The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-27


orabIe iberay, they have bestowed the military lands
won them and gladden. the evening Of their days
had provided them with pensions Few of those patriots
were living, and Of that few, that number was
yearly diminishing In feen years the grave will have
covered all those who survive Was mot then un
wise TO hazard wholesome restrictive provision lest IN
its operation it might affect these few individuals Tor
very short time He would add no more. HIS duty
would NOT permit him 10 say less
One word on the main question before the commtee
We had already reached the verge of universal suffrage
There but one step beyond And are gentlemen
prepared take that step? We were cheapening tins
invaluable right. He was disposed to go as iar as any
man in the extension of rational liberty but he could mol
undervaue this precious privilege SO lar as 10
ooner with Understanding hand, upon every one
black white, who would be KIND enough 10 condcscend
to acceptit. Page 277.
Again Mr.. Van Buren, in speaking on this
subject said:
"1he qualifications reported by the first committee
of three kinds VIE the payment Of money tax,
the performing OF military duty, and working on the high
way. The two former had met with his decided appro
baon the latter he wished to add the additional quail
caton that the elecor should if he paid no tax per
ground that he had labored on the highway also be
householder and that the only point in which he had
dssented from the report of the committee. To effect
this object, he supported motion made by gentleman
from Duchess strike the highway qualification, with
wow of adding householder
Mr.. Van Buren, said he had the motion of the gen.
tleman from Columbia this day limited at the numerous
objections which he had to the proposition which the
other day passed the convention regard to the right Of
suffrage objections which he intended to make, had the
committee reported in favor OF that vote and by which,
when fully urged he knew that he would be able TO con-
vince every member of the committee of the dangerous
and alarming tendency Of that precptate and unexpected
prostrahon of all qualifications. AT this moment he
would say that among the many evils which would flow
from wholly unrestricted suffrage, the following would
be tho most injurious, viz:
First. 1t would give to the city of New York about
twenty thousand votes while under the liberal eI
tenton Of the right on the choice Of delegates to this
convention, she had but about thirteen fourteen thou
sand That the character of the increased number OF
voters would be such would render their elections
rather curse than blessing which wonld drive from
the polls all sober minded people, and SUCH he was hap
delegation from that CITY," Page 367.
Mr. Patt moved to eXpunge the prOviso in the first
section which declares that person, other than rhte
man, shall vote unless he have freehold estate Of the
value Of $3.50" Page 374.
Mr. Van Buren, said he had voted against total and
unqualified exclusion, for he would not draw revenue
from them the negroes and yet deny to them the right
Of suffrage. But this provso met his approbation.-
They were exempted from taxation until they had quail
fled themselves to vote" Page 376.
Judge Van Ness moved substitute for the proviso
which, utter some modification passed. follows
Provided that no man of color, unless he shall have
been for three citizen of this State and year
next preceding any elscon been seized and possessed
of freehold of the value of $50 dollars yer and
above all debts and ncumbrance charged thereon shall
be entitled 10 in the election Of any officer Of the
government; and provided further, that Of color
shall be subject direct Axaton unless he shall be
ed and possessed of such real estate aforesaid"
"The question was then taken the whole secron,
lnciu0lng prOViSO, ana carried the affirmative
follows Ayes ~, Noes 80. The Of Mr.. Van
Buren, is recorded among the ayes. Page 557. sr
Mr.. Van Buren,, in speaking of the appointment
OF Justices of the Peace, said:
1t to be disguised that that part of the report
before the committee relating the appointment of JUS
tees OF the pence by far the important feature
In tho repOrtif that settled the remaining part
would be got along with very easily. Some had thought
that these magistrates ought to be elected but he had
all times been opposed to their election. sE
he did not believe that it would be benetting the
people to extinguish one great fire, and enkndle
smaller ones The farther this power could be removed
from the people the better He could not therefore CON
sent to the proposition of the gentleman from Oneida,
lMr. PlattJ' Pages 32l and 322
From these extracts it appears that the COM
mittee to whom was referred the subject of suf-
frage, reported provision extending the right of
suffrage to every white male citizen, of the age
of twenty-one years, after residence in the State
of six months, who should have paid tax, CT
should have performed work on the highways, or
who should have served in the militia. Mr.. Van
Buren, then voted to strike from this provision the
word ach'te," the effect of which was, to extend
the right of suffrage to the colored population,
possessing the qualifications above enumerated,
as well as to the white population.
Again we find Mr.. Van Buren, advocating the
proposition to strike out the highway qualification
reported by the committee, and insert in lieu OF
1t the household qualification, and contending that
if citizen had not paid tax, or had not per-
formed service in the militia, he should not be
entitled to vote, upon the ground that he had
labored on the highways, but unless he was
householder" he should be driven from the
polls. And when told by General Root that this
provision would exclude from the right of voting
many of the old soldiers, who had fought for their
country at Quebec and Stoney Point under Mont
gomery and Wayne; he replied that, true, this
provision might deprive these old soldiers of this
inestmable privilege, but still they had no right
to complain. The country had given them bounty
lands and granted them pensions in fifteen years
they would all be in the grave, and it was unwise
to hazard wholesome restrictive provision, lest
IN its operation it might affect these old soldiers.
lie contended, also, that if the right of suffrage
was extended, "the character of the increased
number OF voters would be such as would render
their elections rather curse than blessing,
We find him, also, zealously contending that
negroes, possessed of freehold estate worth
$3.50, should be allowed to vote, and which pro.