Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-08-04

word "White,"
Col. Young opposed the motion of
Mr.. Jay. He said that he was in favor
of retaining the word ''white, '-that
he was opposed to the motion, because
it placed the negro upon level with
the white man. The minds of the
blacks, [said he1 are not competent to
vote; they are too much degraded to
estimate the value or exercise with
fidelity and discretion that important
right.
'.It would be unsafe in their hands.
Their vote would be at the call of
the richest purchaser.
Look to your jails and penitentia-
ries, by whom are they filleds BY the
very race whom it is proposed to
clothe with the power of deciding upon
your political rights. If there be that
natural inherited right to vote, which
some gentlemen have urged, it ought
to be flrthAr osstonded. In New Jersey
females wore fornae-l,- oli~---~d 81 vUrU'
and on that principle you must admit,
negresses as well as negroes to par
ticipate in the right of suffrage, mi
nors too, and aliens must no longer be
excluded, but the eras of good feeling
be commenced in earnest.
"Mr. Jay supported his motion, and
in his reply to Col. Young Flour. p.
2O1, he said why do we feel reluctant
to associate with black man. There
IS no reluctance in Europe. 1t arises
from an association Of ideas. Slavery
and black skin always present them
selves to our minds, but with the dim
mutton of slavery, the prejudice is al
ready diminished. But sir, what sort
of an argument is this, / will not eat
with you, nor associate with you, be-
cause you are black. Mr.. Chairman, |
do trnst that this Committee will not
consent to violate all those principles
upon which our free institutions are
founded, or to contradict all the pro-
LESSONS which we so profusely make,
concerning the natural equality OF all
men, merely to crafty odious and tenn
porary prejudices."
These remarks from opposing gen
tletnen, serve to show the grounds that
were assumed by the anti and the negro
voting party. The question is: ''Did Mr..
Van Buren, recognise this natural equality
between these debased thieving negroes,
and white men:" which Mr.. Jay and 9TH
ers asserted, and in fact attempted to prove.
Let his vote speak for him.
Immediately after Mr.. Jay had conclu.
ded his rant about natural and equal rights
between the blacks and whites the
question was put, whether the word
''white" should be stricken out or not. h
was decided that the word ''white" should
be stricken out-by majority of votes.
Mr.. VAN BUREN, voting with the ma.
jority and thereby securing to the LATEST
vilest, most degraded, and worthless vag'
abonds that ever infested any country; the
same imnunities, privileges and blessings
that the noble. patriotic, and high minded
white citizens possess, [See Journal, page
2O2.
The Committee subsequently offered a
lproviso limiting the right of suffrage to
those who possessed $3.50 worth of prop.
erty, obviously for the purpose of prevent.
ing runaway negroes &C., from voting
The subject being again under considera'
ton, Mr.. Birdseye moved to amend the
first line of the section, so that it woulc
read: "EYery free male citizen" insteac
Of ''every male citizen" The motion
was lost. Mr.. Briggs then moved to in
sert the word ewhite" which had beef
stricken out by Mr.. VAN BUREN'S as
sistance. Chancellor Kent opposed tn
motion. He was unwilling to see then
DISTINGUISHED, and the door barred agains
them. Mr.. Van Buren, then rose ant
said:
"That he was in favor of the plal
proposed by the Committee, and op
posed to the amendment which was Il
reinstate the word "white," Jour. p
364,1
: Again:-Mr. Van Buren, said tina
; he would not draw revenue from tn
blacks, and yet deny them the rigE
of voting. But this proviso met hi
, appreciation, the right was not denie
to any portion of the community, VIII
will exercise the right of suffrage in il
purity. This held out inducements
industry, and would secure his sur
port"
: So then it is an undeniabIe fact, tn;
!. Mr.. Van Buren, voted to give negroes Il
v right of suffrage, under the poor pitif
pretext that he did not wish to tax Their
d and not let them vote. Yet was not Il
e protection of their property, their lives al
Q their liberty sufficient reward for the pa
It try tax that was paid by them. Oh, n
. that could not satisfy Mr.. Van Bure
nothing but placing these wretches up'
an equality with white men, could salts
him. It is fact well known that t
Negroes of New York are the most d.
= perate set of thieves that are in existenc
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