The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-05

Gems has been in session, at intervals during the
past two weeks, at the Union Hail in this city, e
consult to the best means to obtain change in
the Constitution, in favor of granting them the right
of the elective franchise without property qualifca-
| ton, in the contemplated State Convention. Their
proceedings have been marked with extraordinary
prudence, sandmuch ability and judgment have been
evinced by many of the members in the discussion
OF the questions presented Mr.. U. B. Vidal, very
intelligent and good looking, bright muatto, presd
ed their deliberations, assisted by several Vice
Presidents and Secretaries. Committees have been
appointed present statistics relative to the colored
population Of this State, amount Of property owned
by them, their production in mechanics and science,
their schools and number of scholars their societies.
&c. &c. The principal committee consists Of the
Rev. A. CrummiD, Rev. VIM. II. Bishop, Dr. J. Nc
Cune Smith, Rev. G. b. Ray, and Thomas INNINGS.
But little Of interest TRANSFERRED, until last Friday
evening" when large number Of males and females
were present, and when the following resolution,
troduced by Dr. j. Mcclure Smith, brought forth an
exciting and peculiar debate
Resolved That this Convention do earnestly recon-
mend to every colced male adult in this State to pur
chase sufficient real estate to enable him to vote at the
election Of lS46 when the question ofthe extension
Ss ss w b.
ed State Convention, to altor the Constitution"
DR.. SMITH, druggist Of West Broadway, who is
one-fourth pure Anglo-Saxon blood, then addressed
the Convention IN support OF the resolution. He
commended that the two thousand votes now cast in
this State by colored persons, who were entitled,
from possessing $3.50 worth of real estate, could by
proper and energetic means, be extended to from
seven ten thousand and therefore, that the present
tion (Applause) He had no doubt that the progress
sivc principles OF democratic liberty (appause)
would be SO widely infused through that convention,
universal Suffrage through this great tS and ,aSGi
free State. (Great applause.) This amendment, II
made, would be presented to the people, with the
other amendments en- masse, for their adoption, and
no living man could doubt that the voices of those
voters now in favor of universal suffrage, combined
with the ten thousand cQlored voters; who could ex-
ercise that privilege by being possessed OF the pro-
perry qualification, could carry such amendment ri-
umphanty. Applause and cries of shear" shear y
possess tins dear and Invaluable right deny himself
of extra expenditure and Injuries, and but short
time will elapse before he will find the base sum Of
$3.50 at his side to buy the right that he is now de-
y. J. ELsroN, a very dark man, Of pure strain,
followed in opposition to the resolution. He said he
had always condemned property qualification, and
should oppose it at this crisis as much as at any
other He was willing to throw himself on the
Shelf at once rather than resort to this mode of &C.
curing what already belonged to the colored ien Of
this State by the force Of public opinion (Applause
Such course would render them ridiculous. and
they would be called fools and hooted at as such.
applause and hsses)
S. G. .CAMppHLL, another dark, but strongly
marked face, followed. Mr.. President-Ths is no
will not say, a. long as the law and its intentions
are fully carried out (Hear, hear.) The only
course for us to pursue is that which causes all men
to think and to ponder. 1t is to touch the interest
Of those who now are our Lawmakers, and the only
way to produce that effect to present force at the
ballot box. (Appause.) Each and every vote pre-
sented by US, when they swell to ten thousand, will
speak like distant thunder throughout this land, and
cause our rights, as freemen, to be fully recognized
lRoars of applause.) Then shall we be free in the
full sense, and the word shall not be nockery, as
now. lApplause) The fulflment of the present law,
is as odous to me as any other member Of this Con-
vention butt like dsagreeabc and bitter pill it will be
wise to swallow it. for the time being will hereafter
hopsby tive must succeed a. it ]. the great lover that
gaze Of an admiring world (Cries or go it !" and ap-
plause} MI Presidents hope the resolution will be
man poson az
q The day. ths q tho election s1sEssr At nc
those views and in the end shall be certain to obtain
all our equal civil, and political rights (Applausc)
energy, mixed with froh, fume and fury then roscMr
Speaker-Our rights We've paid for onceour right to
SOtc-hOW, ~ ~ ana 20 mOntn can we make Sl5O-Wc
obtained that right by boodcan we do it's it reasona
Ssus Dc % e' Srss.s and .
elevate two and half millions oppressedl4 states
called free-(applause) the ICOnstItution don't call US
men(yoice-"Yes, they dc, mon of coloro-Qaughter)-
Daniel right. Of
freedom-God made us free-76 gave us liberty-every
the stoopscotton bale battle-New Orleans didn't We
night hem-ali rce-(applause mixed with hisscs amid
which the speaker seated hmself)
Sftrt ut he Aoor Mr. pee; IT,.
law makes incumbent that should secure property
qualification and we must do make any influence il
husiasm answers very well here in this hail. but would
be much dampened he took tramp down South or ole
vassa %se on some o. the stoops about town that h
sion would be the only and vote of tn,
stae-because are free from all Office holding interes
therefore be free and indepe Of all parties and secta
Mr. BRADLEY, Of Utica an intelligent yellow man, fol
in the resolutions that is strike out the ord adult
and insert man." as the word adul' does not mean
mant merely means one arrived at the age of puper
oiushes among the lair sex) half grown man, who ha
no moro right to vote than woman. Qaughter) w,
are conendng against property qualification wrong
was good, and man started to the polls jackass
comprising his property qualification, and the jackas
and v mot lou hs
OF the man, as the constitutional right existed in tn
beast and not in his master oars Of laughter and ap
laws have been established as mankind has increased
regulate society hence the institution of the ballot
laws are laws, they rght-f not, they viola
tons OF the rights Of man. The history Of the former
venton Is rich with interest; should then have hn,
our rights Ogden Edwards had not introduced the pro
perry qualification (Appause) The wings Of that con
venton were almost unanimous in favor Of free suffrage
but Ogden Edwards, who democrat, its effect
and introduced the amendment Of the $3.50 property qua
LITIGATION that passed. QHsscs) The day is dawning
however that will put this matter all right, if we arr
| only true to ourselves
Mr. JOHNSON, one Of tho roaring, class of orators
got the floor next, and advocated the right of suffrage
regular thunder and lightning style" he termed hi
action at the polls in Massachusetts, where he said tina
| colored man a free day in the year q
least In auson to the existing law, he remarked tina
although imperfect II must be abdcd by Adam he said
was perfect but he became imperfect and with him al
else became imperfect. We must therefore take the
mpcrfecton as is and perfect it. Voice perfect,
! right, perfectly" applause and laughter)
H. H. TUCKER the polite and proficient hair dresser o
Centre street. opposite the Tombs whose aqune nos,
and deep complexion, denotes descent from Afric'
royal blood and about address thu
Convention, when attempt was made to adjourn. TIL,
views Of Tucker the question before the Convention
far interesting and important than any yet pre-
i sented. He the In ovts