The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-07-17
P0tln1g10AID
From the Erie observer.

by reference TO the Debates published |
ofliclally) Of the New York Reform Con-
ventiou. page 465, it will he found that
Judge Spencer, leading and wealthy Fed
efaiist, moved an amendment 10 the Report |
of The Committee on the right of suffrage, |
that no man should vote for Senators unless |
possessed of freehold estate Of $780,
The report Of the committee proposed "a
residence of six months in the state and
having paid taxes. or worked on the high
ways, or dcne military duty,' as the quail
fcations of an elector. This report Judge
Spencer moved 80 amend by adding the
freehold qualification, which amendment
was supported in a speech by another lead
ing federalist, Chancellor Kent. Mr.. Van
Buren, made an able reply TO Mr.. Kent in
opposition to the amendment OF the
speech, we can only quote short extract
sufficient however TO answer our present
purpose OF re6uttng the utterly groundless
and unjust insinuation of the Gazette that
MIR. Van Buren supported the property
qualification for voters.
In concluding his able speech Mr. Van
Buren said
'If he could possibly believe, that any
portion of the caamitous consequences
could result from the rejection OF the a
mendment, which had been so feelingly
portrayed by the honorable gentleman from
Albany (Mr. KENT end for whom he would
repeat the Acknowledgement Of his respect
and regard, he would be the last man whe
would vote for it. But beIieUing as he con-
scienciously did that those fears '0ere aI-
together unfounded; hoping and erpectlng
that the hGppiest results 'Ooutd JoH02w
from the abolition of the freehold Quai!f
cation, and hoping too, that caution and
circumspection would preside over-the set
tlemept Of the general right WHICH was here
after 10 be made, and knowing besides, that
this state. in aboIiShing freehold fnayifco-
lion. wo,lld b,U be uniting herself IN the
march of principle which has already pre-
pailed in every state IF The Union, ercept
f,oo or trhce, including the Royal charter
of Rhode Island,he would cheerfully record
his vote AGAINST the amendment offered
by Judge Spencer
The federalisis, falling 10 restrict the
right Of suffrage by carrying the property
qualification as proposed by Judge Spen-
Ger. then endeavored to abolish all quaIili-
cations and give every man white or black
(except actual paupers) who should have
resided in the state six months and was o.
yer twenty-one wears of age, the right to
vote. This extreme was resorted TO IN or
der that the peopIe would reject the whele
PepAstitutjaqt a qtrs amended, and not out ol any
extension of the right of suffrage In;
nroposi,ion was opposed by Mr.. an Bu
rem and all the friends of liberal extension
of The right Of suffrage. On page 366 o
,be Debates in the New Y FORK Reform Con
yen,ion, NAV be seen the following remarks
of Mr.. Van Buren:
sMr. Van Buren, said, that as to the vot'
he should now give on what was called TIN
highway qualification, would be diheren
from villa, il had been on former occasion
he felt il a duty 10 maze a brief explanation
of the motives whIch governed him. Th
qualifications reported by the first commit
tee: were of three kinds, viz: the paymen
OF money tax. the performance oil m litir.
autv, and working on the highway. Th'
Two former had met with his decided ap
n,obation; 20 the latter he wished TO adj
the additional qualification, that the elecio
should, il he be paid no tax, performed n
militia duty, but offered his vote on the sol
ground that he had lahored on the highway
also be a householder; and that was tn
only point in which he mad dissented, lror
the report of the committee. To efeC
this obi ect, he supported motion made b
gentleman from Dutches TO strike out tn
highway qualification, with view of ado
ing shousehoIder.' That motion, after flu
discussion, had prevailed by majority G
twenty. Bot what was the consequence
The very next day, the same genllema
who thought the highway lax too liberal
qualification, voted that every person {
twenly.one years of age, having ceriai
term OF residence and excluding Actual pat
pers, should be permitted to vote for an
officer in the government, from the hghe
to the lowest--f4r outvieing, in this pa
tcular, the other states in the Union, an
verging from the extreme Of restricted,
that OF universal suffrage. The cOnvenlio
sensible Of the very great stride which ha
been taken by the last vote the next NOR
lug referred the whole matter to sele
committee OF thirteen, whose report W;
now uuder consideration. This commitC
though composed Of gentlemen, large mi
iority of whom had voted for The propos
ton for universal suffrage, had now recon
mended middle course, viz--the payne