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


eng and it may not be amss 10 examine his
claims to tho title Of ..Dcmoc rat
In 1921, convention was held IN the State of
New York. for the purpose of amending the
siiiution Of that State. Martin Van Buren, was
member Of that convention. and participated,
throughout. in It's deliberations. The question
to how far the right of suffrage should extended,
was one which occupied much attention. and ell
cited considerable debate. A portion Of the con-
vonton desired that the right Of suffrage should
be extended to white malo citizen Of the
State, above the age of twcnty-one years. This
warmly opposed by Mr.. Van Buren,, who
contendcd for restricted suffrage. 1t has been
dcn,d by Mr.. Van Burcns friends, that he OPP
posed ..universal suffrage y in that convention.
and am happy on this occasion TO have it in my
power to present authentic evidence of his course
which will not be denied by his friends in this
House. ] will read some extracts from his spec
ches, which may b. found in a report of the pro-
ceedings and debates Of the convention. belonging
to the Congressional Library. and which have
now before mo and | challenge contradiction
from any gentleman upon this floor. of the
rectness Of the extracts which shall read. On
pnge l34 may be found the following:
'Mf Sanford. from The committee appointed
sde' Tho right of suffrage and the Of
I" be elected reported That the having
eed tho subjects referred TO them, following
amendments TO the constitutions, to-wit:
Every white male citizen Of the twenty year,,
vino shall have resided in prece-
ding election and shall hin year preceding
ths election have paid assessed upon him.
within ono preceding the elecon
TO work public road and shall performed work
assessed upon him, shall! have paid equivalent in
therefor, according law II hin one wear
preceding the election, militia of
tn, STATE aud shall have served therein according law
shall he entitled sch election in the town OF
ward in which he shall reside, Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Senators, members Of the Assembly,
er offcofs who be- elective by the people,
WEDNEsDAY, SErrEMBER 49,
Mr.. Sanford NOV ed that 20 into commit
toe OF tho whole on his repor, relative right
page ~ a7s:
"ay reported by the committees Mr. Jay moved that the
WORD Dhifs be stricken Page $50.
IN" question on striking tho word phite,
G,,o a"e noe am, decided IN the Affirmative. as
the name of Mr.. Van Barren. Page POP
zen !aiimadse moved 10 strike the high
ways Page a75
THuRspAY, SEPTEMBER 81
Ten. Ialmadge Withdrew his motion of Yesterday TO
strike the words highways and offered the fol-
lowing substitute or snail for next, and nmc-
hiately preceding the election, rented a tenemen,
,,cein OF the yearly value Of five doat. AMI sh,I have
oeen rated and paid highway either by labor
mutation
The following is extracted from the debate on
this motion
Zen Ialmadge explained, length, his views
;" making the motion he had yesterday submitted and the
reasons which had induced him it and offer the
amendment which he had presented the committee
suffrage.
S" Roo sad The ~ nd men, II nas
rous class of citizens The renting of
come odous to the people, and led many frauds lie
enlarged tho remarks of the gentleman
(Mr Russell who mentioned TWO instances town,
whore two evolutionary patriots and soldiers of whom
fought with Montgomery under the walls of Quebec and
tho other under Wayne S,oney Point, disfran-
chisod il this provision
mir. Van Buren, called on 10 make a few ,e.
marks in reply to the gentleman from D,aware. lie
served that evident, and indeed gentlemen
disposed Disguise that the pro-
p py ,e no'oraoe gentleman from Deia.are. con'em-
plated nothing short of universal suffrage Mr.V B. did
not believe that there members Of tha,
m,,'ee who' were tho bare naked question OF universal
suffrage put 10 them, would in its favor and he
very that >s adoption expected, and
not meet the views OF their constituents.
MIR. Van Buren, then replied to statement made
terday By his honorable AMI venerable Erie
("r Kusse ;" relation 10 the exclusion of soldiers who
had fought Quebec aud Soney Point
OF Montgomery aud Wayne And he felt the of
oong nis such cases urged by such gentlemen
his honorable friend. cacua tod make deep nd
lasting imp esor. But although regard for them did
honof 10 that gentleman yet u he duty Of the
ton to guard against the admission impressions
which sympathy, in individual may
always dangerous to rgisate upon the impulse of ndvidi
al cases, where tho law about is have
general operation. With reference the
diers the people OF this State, and country had certainly
redeemed themselves from The that republics
ungratcul. With honorable iberay, they
cd the military lands upon them and gladden.
ming Of their DAYS, had provided pensions Few
OF those patriots were living, and thar few,
number yearly diminishing In fifteen wears the grave v
will have covered all now survive Was II no,
she" nnw'se t" hazard wholesome restrictive provision,
lest IN ITS operation II might afee, few individuals
for hor, time, lie would add no more His dat, q
would not permit him less. 8
Ono word on the main question before the
we had already reached the
There was but one step beyond And gentlemen pre-
pared TO take that step! We pening
uabe right. lie disposed III V
tho of rational liberty,
10 undervalue this precious privilege
with an uniscriminang hand upon one, black
white, who would be Kind enough TO contescend accept
it, Page 81. h
Again Mr.. Van Buren, in speaking this d
subject, said
The qualifications reported by the I
W 'h'ee KINDS viz: the a the per- il
orihng OF military duty. aud working the highway ,,
I've TWO FORMER had his decided appreciation.
mo latter ne wished add qualification,
That tho e!ectoT should performed no mi
a duty, but offered his the sole ground thar he
-. - - -, 49, oe = houtehofder; and Il