Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-07
Universal sufIrars.

We boast of being freemen--of having
free Institutions, aud equal Iaws-ye, in this
State we refuse TO give the right Of suffrage
TO a certain class--no matter how inteIligens,
or how yirtuous! One man may be SO drunk
that il will take three sober ones TO got him
TO the polls, or he may be so ignornnt that he
cannot tell ono ticket from another, but no
one questions his right 10 give an equal voice
with the wiscst aud best, in the elections
But hero comes another whose character is
without sain.-his intellect is highly cul-
tivated--hnt he is told to stand hack--hc is
disffancbised by our free Constitution. But
says lc:
ado not possess sufficient intelligence to
vote underslandingiy2p r.
"DoubtIess you do.'
"Iiavo rendered myself unworthy Of The
elective franchise by my violation of law, or
ennty 10 Frecdom"
"No.n
DO not pay taSes TO psy The salary Of
the officers ior whomt wish 20 vote fT'lilsl
"Yes."
"Am not to be governed by the laws
which you refuse me any voice in making? 20
Eyes"
"Am not worth as mucli-do not know
as mucb-am | not as honest-as the candi-
date of either pariy!'
"Very possible"
"Why, then, am disffancbised in State
always boasting of its Republican institu-
tions?"
"Because free, Republican, American
Constitution says you shall he. Get out Of
that drunken white mans way, niggerw
And this we call Democracy! Free
Government Free to dsiranchise portion
of our citizens, who help pay our taxes, and
are amenable TO the laws merely because
there is African blood-ihough but drop
in their veins Ought we not to blush till
we are ourselves " black in the face,n that in
this Christian age of Free Principles, we
have so long suffered such disgraceful pro-
bihtion in our Constitution
II we are to have a test of citizenship in
the Constitution, let il be one of quality, aud
not of color. Ii any class are to be disifan-
chsed, lot il be those who are disqualified
by ignorance or vice. No goodr even plaus:-
be reason can be given why black freeman
should not have privilege at the ballot box.
We doubt whether any one will attempt to-
give any. And yet there will he enough in
the Constitutional Convention willing to de-
ny them the right. They will hardly dare
10 give the true motive 1--WE will not say rca-
son, for there is no reason in the case,) for
their bitter hate of the colored man. Some
perhaps could not give it. They could only
| say m
"The reason why / cannot tell ls
But this know, and that full wcu
do not like thee, DIR. Fell. ~. ~
And they will vote without why or where
fore. to have the Constitution read "cyery
white male citzcn!"
Fteemen ofNIichignn, shall tliisbe? Shall
not free, libery-loying, oppression hating
people demand that the word white" be
stricken from the Constitution to be formed?
Let public meetings he called, petitions cir
culuted, and such public expressions made,
MS our Delegates will feel bound TO obey.
This is subject upon which all parties may
unite Let the people act. f-N
The progress of Free Principles may not
be stayed. Tie man or pnrly that throws
itself in the way, ought TO be crushed. The
man who will refuse colored man his right,
would do the same to uny other man against
whom he entertained prejudice.
Some of the States have always consider
cd color no test of competency for citizens
ship. Others have come along half way to
their principles in their practice, and allow
the blacks TO vote If they possess a certain
amount of property. Others, among those
claiming the highest seat in the Democratic
family, DISTINGUISHING every man in any way
related TO Africa Let Michigan, in her ad-
vance in liberal principles, wipe out the foul
stain from her Constitution, and tell the blacls
they are men If they behave like inen--ihus
creating one of the strongest Inducements
for them TO be intelligent, industrious, and
(.liichigdn) Exposition.
~.
The wealth of Sir Robert Peel was SO
great that The duty or tax on the probate Of
Z. Il IN