The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-09-04
The Abolition Judicial Ticket.

That Jessup and Comfy are Abolitionists every
body knows That Coulter is an Abohuonist Is
manifest from his decision that the owner OF n
fugitive slave could not maintain an action in
any Court of Pennsylvania against the abolition
lists who forcibly rescued him from his master
Denying to our southern fellowcitlzens all RENE
dy in our Courts for injuries done by our citizens,
is as bad denying them the benefit of our Jalis
But how is it with Meredith and Chambers,
the two remaining members OF the Wing judi
cial ticket? 1t is enough that Meredith IS the
especial friend of the abolition agitator, Gov
Johnston. But our object is to state few facts
of record to prove the Abolition propensities of
Meredith and Chambers. 1t will be remembered
that they were, both Of them, members of the
Convention to amend our Constitution in 1878.
On the Goth January, 1888, a motion was
made to amend the Constitution, by providing
that the Legislature may at any time after the
year 1860, by law passed at two successive
annual sessions, extend the right of suffrage to
such other persons, Of 1ohGteUer color, and upon
such conditions, to them may seem expedi-
ent." The yeas and nays being called, WILLIAM
NJ. MEREDITH Uoted an tdUor Of this extraordinary
"tuSHIt ~ HfdNc ttc -NtyIC u tCttE tYHNC "ff H'O
schite man, and 1githom the consent Of tie people,
[See Journal of Convention, vol. 2, p. 327.
On the same day motion was made that all
persons Of color shall be entitled to the rights
of suffrage, provided that every such person shall
have been for three years a resident of the cleo
ton district in which he shall offer to vote, and
shall have been seized and possessed for one year
next preceding said election, of freehold Of the
value of two hundred dollars, clear Of incum-
brances, and shall have been rated and paid u
tax thereon
The yeas and nays being called on agreeing to
this amendment, WILLIAM NJ. MEREDITH and
GEORGE CHAMBERS, the Wing candidates for Su-
preme Judges, voted in favor of the amendment
and, Of course, in favor of allowing negroes to rote
at elections equally with white men. The worst
part of this voteis that which requires freehold
qualification Of 200 dollars. This shows the aris-
tocratic feelings of these two men. TJournal
Convention, p. 332.
On the next day, another motion was made to
allow negroes to vote, provided they possessed
freehold qualification worth $3.50. On this mo
ton both MEREDITH and CHAMBERS again voted
in favor of negro amalgamation in the elective
franchise, and In favor Of the freehold qualifca-
ton of $3.50. [See Jour. Con-, p. 333.
On the same day motion was made to alton
negroes to vote trithom the freehold qualification,
ProOded they could read and acrite and understand
the contents Of common books.
On this motion, George Chambers voted in the
"egGtioe-that is, he was willing that ignorant
negro, who could neither read nor write should
amalgamate with the white people in the elective
franchise, provided he had a freehold worth
5000 or $3.50. But poor negro who could
read and agrite, and was enlightened enough to
understand something Of the nature of our
Government, was, in Chambers opinion, unfit to
vote. In his opinion, money! not intelligence,
makes the man; and money is so important in
his estimation that $3.50 makes greasy negro
equal at an election to the free and intelligent
white man. We go against the Abolition ticket,
from beginning to end, and every Democrat will
do the same.-PeJtnsylcania