New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-23
THE TRIBUNE.
An ANIMAL for Rights!

III N~NIt
| tcsborn citizens, many of them intelligent and
worthy, from voting, in view of The indiscrimnste
Fberai,y with which the Right OF Suffrage is con
erred on all who have white skins. We are in favor
this bera,y though particular instances are ire
c,eutly occurring in which il may seem TO work
lbadIy. Let Manhood be the broad qualification for
soing and fany portion of our voters prove isnor-
.,t and vicious lei the State take efficient meas
ures TO enlighicn and reform them. The case is
really 100 plain for argument, yet Prejudice is 80
General and inveterate that we trust every voter
will be solicited and induced to read the following
address to the Voters in the State of New-York,
By THE PEOPLE or COLOR
FELLOW CITIZENS: On the first Monday in
Iune. 1876, there viii assemble at Albany Con-
yen,on Of Delegates TO be chosen by you, TO make
alterations and amendments in the Constitution OF
this STATE
We hail with Joy and thanktulness the approach
Of the Time which will mark silent and bloodess,
ba, sautary revolution in regard TO laws and ordi-
sances which, ample as they We're twenty five years
no. are now 100 narrow for the full development of
cur growing Republic. We hail it with the more
pleasure because we trust that the strife OF party
vii be laid aside in order that each man, duly re-
sec,ing on his relations to the whole people, may
c,ny arrive at clear views of his duty TO the whole
people.
Prescribed though we have been, during.a short
,oe from the free exercise of the Right of Suffrage,
We firmly believe that no one will deny us, on the
suvroach of this Jubilee OF Freemen the exercise OF
Free Thought.
Our ree thought tells US to solicit from you, lei
low citizens. in an earnest and respectful manner
As, you will wipe away from us the blot OF proscrlP-
ZION. and restore TO Us that equal exercise OF The
Elective Franchise which was awarded TO our ia
hers under the old Constitution of this State as an
acknowledgement Of their manhood, in the times
whan thai Cor s,i,ution adopted. IN the midst of
.bsReyolut!onary War.
In making this request, we repose upon the JUS
ae Of a Sovereign People, TO whom the exercise
d oppression canno, be a pleasant nor even toera-
lie hing We approach with full and equal trust,
men Of all political par,ies-beeving that sense
J Justice is not confined within the limits OF any
party-bu, dwes III the hearts OF the whole people
whom we address
Twenty years ago, in time OF peace, through the
magnauimOus efor, Of Democratic Governor
Daniel D. Tompkins-wc were finally emancipaied
from lDt uOOU OI CiilCc Audt htH'Si "'N'
during many wears before. we have zealously en-
braced the Common School privileges awarded us
bythe Equal Law Of this State, and have endeav-
ared to obtain average share OF intelligence
Daring the twenty-five years that have elapsed
suce we We're restricted 10 the Property Ouaiiiica
on. for Suffrage we confidently submit II that we
ave done no act unworthy The name oil tree people
Although we believe that in this matter they OPP
tessed us we have patiently abidea by the laws OF
ar State have patiently awaited the result oi our
onsanl appeals TO the Legislature 10 undo this op'
ression, and that the question is placed In
lour hands, we appeal 10 you, the whole People, TO
qsu; the iul privileges and Shts OF citizenship
which we have so faithfully striven 10 merit.
We crave the extension of the Elective Franchise
erieht We believe il 10 be our right, because
Ee bave enjoyed il by the laws OF the land ever
nce the first organization of the State OF New
Tux Of which the Constitutions both new and old,
lwesslv declare that no person shall be deprived
iae Right of Suffrage except by the laws OF land
a iury of his peers" Neither the laws OF the
nd nor uryo our peers have deprived us OF this
shi but both have secured ii TO us by tue tenure o
interrupted possession.
Weclaim il as a right on sill higher ground 1t
as been argued that the Right OF Suffrage IL
Nae,hng other than a right; it has been called an
expediept reserved right, and and an imperfect
ish, which the State can withhold at pleasure
These statements have struck us with surprise and
riei less from any special fear OF our own tenure
a,his right than from profound alarm at the blow
which they aim NJ the fundamental principle OF our
Republican L liberty.
Thai fundamental principle is, that ours is GOV
sRNMENT of the PEOPLE. There is no STATE
ipar; from the PEOPLE PEOPLE apart from,
nd ruled by, the STATE. The State derives It's
talbory from and holds by the will and the voice
Gthe PEOPLE and has no authority apart from
newi OF the People. The medium through which
Ve People exercise their WILL express 1t TO those
VnQnl they have elected 10 ~ the Is the
balotBox-that is by the exercise OF the Right o
Suffrage
Thence, the exercise OF the Suffrage is and the
nme thing with the exercise of setgovernment
0deny or limit, or tamper with the exercise OF
@e Suffrage is The same thing as 10 deny or limit,
o' tamper with the exercise OF tseltgoyernment.
10 call the Right of Suffrage expedient may be
aNuTsie, II by" an expedient is meant tie meaps
Wsen government, or the mode through which the
people govern themselves. Butit by IAN expedicnt
Ss meant that the Right of Suffrage may lawfully
- ~"nheid from portion Of the people, then is
.o0i wrong done 10 our Representative fern o; Gov
eraneit For IN the language Of the recent mes
,lse Q, Gov Wright, OF this State, language writ
@a With view to this very point:
thal Legislation which equalizes the benefits
90 pefdens OF Government. extends the same en-
engagement 10 the enterprise and industry OF all in
.'e'y situation and employment and attempts to
sae no special privileges 10 any, Will ditt1ee pros
YesHy through community because, under such
system of laws all will feel that the fruits of their
INDUSTRY are justly secured to themselves. On the
.,Saeary attempts 10 confer favoys by law upon
sssses or localities produce competition des,ruc,
msis Profitable industry; strife, not 10 earn but
"Sssn The earnings of others
;NeSheF can the Right of Suffrage be called an
enperfec, right nor reserved right" for these
S''as have reference 10 forms Of Government which
OK ~ Confer favors by law upon classes and in
the State is something apart from the People.
az Ia our Republican State, where the People
~ .se The nigh function of selfgovenment, where
e's'e and the People are one the Right OF Suf.
~~s perfect right, coex,ensive wiki the whole
nb ssppe who make this Right the means through
,.:n -en 10 express their will And any Limitation OF
nao, s.' HSht to any, however large majority Of the
fSsUpe would OF necessity destroy the essential
so,tS oi our Governucut and convert II into
NyW1s'nlns W else 'han Government of the People.
90 most respectfully submi, i, TO YOU fellow
saaons OF the State OF NewYork, that from what,
ea point you may look this mater. the public
mes progressive prosperity the stability our Gov
sStanen; the principles which it is founded. and
Soove all that sense of justice which The Al mighty
aAs planted In each human breas,-all equally urge
Spencer Dobsses OF Convention Of 1921 lcs