Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-05-18

VINO mas Iann IN expectancy, lCuidlHucf, c1C',
to the value of $50-or who has a lease hold
estate for FIVE years TO the annual value or
rent of $20-or who has been housekeeper
and head OF family where he offers to vote,
for twelve months, and who shall have been
assessed with part of the revenue of the
State, and paid the same, shall be qualified 10
vote for members of the General Assembly in
the county, city, town, or borough respective
ly, wherein such land shalll lie, or such house
keeper and head of family shall live"
In North Carolina, all freeren of the age
of twenty ne years, Except as hereinafter
declared who have been inhabitants OF any
one district of the State twelve months imme
diately preceding the day of election, and pos
sessed of a freehold within the same district
of fifty acres of land, for six months next be-
fore and at the day of election, shall be emit
tied to vote for member of the Senate
In South Carolina every free white man
of the age of twenty-one years, being citi-
zen of the State, and having resided therein
two years previous to the day of election, and
who hath freehold of fifty acres of land, or
town lot, of which he hath been legally seized
and possessed, at least six months before such
election or, not having such freehold or Town
lot, hath been resident in the election district
in which he offers 10 give his vote, six months
before the said election, shall have right 10
vote for a member or members, to serve IN
either branch of the Legislature, for the cleo
ton district in which he holds such property,
or is so RESIDENT
In Georgia ssthe electors Of members of the
General Assembly shall be citizens and lnhab-
itants of the State, and shall have attained the
age of twenty years, and have paid all
taxes which may have been required OF them,
and which they may have had an opportunity
of paying, agreeably 10 law, for the year pre-
ceding the election, and shall have resided six
months within the county"
In Kentucky" every free male citizen TWEEN
ty-one years of age, and who has resided in
the State two years. or one year in the district
where he offers 10 vote, shall enjoy the right
of an elector for Representatives and one
Senator for each district shall be elected by
those qualified TO vote for Representatives
therein"
In Tennessee " every free white man of the
age of twenty-one years, being citizen OF the
United States, and a citizen of the county
wherein he may offer his vote, six months
next preceding the day of election, shall be
entitled to vote for members of the General
Assembly, and other civil officers, for the
county or district in which he resides
In Ohio ''in all elections, all white male
inhabitants, above the age of twenty one years.
having resided in the State one year next pre-
ceding the election, and who have paid, or are
charged with a State or county tax, shall en-
Joy the rights of an elector.'
In Indiana all white male citizens of TWEEN
tyone years OF age, who have resided in the
State twelve months, shall be allowed to vote
for Representatives and voters for Represen-
tatiVes vote also for Senators for three years"
In Louisiana every white male citizen of
twenty -one years of age, who has resided one
year in the county where he offers to vote.
and who shall have paid State tax, shall en-
Joy the rights of an elector." Senators and
Representatives are chosen by the same per-
sons.
In Mississippi every free white male per-
son of the age of twenty-one years and up
wards, who shall be q citizen of the United
States, and shall have resided in the State one
year next preceding an election, and the last
four months within the county, city, or town
in which he offers TO vote, shall be deemed a
qualified elector" Both Houses are chosen
by the qualified electors.
In Illinois &c in all elections, all white male
inhabitants above the age of twenty ne years.
having resided in the State six months next
preceding the election, shall enjoy the right Of
an elector %
In Alabama " every white male person, of
the age of twenty one years and upwards,
WHO shall be citizen of the United States,
and shall have resided in the State one year
next preceding an election, and the last three
months within the county, city, or town in
which he offers to vote, shall be deemed a
qualified elector." Both Houses are chosen
by the qualified electors.
In Missouri, +" every free white male citi-
zen of the United States, who shall have at
tanned the age of twenty-one years, who shall
have resided in the State one year before an
election, the last three months whereof shall
have been in the county or district in which
he offers to vote, shall be deemed qualified
elector of all elective officers
In Michigan. &c in all elections, every free
white male citizen above the age OF twenty
one years. having resided in the Sta,e six
months next preceding any election, shall be
entitled to vote at such election
In Arkansas, every free white male cit-
zen of the United States, who shall have at
tanned the age of twenty zone years, and who
shall have been citizen of the State SIX
months, shall be deemed d qualified eector,
and entitled to vote in the county or district
where he actually resides. for each and every
Office made elective under this State or the
United States.''
l have briefly noticed the provisions in the
Constitutions of twenty six States of the Ame-
rican Union. The Constitutions of several OF
the States have been amended, and if there
were any instances where suffrage was not
previously universal, the amended Consttu-
tons have invariably secured equal suffrage
to every free white male citizen who has paid
a public tax.
The Constitutions of New York and Loui-
siane have been amended, but in both these
States equal suffrage has been established and
secured to all free white male citizens who
have attained the age OF twenty one years and
upwards, and have paid public tax.
have not been able to obtain the Consttu
tons of Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and Iowa
but have no doubt. from the known Demo-
cratic character and habits OF the people oil
those States, that free and equal suffrage has
been secured to all free white male citizens in
each of them.
| believe, Sir, that sufficient demonstra-
ton of public opinion in relation TO equal suf-
| frage, was furnished by the people Of North
Carolina, in the GnbernatoraI election in Au.
gust, 1e48, to require the present General As
sembly to pass an Act to submit this question
to the voters of the Slate at the earliest prac.
| ticable period. | am constrained to regard the
evidence furnished by the people in the last