Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-03-28

Goth September ITO" AU inhabitants Of this
Colony, of full age, who worth fifty pounds.
proclamation money, clear estate in the same, and
nave resided in the county in which they claim
vote for twelve months Immediately preceding the
lection, shall be entitled to vote for representa-
ives in Council and Assembly, md also for all
ther public officers that shall he elected by the
people of the country at large."-- Art 4.
JTJinid. Constitution formed July 5, ITO !
The right OF suffrage in the election of members
Of both Houses shall remain exercised al pres
ent"
Previously to this date, Virginia was under the
Royal Charter, under tho British Constitution and
English common Law, which could have permitted
no distinction Of color. This Constitution il
seems, was in force at the date Of the publication
of the volume from which we are quoting, viz:-
December, 1870. And it is we'll known that ne
groes continued to vote in Virginia up to the year
1850, when n new Constitution was formed, which
excluded them.
Mary,and formed Aug. H. l77G.
"Declarition Of Rights. Il. That all governmen-
ment Of right originates from the people, is found
ed in compact only, and Instituted solely for the
good of the phoIe" Q. THAT the people of this
State ought to have the sole and exclusi right of
regulating tho internal government and police
thereof" 3. "Tha: the inhabitants Of Maryland
are entitled to the common law Of England, and
the trial by jury" &c. s. That the right in the
people. 10 participate in the Legislature, is the best
security Of liberty, and the foundation of all free
government for this purpose electlons ought to be
free and frequent, and every man having property
in, common interest with aud an attachment to.
the community, ought to have the right Of suf-
rage"
The Constitution and form Of Government"
That the House Of Delegatcs shall be chosen in
the following manner: All freemon above2 2l years
of age having freehold OF so Of land in the
county in which they offer to vote. and residing
therein, and all frcemen having property in this
| O.. 4 a. 4. r IL
having resided in the county in which they offer
to vote, one whole year next preceding the elec'
ton, shall have right of suffrage in the election,
of Delegates for said country" &C. Art. 2.
The matter-of-fact voting of coored persons un-
der this Constitution is atested by the several
amendments" alterward introduced to restrict 1t,
which would have been unnecessary il the privi-
lege Of voting was never exercised.
The first Of these was passed in 1901 (ch. 19),
and confirmed in 1902 (ch. 20). restricting the suf
rage tn free white male citizens and no other" in
elections "in the City os Baltimore or the City of
Annapolis; in the elections of snch cities or eith-
or Of them for Delegates tn the General Assembly,
electors of the Senate aud Sherifs."
The second amendment, passed in 1909 (ch S3 J
and confirmed In 1910 (ch 33 extended the same
restriction ('free white male citizens') to 'vOtere
for electors of the President and Vice President
Of the United States, for Representatives of this
State ia the Congress of the Unived States for del
egates to the General Assembly of this State, cleo
tors Of the Senate, and Sherifs."
The restriction, like the preceding ore, was con
hnUd 10 ''the Cny of ..inn..pofs or Baltimore.
Elsewhere. coored citizens were permitted to vote
as formerly. And this (according to the book of
Gales & Seaton), continued up TO Dec, 1920; how
much longer am unable TO say
Maryland, then, from 1875 till 1904. allowed col
ored citizens to vote on the same conditions with
white citizens. As the colored vote in Baltimore
and Annapolis became so formidable in the State
oils thnt N w1a x uu
suficed till 1910 when the same influence on
national elections became ton formidable to be
longer tolerated. But out of Baltimore and An
napois. colored citizens could still vote Was
Judge Taney ignorant of these facts in his own
State?
North Carolina Constitution formed Dec. Is.
l776. "DecaratiOn of Rights" l. That all po-
tical power is vested in. and derived from, the
people only" 2. That the people of this State
ought to have the sole and exclusive right of regu-
atng the internal government and the police there
! Of" 3. That no man, SGT of men, en-
titled to exclusive separate emouments or priv
/ ileges from the community, but in consideration
of public services" g. That elections of mem
bers to serve as Representatives in General Assem-
| bly, ought to be free"
"Tie Constitution or form Of Government d
That all persons possessed Of freehold, in any
town in tlis State having right to representation
and also all freemen who have not been inhabi-
tants of anv such town twelve months next before
and at the day Of election. and shall have paid
public taxes shall be entitled to vote Tor mem.
| ber to represent such town in the House of Com
mons" &c.
This equals Massachusetts,, and requires nc
comment. This brings US TO
Ncw, Hampshire. The six State Constitutions
previously quoted bear date from l1TS To 1880, all
previous TO the date of the Federal Constitution
But in the book of Gales & Seatun. from which !
have been quoting, 1.-THE Constitution Of New
| Hampshire" is given "as altered and amended" "
in February, 1902. This was after the adoption
of the Federal Constitution, but the title indicates
prerious one, which must have been formed fore
the Federal Constitution
Bill of RiqhtS.--Art !. All men are born
enully free and independent therefore all govern
meut of righ. originates from tie people founded
in their consent are instituted for the general good"
Art T. "The pcople of this State have the sole and
exclusive right OF governing themselves, as Free
so vereign and independent State. and 40, and for
ever shall, exercise and enjoy every power, juris,
LctiOn and right pertaining thereto which is or
may not be by them expressly delegated to the
United States of America in Congress assembled
IL. "All elections ought to lie free and eUery in.
habitant of the State, having the proper quallfca
tions, has an equal right to elect and be elected into
| Office"
Form of Gopcrnmeat."--"Every male inhabi
taht of each town and parish with town privileges
and places Incorporated in this State. of Fl years
of age and upward, except paupers and persons
excused from paying taxes at their own request
shall have a right. at the annual meetings OF the
Inhabitants OF said towns and parishes to be duly
warned" &c ....."to vote in the town or parish
wherein he dwells, for Senators in the County o,
District whereof he is member" "All person:
qralhed TO vote in the election Of Senators, sha
be entitled to vote within the district where ,hey
dwell, in the choice of Representatives" "Aud
the qualifications of electors of ,he Governor shall
be the same as those for the Senator's" The same
also for electors of the Governors Council.
Such was the Constitution OF New Hampshire
as ALTERED and amended" in 1892 and in force in
1920. 1t is to be presumed that the previous Con
sttution, in force in 1879 did not essentially vary
in the above particulars. or so as 10 disfranchst
the colored man. AND by tho statement Of Judge
Curtiss. it did not. So we NAV put down as dscer
tanned, .sepen States whose Consultations allowed
colored men to vote. when the Federal Constisu
tion was adopted. We now come to
The SecoRd C2dss-States ascertainsd to have form