Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-04-12
NO.. 81
Cincinnati Correspondence.
cxclsrArI, April 3, 1851.

the new Constitution contains substantially the
same provisions rs the old. The only change
10 ths-thc old requirement that each elector
"should have paid or be charged with State
or county tax" or be compelled to labor on
the roads of his township or county," has been
dropped, and every white male citizen Of the
United States of twcnty-one years declared an
clector, who shall have been resident Of the
State one year previous to the election, and Of
the county, township or ward such time as
may be provided by law. Every thing like a
rejected, and limiting the franchise to white
male inhabitants Of age It rests it solely and en-
tirely on citizenship and residence.
All ,ohte male citizens Of age arc declared to
be electors. This will exclude all minors, no
matter how intelligent they may be, or how
much taxes they may pay. 1t will also exclude
females and all "blacks and mulattoes," no
matter how intelligent they may be. or how
much taxes they may pay. The trial has been
made in New York and Connecticut, and 1 think
in some other States, of permitting colored men
to vote, (at least to some extent,) and 1 have
heard of no bad result from it. The Democrat
ic organ of this place hopes the colored popula-
tion "will now be satisfied" as the subject
was maturcly considered and put to rest by the
Convention by a large majority. They and
their friends must certainly submit for the pres
ent. but they have too strong n confidence in the
eventual triumph of the eternal principles of
truth and justice and true Democracy, to cease
the indulgence Of the hope and expectation that
before many years shall roll around more oquai
justice shall be done the colorcd man, aud equal
immunities granted him with his white bre,h-
Yen.
For the satisfaction Of many OF your readers
who have taken an interest in this subject let
me say that the claims of our colorcd friends
were peH representedin the Convention by mem
bers of the highest abilities, and they had fair,
patient and respectful hearing. They could
hardly have been presented more forcibly or by
ADLER men. DR.. Townshchd, ]. w. Taylor.
and several other of their advocates were popu-
lar men in the body, and upon other subjects
leading and influential, and they cxertcd them
selves nobly to obtain further privileges for this
portion of our population, but as the vote show
ed, 10 no effect. 1t was owing to their earnest
and prompt remonstrances no doubt in part that
the several efforts to enjoin upon the General
Assembly the passage of acts banisiing " ne
grocs and mulattoes' and coloni-in9 them out
OF the State all failed. The most that can be
said then for the new Constitution is that If it
shows no progress tor,oard on this point, it docs
not progress backward, as has been the case
with the now Constitutions of kentucky and
Indiana.
The Article on Education does not differ ma
terislly from the old one on that subject. 1t
enjoins upon the Legislature the duty of provid-
ing for thorough and efficient system of Com
mon Schools, and says that no religious sect or
sects shall have any control over any part Of the
School funds.
The Article on Public Institutions provides
that institutions for the insane, blind, and deaf
and dumb shall always be fostercd and support
ed by the State. Here is something new. Such
institutions, it is true, may be found in num-
Der of the States, but there is no other State in
which this great duty of humanity is made a
part Of its Consttutional Iap. 1t is not left
merely TO the discretion of the General Assem-
bly,, but our fundamental law, if this instrument
be adopted, says they shall be established, and
the Legislature shall have power by law to reg
ulate them.
In the Section on the Public Debt and Pub
ie Work. it is provided that the public debt of
the State shall never exceed seven hundred and
hfty thousand dollars, whether contracted by
vir - oc Al
sembly or at different periods of time. The on
ly exceptions made to this are in relation to
debts contracted in time Of war, to repel inva-
sion, or suppress instruction, and money raised !
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
Of the State. To pay off this indebtedness a |
shaking fund is to be created, consisting of the
net annual income OF the public works and |
stocks owned by the State, and of such further |
sum to be raised by taxation as may be required |
10 pay off the annual accruing interest and at
least one hundred thousand Dollars of the prin-
cipel annually. The State Auditor, Secretary
and Attorney General are made Board of Com |
missioners of the Sinking fund. A Board of |
Public Worksis also created, consisting of three |
members, to be elected by the people. one evo-
ny year. The credit Of the State cannot be Civ |
en- or loaned in any manner TO aid any indivd-
ual, association or corporation whatever; nor
can the State become joint owner or stock
holder in any cooperation in this State or else
where.
In the tenth section IL is provided that Gener-
al ia1s shall be passed for tho incorporation of
cities and towns. No law chartering banks is
TO take effect until It be submitted to the people,
and approved by majority Of the voters at the
state election. In the Article on Taration it is
proYided TINT the Generhl As.nnhlv ,nnu OK. |