The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-04-30

AZ 'e"Sth he catches SUmpse OF the fair
Mrs. Grey; lie walks into the ladies' saloon
and takes q seat by her side. -
The conversation no doubt, soon becomes
very interesting. While they are in the
midst of it the boat stops. Mr.. Smith pays
no attention to this occurrence, as it takes
place once or twice every hour. A tolera-
Ily young man springs on board, rushes
up the steps, walks rapidly down the
gentlemen's saloon. and enters the ladies'
department. Mrs. Grey suddenly sees him,
and, oil, horrors! uttcring an exclamation Of
pleasure, eagerly advances to meet him.
I1e calls her Dear Anne" puts his arm
around her slender waist, and imprints Il
warm kiss upon her ruby-like lips.
Mr.. Smith looks at them for moment
with dismay and astonisllmcnt then, as
the truth dawns upon him, without saying
a word, rusllcs in frantic manner upon
the deck.
The captain wishes to know Of Mr. Smith
how lie likes the beautiful widow !" and
Mr.. Smith, his friend is going to say, immc-
diately becomes proCane. Tom Jones, Esq,
himself, always desirous of information, in
quires when the marriage is to take place,
and is requested, aud not very politely Ell
ther, to 80 to internal regions.
The captain, who, it seems, had caused
his lovely and lighthearted niece to act the
part Of n widow (Which she did to perfection
as Mr. Smith afterwards said,) soon tells the
joke to all the passengers. They all enjoy
it hugely especially the impatient elderly
gentleman, who laughs with sardonic glce.
10 this day, Mr.. Smiths equanimity is
disturbed by the slightest aluson to the
fair widow on board the steamboat Isabella.
From the Nep York Journal Of Commerce.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
According to the existing Constitution Of
the State Of New York, no man Of color,
unless he has been citizen of the State for
| three years. and has for ono year possessed
freehold property Of the value Of two hun
dred and fifty dollars, on Which he has
paid taxes, can vote at any election. The
Republican members of our State legisla-
ture have taken the first step towards a
repeal of this feature of the Constitution, in
order to place negroes, so far as suffrage is
concerned, OH a footing of equality with
white men. 1t is fortunate that those who
initiated this SO called reform, have not the
power to give it legal effect, but tina. j.
must be approved by subsequent legisla-
ture. and then submitted to the people, he
fore the change can be effected. 1t is open
ly avowed by the Republicans that their
object is to ccnsure the Supreme Court OF
the United States for its recent judgment
in the Dred Scott case. in the hope tha,
o'ler State legislatures will follow the cx
ample.
1t remains to be seen whether the good
sense Of the people, to whom ample timt
for reflection is wisely allowed, will sane
ton hasty, passionate, and unnecessary
measure, for the mere purpose of enabling
a few political agitators to achieve an emp
ty triumph over the wel-considered ant
authoritative dictum of the supreme ex
Founders Of the Federal Constitution. w,
say an empty triumph; because were ne
groes permitted to exercise the electiv,
franchise in this or any other State in til,
same conditions as white men. this perms
sion would not extend beyond the limits O
the State in which it was accorded, ant
could not in the slightest degree affect tn
judicial decision that the Africans ant
their descendants cannot, under the consti
tuition, be citizens of the United States.-
Tie judgement Of the Supreme Court, doe
not effect or interfere with the power of in
dividual States to confer political right
within their own limits ); it only affirm
} that State citizenship conferred upon pei
sons constitulionally unqualified to becom
, citizens Of the United States does not re
move their disqualifcations.
) The Supreme Court has not decided tina
: New York, Massachusetts, or Rhode Islam
, IS not entitled to confer citizenship fe
State purposes on free negroes, any mo,
3 than they are not entitled, if they thin
proper, to grant the right of suffrage to III
8 naturalized aliens; but they have decide
;. that the comforting of this right upon "a
alien or any other description or class
= persons" does not constitute its recipient 6
citizen in the sense of the constitution
the United States" To use the languae
S Of the Albany Argus. "The Dred SEQ
e decision will not prevent the elevation
the negro here to any degrees Of privileg
lie may have the right to votss the right
hold the highest Offices, the right of equ
n educational privileges and political francbis
1 he may be even lifted above the comme
| level md ha mada a onporior oaeto apd Il