The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-02

NO@Na
shall have performed the work assessed upon
him, or shall have paid an equivalent in money,
therefore, according to law, or shall within one
year preceding the election have been enrolled
in the Militia in this State, and shall have serv-
ed therein according to law, shall be entitled to
vote at such election in the town ward IN
which he shall reside, for Governor, LieutenaAt
Governor, Senators, Members of Assembly, and
all other officers WHO are or may be elective by
the people.
Jour. Con. page 1874
September 18th, 1921.
On motion Of Mr.. Sanford, the report of the
committee relative TO the right of suffrage, was
taken up for consideration, aud was discussed.
Jour. Con. IT'S, Sc. sc.
The question being on the first section ORR
ginally reported by the committee
Mr.. jay, moved that the word White be
stricken out.
See Jour. Con. page 1870.
The object of this amendment was to place
the Negroes on an equality with the Whites IN
regard to voting.
Col. Young earnestly opposed the amend
owe ought" he said, 'Eto make constitution
adapted to our habits, manners, and state OF So
ciety. Metaphysical rcfnements and abstract
speculations are of little use in framing Con-
stitution.
Ono White man will stand shoulder to should
j
He will not invite him to seat at his table, nor
in his pew at church And yethe must be placed
on footing of equality in the right of voting,.
and on no other occasion whatever, either civil
or social :!
sc The minds of the blanks are not competent
to VOTE" continued Col Young, "they are too
much degraded to estimate the value of exer-
cising with fidelity and discretion, that import
ant right 1t would be unsafe in their hands !!
Sc"
Sec Jour Con. page 1911.
The question striking out the word WHITE,
was then taken by ayes and noes, and decided in
the affirmative, ayes 63, noes so. MARTIN
VAN buren, voting in the affirmative to
strike out the word WHITE, and thus place the
NEGRO ON AN EQUALITY WITH THE
WHITE MEN IN VOTING AT ELEC-
TIONS. See Jour. of Con-, page POP.
After the above vote was taken, Gen. Root
Immediately arose and Observed that ''rhere
was danger of extending the right of suffrage
too far 1t was now extended to NEGROES,
in the polite language of the day, to COL
ORED PEOPLE. 1t was, in his opinion, in
expedient to admit strolling voters" With a
view to prevent this, he offered further amend
ment relative to residence, paying of tax, doing
military duty, Sc, sc. See Jour. of Con-, page
POP.
This is the same Martin Van Buren, who is
exhibited to the world as E'northern man
with southern principles Is it one of the prin-
ciples of the south, that negro has as much
right to vote at elections a white man? We
pause for reply.
No. 2.-Martin Van Buren, in favor of free |
hold qualification for State Senators
September 22nd, 1921.
Chief Justice Spencer moved to amend Mr..
Roots amendment, by requiring an interest i'll
law equity in, lands, tenements or heredita-
ments of the value of $780, as qualification of
voters for State Senators.
Jour. of Con. page 2I5.
MIR. Van Buren, opposed this amendment. He |
commended that the land interest twas sufficiently
guarded by the constitution it now stands
1t now provides that the Senators shall be free |
holders, and that part of the constitution it was
not proposed to alter There was no objection
to fixing the amount of the freehold required in
the elected, and to place it a respectable, but
not extravagant footing"
See Jour. of Con page 255, SC.
After long debate, the question on the amend |
ment of Chief Justice Spencer, was taken by |
ayes and noes, and decided in the negative, ayes
10, noes 100, MIR. Van Buren, voting in the ne
gatiye Jour. of Con- page 270.
Under the old constitution which in this re-
spect, according to MIR. Van Buren,, cit was not
proposed to alter" no man could be elected Sen
ator unless She possessed freehold of the value
of one hundred pounds over and above all debts
charged thereon" Con. of New York, 1777,
sec. 10.
No. 3.-Martin Van Buren, opposed to univer-
sal sufirage.-Jour. of Con. page 273.
Mr.. Jay, for the sake of relieving the embar
easements of the committee, moved to strike out
from Cen Roots amendments the words, Cor be- |
ing armed and equipped according to law, shall |
have performed within the year military duty in
the militia Of this State"
Jour. of Con. page 27t-The question was ia
Ken and decided in the negative, ayes 26, noes
80. Mr. Van Buren, voting in the negative.
Gen Talmadge then moved to strike out Eor
on the highways he was for continuing The quail
ifcation of voters, to such do military duty and
pay taxes.
Col. Young replied, and was opposed to strik-
ing out. MIR. Van Buren, supported the motion
for striking out. The people Che said) were not
prepared for universal suffrage.
Gen. Root replied, that if the clause, were
stricken out it would disfranchise n numerous
class of persons who out to vote.
Mr.. Russell was against striking out. eeIt
would disfranchise many who ought 10 vote. He
recollected Revolutionary soldier in his town,
who was at the seige of Quebec, and another who
was at the storming of Stoney Point, and neither
would have vote if this melton prevailed"
September 27th, 1921.
An amendment of Gen. Talmadge was under
consideration. See page 276.
Jour. Of Con. page 277. Gen. Root sand, the
amendment provided for the disfranchisement of
numerous class of citizens. He enlarged upon
the remarks of the gentleman from Niagara, Mr..
RUSSELL, VINO inenIloned TWO instances IN MS
town, where two Revolutionary patriots and SOL
diers, one of whom fought with Montgomery
der the walls of Quebec, and the other, under
Wayne at Stoney Point, would be disfranchistd
if this provision were stricken out" SC.
Mr.. Van Buren, said, he felt himself called on
to make few remarks in reply to the gentleman
from Delaware, Gen. Root.) He observed that
it was evident, and indeed some gentlemen did
not seem disposed to disguise it, that the amend
ment proposed by the Hon. gentleman from Del
aware (Gen. Roof contemplated nothing short
of universal suffrage. Mr.. Van Buren, did not
believe that there were twenty members of that
committee who, the bare naked question of
universal suffrage put to them, would vote in its
favor Mr.. Van Buren, then replied to state
meut made yesterday by his honorable and ven
cradle friend from Erie, (Mr. RusselD in rela-
ton to the exclusion of soldiers, who had fought