10 bc Indignantly
dscafdeaby The people o!he South who are opposed alto
gcther to ifce mgrc suage Such opposition is indeed
ian unaecounaIle oddity' Now, if Mr. Van Barren had
cxcrrd his influence had done any thing to keep the
free negro the equal footing which the old Cons.i.
tuition placed him, with the white man, then all who op.
pose Tree acgro suffrage, might, with show Of
son and consistency, overlook tho fact that his is
sI1rehult!ng State, and oppose him. but that he did,
is the nndenahe fact, only labor but successfully,
IN rcduce the nunbe: of free negroes enjoying the right
Of suffrage by raising the requisite qualification
them, as to place 1t beyond their reach unless their la
bits Of industry and ecGnoaiy such TO make them
good citizens Of State in which there slaves is
clear claim on The support Of those who, principle,
wish to gee the free negro every whcc deprived Of the
right Of suffrage II the Past is the best Prophet OF the
Future and Patrick }enry used to gay it was, the
s,ction OF free negro sulruse by the Convention Of
New York. may Le a;.iy assumed TO be earnest of
The ultimate exclusion 81 the free negro from the polls
in the free States. 1t be doubted that Mr.
tsfranchsc the free negroes Of New York, the chief
reason of the active md ngi;a.ing opposition of The
Northern Aboiti0nSs, 10 his election to the Presidency
Shall we pt The South dcc:y him account Of the We
rs act, by doing c he has incurred the hostility of
Tho enemies Of tic South Rather let salute
him, "Thc friend Of the South
But suppose Mr.. Van Bu!cn Lad cxcred his influence
10 enlarge the nnHser e[ free negro vocrs in New York.
successfully III tru! he did to diminish it, what
solid ground IF oh ction could that raise, in this State
to his ekeon TO the Presidency OF the United States!
Does rot every tyro in politics know, that the Pres
dent OF the United States, and Congress 10 back
him, could not by Dry action Of theirs, III any wise
affect the right Of suffrage in this any other State: 1t
structure OF GorernncDs that the President and the
Congress- If cy earnestly desired it, cannot, by
their united I'd most energetic action gave the right TO
vote to sagfc free negro in any one State IN The Union
And yet this CLANCY about the free cE.o suffrage III New
York. is raised here - induce the nid and the un!n
formed TO believe that if Nh Van Buren, be elected The
Presidency thr free negroes in igDia will be put
an equal footing with lie white man J.! Really, can
not adni:e the liberal spirit, The Patriotism or tie
sound Judgment ,r common honesty O! the man, who
attempts 10 make such impression. SENEA.