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

. 49,
tive, and thus voting to exclude from the right
of suffrage large class of citizens and also sol
diers Of the revolution. See Jour- Of Con- page
2S3.
The effect of this striking out the words cor on
the highways, was to exclude from voting, all
those who did not pay taxes, &c; AMI who, if
those words had been left in the Constitution,
might have veted, by working on the highways,
to the amount Of SIXTY-TWO AND A HALF
CENTS.
Martin Van Buren,, by this vote, says NO
you poor laborers, who do not pay taxes, SIC.
stand aside, You shall NOT VOTE. Tine effect
of his vote to strike out white, as before shown,
was to admit negroes to vote on the same foot
ing with white men!!
This is the Martin Van Bures, who is called
by the office holders, the friend of the POOR
MAN!
September 2S, 1921.
Jour of Con. page 2S4. Judge Van Ness mo-
we'd for a reconsideration of the vote OF yester-
day, for striking out the words cor on the high
ways"
After long discussion, the question of recon
sideration was taken and dccidedi in the afhTma-
tive,
Col. Young then called for the consideration
of MIR. Wheeler's amendment. cJour. Of Con.
page 276.
MIR. Wheeler spoke at length, in its favor
He was in favor of universal suffrage, with such
exceptions and limitations might be conducive
to the public welfare. See Jour, of Con. page
2S4
Judge Platt opposed the amendment on the
ground that it went in favor Of universal sutr
irage.
Mr.. Van Buren, OCCUPIED TIE floor for some
time, in expressing his sentiments decidedly
against the amendment and against universal suf-
Gage. We were Che said) hazarding every thing
by going to such lengths in the amendments,
Sc" Page 2S4.
Mr.. Tompkins supported the amendment and
thought too much alarm had been created by the
bug-bcar universal suffrage. Taxation APP
piled to representation, meant liability to taxa
ton. How was it when no taxes were imposed
in this State? Were there no representation?
sc. page 294.
Jour. of Convention, page 2S7. The question
on Mr. Wheelers amendment was taken by ayes
and noes and decided in the affirmative, ayes 63
noes 55.-Martin Van Buren, voting in the mega
tive and against universal suffrage!
No. 4.-Martin Van Buren, against universal
suffrage and in favor of household qualification
for voters.
September %, 1921.
On motion of Mr.. Edwards, the whole subject
was again referred to a select committee of thir-
teen to consider and report upon it.
Jour. Of Con. page 2sS.
Octsber 4th, 1921.
Col. Young, from the committee of thirteen, to
right of suffrage, made report. See Jour. OF
Con. page 1923.
The subject came up for discussion, page 366.
Martin Van Buren, said, ''that as the vote he
should now give on what was called the highway
qualification, would be different from what 1t had
been on former occasion, he would give brief
explanation. The qualifications reported by the
first committee were of three kinds, viZ:-The
payment of money fax-the performance of
military duty-and working on the highways
The two former had met his decided appreciation.
To the latter he wished TO add the additional
qualification, that the elector should, if he paid
no tax, performed military duty, but offered
his vote on the sole ground that he had labOred
ON the highway, also be householder"
MIR. Van Buren, then proceeded to give his
tory of the progress of the voting on the subject,
and stated as a reason, why he would not now
again attempt to add the qualification of house
holder, TO the highway qualification, that if he
did, it would be running the hazard OF the rein
PRODUCTION of the proposition Of the gentleman
from Washington, abandoning all qualifications,
and throwing open the ballot boxes to every
body.
Mr.. Van Buren, then went on to point out the
many evils that would flow from wholly I'M
restricted right of suffrage.
''First," he said, Kit would give to the city Of
New York, about $1,000 votes, whilst, under
the liberal extension of the right or the choice
of delegates, to this conyC N ion, she had but
about thirteen fourteen thousand; that the
character of the increased Number of votes
would be such as would render their elections
rather q curse than a blessing"
sESccondly, it would not only be injurious TO
them, but to the northern and weste IN part of
the State, &c., the additional representation
which next year was to be distributed among
the counties, would, instead of going principally
to the west, be surrendered to the worst popula-
ton of the old counties nd cities.o
he lNn IL oil
against retreat, whatever might be our after con-
viction, founded on experience, to the evil
tendency Of this extended suffrage"
He said the highway tax was within the con-
troll of the Legislature, and might hereafter be
confined to property. For one hundred years at
least, this would afford protection against the
evils apprehended He would, therefore, not
withstanding that his desire to have the qualifi-
cation of householder, added to the electors of
the third description remained unchanged, ac-
cept the report of the committee as it was, with
the addition OF military qualification, which he
thought ought to be adopted for the sake of prin-
ciple, if for no otlter reason.
The question was taken-afirmative 81,
gative ID. See Jour. OF Con 36S.
No. 5.-Martin Van Buren, in favor of free
hold qualification for negroes in exercising the
right of suffrage.
The next subject in order was the eomprorzs
Use reported by the committee of thirteen, allowN
ii neg VIC W Noter PiOSiueu he ifdu tihce yodiS
residence in the state, one year in the county,
and was seized Of freehold estate of the value
of two hundred and fifty dollars and above
all debts and membranes charged thereon, and
shall have been actually rated and paid tax
thereon.
Gen. Root moved that the committee rise and
report. ole hoped they would not lit being 5
sclocD take up the negroes on an empty stom-
ach.n
The motion to rise and report was lost
Jour. Con. page 800.
Mr. Van Buren, said he had voted against a to-
tai and unqualified exclusion [of the neeroesl for
he would not draw revenue from them and vet
deny to them the right Of suffrage; but this pro-
viso met his appreciation, they were exempted
from taxation until they had qualified themselves
to vote The right was not denied, to exclude
any. portion Of the community who will not ex-
ercise the right of suffrage in its purity This