Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-04-12

entitled 10 vote in The eerou or any o-er OF the govern
nen provided farther. Of color sali be
SUBJECT direct unless be seized and pos
sessed II zlch real estate aforesaid >
Tine question thea taken the whole -rron
cndrg the proviso aai carried in tine affirmative
lows Ayes72, Noes -. The Of M Van Buren,
/ Is recorded among The ayes. Page 557.
/ Mr.. Van Buron, in speaking of tho appoint
ment OF Justices Of the Peace, said:
.'It~a 70 be disguised part OF report
before the comntce eGaog to the ayoantmeD, Of ,.ti
ces OF the pezce by important feature 10
the reportif settled, remaining part
be got along very easily some had tno,h, nat these
mag-traes ought to be elected, he had ali
/ opppsed election
ale not believe that would be benoft.in. the peo-
pie 70 extgIish fire. aud enkndte NAL
Ter The farther this power could from
the people the better. lie could therefore.
tie pr position o the gentleman ffom Oneida. Nh Pau
Pages 32l aud 32e.
/ From these extracts it appears that the com
mlttee to whom Was referred the subject Of suf-
frage. reported a provision extending the right of
suffrage 10 every white male citizen, of tho age
/ OF tWonty-one years, after residence III the
State Of SIX mouths, who should have paid a tax.
4 or should have performed work the highways
or who should have served in the militia. Mr..
Van Burcn then voted strike from this prosis-
! ION the word '.mhTe, the effect of which was. TO
extend the right of suffrage to the colored popu-
latlon, possessing the qualifications above
mcrated as well 10 the white population.
Again We find Mr.. Van Buren, advocating
the proposition to strike out the highway quail
flcaton reported by the committee. and insert in
lieu of It the household qualification. and con-
tending that if citizen had not paid tax. or
had not performed service in tho militia. he
should not be entitled to- vote. upon the ground
that he had laborcd on the highways. but unless
he householder he should be driven from
the polls. And whom 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 Stony Point UNI
J.-
true, this provision might deprive these old SOL
dlers OF this lncstlmablo privilege, but still they
had no right TO complain. The country had CIV
en- them bounty lands and granted them pensions
III fifteen years they would all be IN the grave.
and 1t was unwise to hazard a wholesome restrict
we provision, lest III its operation II might affect
these Old soldiers He contendcd also that if the
right Of suffrage was extended. 1.-THE character of
the increased number of voters would bo such as
would render their elections rather curse than
blessing
We fInd him also zealorsv contcndng that ne
groes possessed of n free hold estate worth $3.50,
should be allowed to vote. and which proyis ion
was adopted. Then according to Mr.. Nan Blu
ren's ideas of Democracy. the patriotic soldiers of
the Revolution, whose valor had been displayed
upon many hard fought field. to achieve the
dny " Mf hr We now en"T r lt rho o n he 4
iron hand Of poverty. who had no property to be
taxed, and no money with which to pay taxes
who were too old and decrepid to perform the
militia duty. and who had no house to shelter
them from the winters blast. should. on account
Of their poverty. be denied the exercise of tho
dearest right OF froemcn. the right of selecting
those who were to govern them. But the pam
pared negro, who fortunate enough to possess
an estate OF the vauc of $3.50 should be allowed
to thrust the old soldier from the polls. and proud
~ demand that his vote should be received. Well
might the survivors of our Revolutionary strug-
gle Indignantly demand Was It for this that
VIC havo wasted our strength and shattered our
constitutions IN toilsome marches and bloody bat
tics, by exposure to the wintcr's cold and
mcr's heat Is this the liberty for which NO
fought and for which staked our liyes-a lib
orty which. while it is enjoyed by almost every
other portion OF the community. and even BY
many OF the black population. is denied 10 us on
account of our poverty
And vet. Mr.. Speaker. my honorable colleague.
Nr. hennedy.) notwithstanding his ardent SYM
'athies for the ''persecuted patriots'' of Rhode
Island. notwithstanding his excessive zeal in sup
port of the ''natural rights of the people, knows
10 man 50 worthy of his admiration 50 we'll en-
tiled to his support. this same Martin Van
Buren,. The "unterrifed Democrncy are about
themselves again under his banner
o engage III the contest for the Presidency.
Here Mr.. Kennedy. of Ind. interposed and
sked Mr.. Smith If he had no. advocated the same
,
Mover. never. (said Mr. 81 they are senti :
nents which dctest. | hive always advocated
he principle. in regard to the right of suffrage
which IS cngrafted upon the constitution of the t
State which have the honor. in part. to repre-
ont. that the ballot box should be open to every /
white male citizen Of the age of 2l wears. who
las identified himself with our people. by resi-
lcnce of one year in the State. :
Twice has Martin Van Buren, boon presented to =
he people of Indiana candidate for tho Pres
dency. and twice have thew rejected him and :
lothing has contributed moro to his rejection
hero. than the odous anti-republican principles
which he has advocated in regard to the right of b
uffrage. Let his friends present him third ?
lme and his reception By tho people of Indiana
sill be as signal and decisive il in 80 and
10. /
The extracts which have presented show :
IA, Mr. Van Ruren only ono,aasod the rn-or,n-