New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-17
New York Constitutional Convention
SEVENTH wEEE-3s7H DAY.

Bouck's Report on the Elective Franchise, No
Z c no VOte-Voting by the Blacks-ln-
gels Report on the appointment Of LOca! Of.
hcers-Order Of Busness-Treason-Th Ca
nals-Powers Of the Executye-U. S Militia
ry COmmand-0n giving up Refugees and
Feons-Holmes's Case-Seward's Yiew-Sim-
mons on the Turks-Aid 10 the Sherif-Tem-
perance onvention-GoyernOr's Veto.
ALBANY, Wednesday, July l5 1896
To he Editor Of The Tribune:
Sir: Two Standing Committees reported early
this morning. FIRST, Gov. Boucks NO. A. on the
Elective Franchise, and the qualifications 10 vote
and 10 hold office II is composed of Messrs. Bouck,
Gardiner, Kennedy Dodd, Doron, Wood and Hun
tngton Of Oneida. And, Second, MI. Angels mo.
~ on the appointment or election Of all officers
whose duties are local.
Gov. BoUcK stated that the Report he presented
had been unanimously agreed to 10 Committee, but
there must have been difference with regard to
the details for Mr. Dorlon, member Of ii, has since
offered q substitute for the lst section.
The report allows the Legislature TO provide that
those who cannot read shall not vote after s55 and
although Mr.. Evans, the patriotic editor Of Young
America, scolds DR.. Greene Of Jefferson for pro
posing that citizens Of Il years of age shall only be
admitted into the great electoral body when they
read the ballots they give in al the polls, or spell
out OF the proceedings OF their representatives
| think that the cause of Liberty would be served
by such provision. In l540 the United States
Census showed 100000 cilizens 90 years OF age
who could not read. They are chiefly resident in
the Slave States and think that that class Of per
sous here should be aug TO read their primers IN
der special provision, TO be introduced by The l2th
Commttee (Ncolls) Gross ignorance, united with
poverty, is surely not the means whereby Governors
nd nd
chosen Does Mr.. Evans imagine that the lower
we descend in the social scale we shall lind the more
wisdom and purity Of feeling
The question is proposed by Mr.. Bouck 10 be
separately referred to the People, whether men
whose skins are of darker hue than his and mine,
shall vote as mericans. men, sons OF the soil
am willing, but not unless they can read, and thus
distinguish the bad acts of public officers from their
good acts Intelligence, apart from integrity, may
not only vote improperly, but also draw after 1t
thousands ofignoran, persons, ii ii should set up as
an interested deceiver. do not wish TO see youths
under 81 admitted as votere and yet il would be dit
fcult to say why youth Of 20, ably instructed.
should be turned from the polls and another OF II,
with mind as dark night, lazy lubber who
does not know his A y from the scratches hen
may make with her claws on the sand, be admitted
to turn the scale. perhaps on the appointment OF the
Executive of New.Gork. One vote. or two, out OF
q hundred thousand, elected Governor OF Massa.
chusetts-three or four votes in the 9th Ward OF
New York. gave the Presidency 10 Jefferson, and
saved the State from the ntrigues OF the bold and
unprincipled Burr.
Governor BoUCK. from Committee No 4. submit
ted the following Report, as an article in the new
Constitution
The RigAtto Vote The BdAot-C0iored Cit GEMS.
ARTICLE -.
ST. Every white male citizen OF the age OF twentyone
years who shall have been citizen for sixty days and al
nhabitant of this State year next preceding any cleo
on and for the six months resident of the County
where he may offer his VOTE shall be entitled TO vote at
such election In the election district oil which ie shan nave
been sexual resident during the last preceding sixty
days. and elsewhere; for al officers that now are or
hereafter may be elective by the People.
2 Lawsmay be passed excluding from the right OF SUI
age all persons may be- convicted OF
bribery larceny OF infamous crineand Tor de-
privng every person who shall have bet or wager de-
pending upon the direct or indirect result OF any election
from the right 10 vote AT such election.
3 Laws may be passed providing that after the year
one thousand eight hundred and yhve, person shall
the right suffrage under this Constitution unless nc
can read the English language.
For the purpose Of voting, person shall be deemed
10 gained residence by OF his presence
or absence while employed in the service Of the United
States while engage IN the navigation OF the waters
of OF the United States. of tho high seas
while student OF seminary OF learning nor while
kent AT any house or other asylum public expense
nor while conaued in any public prison.
SIS shall be made for ascer;ainnS BY proper proof
the citizens who shall be entitled 10 the right oil Suffrage
hereby established.
Sc All elections by the citizens shall be by ballot es
cep such officers may by la" be directed 10 be
otherwise chosen.
81 Every eector of this shsll be eligible any
office under the Consultation except as herein otherwise
provided But person shall be elected or appointed 10
local office who Is not eecOr in the district county
city. ward for which he may be elected or APP
pointed.
SIS No person holding any Office psce OF prslic truOt
in or under the Government OF the United states snail
be eligible hold office or place OF public trust IN
der the Constitution or laws OF this State.
The following is submitted 10 the consideration OF
the Conv ention, and recommended to De submitted
separately
Colored male citizens possessing the QUALIFICATIONS re-
CURED by the first section OF this article shall also nave
the right 10 vote for all officers that hereafter may
be elective by the People W. c. BoUCh, Chairman
Mr.. DosLoS one OF the Committee, offered The
following as a substitute for J. OF the ABOVE he
port, and it is 10 be printed With H.
ST. Every male citizen OF the age OF twenty one wears
who shall have been citizen for sixty days and an lnhae
liant this State year next preceding any election
aud Tor the last six months resident oil the Cou where
be Offer his and shall have within the year mex
preceding such election paid tax 10 the State or county
assessed upon his read the EnS'h language
shall &c entitled 10 such election IN the election
district OF which he shall have been ST actual resident
during the last preceding sixty days and not eIsewnere
for all officers thai now hereafter may be elective
| by the People
Mr. ANGEL said that the Standing Committee No
: found i, impossible 10 designate separately ali To-
cal officers and that though unanimous in asserting
TO the Report they were not unanimous in all lis
detsils-each Of the members would take such
course when in Committee OF the Whole, as a sense
| of duty might dictate. when the details came under
! consideration They had omitted 10 say any thing
respecting iudicisl officers because, on comforting
! with The Judiciary Committee, II was sscertsined
tina, that Committee are to report on Surrosaies.
County Judges, Clerks OF Courts, Sc Nothing
had been said about WEiGBERs and MEASURES. be
cause another Committee No. o. hsd recommended
the abolition OF all Inspection Laws save Salt
The Committee had given the subject their best at
teniion and hoped lha, the Report would meet the
spprobaion Of the Convention
The Committee No, consists OF Messrs Angel,
Jones, Archer, Dubois. Maxwell Hayley and Shaw;
and their Report is as follows
on the A22atatHsen, Of Local OfEcers.
ARTICLE -.
u Sherif., Clerks OF Couuiies, ucudlus the Regis
ter and Clerk of tie City and County OF New.Yoys
Coropors no, exceeding four in each County snd Oil,
,rc; Attorneys shs % chosen BY the Electors Of tee
respective Counties once in every two years and as
stem as vacancies shal happen Seer.as sha hold no
o,har Office and be ineligible Tor the nexr two yeSrs
after the ,errninsior of their Offices They may De
: II. tvN,, st-,,., -