Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-06-03

'hct are eNc!uhtu ny coHsTHcHV" """
IN the other New Jersey where ie-
males formerly voted, in high party
times, they are now excluded by aet 81
HE legislature, amending Me Consftfu
ton. Thirtecn of the States expressly
exclude all people OF color. The Other
eleven, VIZ Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Vermont, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary land, +,
North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee
admit, or do not expr. .ssly exclude them.
But one of these New York makes n
marked distinction between her white
latter freehold estates, for "hich they
pay taxes of two hundred and fifty pounds
value, and three years instead of one
years residence. One State excludes
paupers another, paupers and persons
under guardianship n third adds In
dams not taxed, to these exclusions
Connecticut requires the qualification of
good moral character and Vermont
requires peaceable and quiet behavior
and an oath. PENNSYLVANIA and Della
ware allow the sons Of voters Ia vote one
year after coming of age. Every State
requires residence Of shorter or long
er time, from three months up to three
years. Every State excludes all under
twenty years Of age. Five of them
only require citizenship p Of iho United
States.
Such are the various modes in which
the elective franchise is disposed of by
the constitutions Of different States. -
And who can fail to perceive in them
those incongruties which always show
themselves when impracticabIe theories
are attempted TO he strained into prac-
ilce. While reading some Of them, we
could not have been greatly surprised to
have found il soIenIy ordained, that no
qualifications Of any kind are necessary or
ought 10 be required, 10 eniiile men freely
10 exercise The eieciire franchise at all
times, and in all places, mhereper they may
happen 10 scjourn. And yet, after all
The sacrifices made of practical utility
and public safety to theoretical right,
The same instruments, in every instance,
contain other features wholly irreconcle-
able with that predominant doctrine. by
what right is it that The whole Of one of
the sexes are uncerimoniousIy y excluded {?
They are rs intelligent, discree, and in
dusrious are more highly cultivated,
and more correct in habits, manners and
morals and what is of great import ance,
they are generally more permanent resi-
dents in their native States more ident-
flied with, and more strongly attached to
them than our own sex. Their claims,
therefore, are quite as strong as those OF
the sex by whom they are excluded
Aud why are they excluded ? Those
who urc influenced only by considera-
tions OF public utility, are at no loss for
an answer. Tho exercise Of the elective
franchise, as it is every where exercised
at the polls, would be inconsistent with
those peculiar virtues and characteristics
Of the sex, and would impair those social
ties and relations " hich ought to be held
sacred. ii is erpediency therefore, and
that only, which jusifies the exclusion.
The abstract principle of right, upon
which the constitutions We speak Of nre
prolessedly based, forbids such exclu-
sions. How then eau those, who pro-
Tess to act upon that principle, justify n
hagrant violation Of it, upon the plea OF
erpedisncy, which in most other inst ances
they sacrifice il. Impractical public util
hy is to be consulted nt all, il ought to
be consulted throughout, as the only
sound principle Of action and it is an
abuse of that principle and Of the very
name of public good, to resort TO it only
when we have no other means of escap-
ing the too glaring abs'.rdties which our
iavorltc systems and theories would run
US into. Where then is tho consistency y
Of the constitutions, which, protesting
the principle Of universal right of suh:
rage, exclude at sweep, the most meri-
tOrious hall Of society on The score Of sex
and one-halr OF The remainder on the
score Of age and then proceed TO ad.
init Indians, negroes, and others called
people of color all persons, in shOit, of
every desert ption not excepting pau
pers, persons under guardianship, for
cigners, strangers, servants, dependents,
or conyicts even, and without regard to
v"""hS"hohs VI Guy hiuu. AS " All iV-
ing things in the human shape, Except
females, aud those who lack single day
or more of the precise age of twenty -onc
years. are worthy agents to exercise the
power Of appointing those who are to
rule over the people, and to hold in their
hands, The lives, Liberties, rights and pro-
perty Of the whole community.
But, the feature in the constii utons
we have been speaking OF, least in har-
mony with the doctrine of universal rig ht |
Of suffrage (Which in other respects, is /
carried TO such extremes in those insiru.
mcnls,) is the striking difference they
make IN the qualtic alton Of the electors,
and Of those whom they are allowed to
elect. In none OF those States, Except
Connectcut,) can a single one of the
electors, who is barely qualified to act
as such, be himself elected representa-.
i've, much less n senator. In most of
those States, a senator or representative,
with some difference as to amount, II
must possess clear freehold estate Of
very considerable extent from one
hundred to five hundred acres and OIL
value, from one hundred pounds, to one
thousand dollars. In one State, tho lIce.9
hold must.be worth five hundred pounds