The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-27
NEGRO RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE IN MAINE.

Tile decision of the Dred Scott case aroused
considerable local interest in Maine because the
Consultation Of that State limits the right Of suf-
ffage to ''maIe citizens of the United States"-
Under this clause negroes had always votcd.-
khesLeglslature, therefore, asked the opinion OF
the supreme Justices upon the point whether
free coored persons of African descent, otherwise
qualified, are authorized to vote by this clause OF
the Constitution. The mi; ority OF the Court have
Just rendered their opinion in the Affirmative
They take the ground that the right of citizen
ship guaranteed 10 coIorcd persons of several emu
lnerated States, prior to the adoption of the Ma
tional- Constitution, made such persons citizcns
Of tile United States thatiif Maine, then being
part of Massachusetts. such persons had the
right Of suffrage, and that on her separation the
exclusion ofnegroes from that right was moved
III the Constitutional Convention und voted down.
The opinion concludes thus:
a. In view Of these facts and considerations we
are of the opinion that our Constitution does not
discriminate between tho different races of pco-
pie which constitute the inhabitants of our State
but that the term 'citizens of the United States,
rs used in that instrument, applies rs well TO free
coiored pers6ns of African descent rs to persons
descended from white ancestors. One ansWers
therefore, IS, that free colored male persons Of
African descent. of the ase of twenty one years
and upwards, having n residence established in
some town or plantation in this State three
months next preceding any election, and who are
not paupers, aliens, nor persons under guardian
0akS NO autuoItLcu, unucT lie pTOVlSlOD6 OF inc
Consultation of this State to be electors for Gov
: ernor, Senators and Representatives"
The opinion is signed by John S. Tcnney,
Richard d. Rice, Jonas Cutting, Seth May, and
Daniel Goodenow. 1t is said to have been drawn
up by Judge Rice. Judges Appleton and Davis,
whose names no not appear among tile above,
give separate opinions of greater length. although
agreeing with the conclusion of the majority
opinion. Judge Hathaway dissents, out Of defer.
ence TO- the bred Scott decision, although he
thinks that free colorcd persons Whose ancestors
were not drought into this country and sold as
slaves' may bave the right of suffrage.
visers of the Black "Republican" party, is Will
liam II. Seward; yet, strange to say, this shining
light, this denagogue and would be dictator of
the whols Amercan'race, Is for the present COM
Paratively dumb. and has managed to keep him.
self aloof from the society Of the pipe layers and
FSein9nt fanatics ever since that elegant sPeci-
tAen 81 q political fnancier, Mr., ,Thurlow Weed,
initiated hinsolfjnto the good graees Of the Gov
ernor. a,
Tobacco Pofson.-Tbe Frencl, poet, Santeyiu,
was killed BY little suf being thrown into his
vine glass st the Priuce Of Conde;s table. Ro.
car'ny, OF Belgium, was murdered in two MN
utes and half by a little nicotiaasSs sfkait of
tobacco. DR.. Twtchell believed Tat Sudden
deaths and tobacco are found together, and he
sustains this opinion by an array Of facts alto
gether conclusive. The names of scores Of men
be given, who were found dead in their
beds. or fell dead in the streets elsewhere who
bad heen the victims Of This poison.