Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-08-31
VAN BUREN, AND THE RIGHT OF SUE
ERAGEl

|
etnbled for the purpose Of amending the consti-
ution of the state of NeweYork y of which con.
yention Mr. Van Buren, was member. From
his document we copy the following facts:
Wednesday, Sept. 70, 1921, MIR. N. Sanford,
from the committee appointed to consider the
right of suffrage and the qualifications of persons
10 be elected, made report, Of which the fol-
lowing is Sec.
as |. Every white male citizen of the age of
twenty one years, who shall have resided in this
state six months next preceding any election, and
shall within one year preceding the electlon have
paid any tax assessed upon him, or shall within
one yeuI preceding the election, have been asses
sed to work on public road, and shall have per.
formed the work assessed upon him, or shall have
paid an equivalent in money therefor according to
law, or shall within one year preceding the cleo
ton have been enrolled in The militia of this state,
aud shall have served therein according to law.
shall be entitled to vote at such election, III the
town or ward in which lac shall reside, for govern
or lieutenant governor, senator's members OI the
assembly and all other officers, who or may
he elected by the people" Page 1874.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, "Mr. Jay moved that the
word irhiic he stricken OUT p. 100. Sept. 30,
agreed to G3 to 50, Mr. Yum Buren, voting in the
affirmative, p. 202.
Gen. Root moved the following amendment, or
rather substitute:
Every male citizen Of the age Of twenty -onc
years, who shall have been year an nhabitant !
of TIL state, and for six months resident in til g
town. county, or district, where he may offer his
vote, and shall have been, for the year next pre-
cedng, assessed, and shall have actually paid n
tax, either to the state, county. on the highway
or, being armed and equipped according 10 law,
shall have performed within thul year, military
duty in the militia of this state and the sons oil
such citizens, being between the age Of twenty
one and twenty-five years. shall be entitled TO
votn in ha tn 1yhprn thpv then nctlID1ly
reside, for any elective officer in this state But
no person shall be allowed so to vote who would
not ii an able bodied man, and within the proper
age prescribed by the laws of the United States,
be liable to the performance of military duty un
less exempted by the laws ofthe United States, or
Of this state /; account Of some public office, or
being employed in some public tIust, or particular
business, deemed by the legislative authority to be
specially beneficial TO the United States, or this
state or unless he shall have paid, within the
year next preceding his offering his vote fair
equivalent, in money for his personal services and
equipments; TO be determined by the legislature,
according to the estimated expense in time und
equipments, OF an ordinary able bodied md eff
cient militia man Propided, That this prohibi.
ton shall not extend to any person above tr age
required by law Tor the performance of muu du-
ty, who would have been liable to parlorm the
same, or to pay an equivalent thereto, before
irving TO that age"
Sept2l, Mr. Sheldon objected that this amend
ment excluded quakers and negroes and asked
for division of the question, as to try it first
on the amendment, SO far as to the word 'state.'
| Agreed to p. 213.
M VAN buren, said
ave have all agreed on the abolition of the ex-
listing qualifications for voters, and prefer the
part of the amendment now under consideration,
to the report of the committee, and shall vote for
it. AS to the remainder of it, presume, upon re-
Election, il will not be passed. u, pa
Sept %. MIR. Spencer moved TO amend so ms
to require property qualification of $3.50 to emit
tie citizen to vote for Senators p, 2l5. Oppo
sed by Mr.. Van Buren,, Sept 25, (p. 1885, and re-
: jected, 100 to l9-Mr Van Buren, voting in the
negative, p. go.
Sept. 26th, Mr.. Jay moved to strike out thu
] words, cor, being armed and equipped according
to law, shall have performed within the year mill
tary duty in the militia of this stae;' p. 273, neg
e atved, 90 to %. Mr.. Van Buren, voting in til
negative.
Cen. Tamadge moved to strike out, or on tn
G highway so that highway taxes should not quail
J. ifya person to vote. Mr.. T. said he was in ia
n vor of 'confnng the qualification of voters t
o such as do military duty and pay taxes p. 275.
f. Mr.. VAN buren, supported the motion to
:? ED FOR UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE p. 81
/. Gen. Root replied, that if the clause was srict
t, en- out, 1t iooutd disfranchise numerous class
TO persons ,0ho oughtto vote,' p. 275.
It. Mr.. Russell was against striking out. ltwou
n disiranchise many who ought TO vote. He reco
" lected revolutionary soldier in his town, wi
N was at the siege Of Quebec, and another who WI
r. at the stormng of Stoney Point, and neither won
" have vote, if this motion prevailed p. 275, "a
:, Thursday, Sept. ~, Gen. Tamadge withdre
W his motion of yesterday, to strike out the word
:. g. on the highways" and offered the followil
10 substitute: "or shall for six months next al
nj Immediately preceding the election, have rented
O. tenement therein Of the yearly value Olive dollar
i and shall have been rated and paid highway Ia
A. either by labor communications" Page 276.
ne Gen. Talmadge "took occasion to say that
mt was opposed to universal suffrage Page 217.
A. "GEN. Roof said the amendment ofthe gentle
he man from Duchess was providing for the disfra
u. chiSement Of numerous class Of citizens. II
ID renting of tenements had become odious TO Il
r. people, and led to many frauds. lie enarg
a. upon the remarks of the gentleman from Niaga
nd MR. RusseIl,) who mentioned Two instances in
on town. two revolutionary patriots and soldiers OF
nd of whom fought with Montgomery under the wa
N. of Quebeck, and the other der Wayne ut Sto
he ey Point, would be disfranchised ifthis proylsi
nj were stricken out. But the honorable gentlem
oil frem Otsego mir Van Buren, think, that if Il
If clause is retained, the amendment will be jeop;
JUS died. and probably be rejected by the Peep
lt4 That honorable gentleman must doubtless he bt
he ter acquainted with his constituents than hiinst
or. Mr. Root.) This might he The case so far as it
ate garded Cooperstown, which the gentleman repi
it scnted but as Delaware was contiguous 10 On
the 90, and as part of the latter county was nearer
IAN Delhi than TO Cooperstown, lie must claim to
,c ms well acquainted with the sentiments Of the pr
the pie in that quarter as misrepresentation.
nd "MR. VAN buren, felt himself called on
The make n few remarks in reply to the genlem
co. from Delaware. lie observed that it was evde
+ and indeed some gentlemen did not seem dispo.
, to to disguise it, that the amendment proposed
tho hnnOurnIlp UpntlaD,an from, Nal pr
the templaled nothing short OF universal suffrage.
GEO V. b. did not believe that there twenty me
bers OF this committee, who were the bare max
at question ofuniyersal suffrage put to them, wo
pa vote in its favour; and he was vess sure that
had adoption was not expected, and Would not IN