The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-21

new sovereignty, were intended TO embrace
thvse only who were then members OF the
several State mmunities, or who should
afterwards, by birthright or otherwise. DO
come members according to the provisions oi
the constitution and the principles on which
i, was founded. 1t was the union OF those
who were at that time members OF distinct
and sep rate political communities into one
political family, whose power, for certain
specified purposes, was TO extend over the
whole territory of the United States. And
il gave to each citizen rights and privileges
outside Of his State which he did not before
possess. and placed him in every other State
upon perfect equality with its own citi.
zens as to rights Of p. .rsJns and rights OF prop,
erty, it made him u citizen ot the United
States"
"The citizens of each State constituted the
citizens Of the United States when the con.
stitution was adopted. The rights which
appertained to them as citizens Of those re
spective commonwealths accompanied them
in the formation Of the great, compound
commonwealth which ensued. They be.
came citizens Of the latter without ceasing
to be citizens of the former, and he who wa,
subsequently, born citizen ofa State, be.
came, at the moment Of his birth, citizen
ot the United States" Ratrle on the Const
p. sc. .. ... ....
every citizen Of State, is, ,pso faeto, a
citizen oi the United States" Story on h,
COnst., roi. 3, p SOS.
Such being the operation Of that pro.
vision OF the constitution of the United
States which we have cited above, upon
the condition OF those persons who were
recognized rs citizens OF the several States
at the adoption ofthe constitution, it be-
comes pertinent to our inquiry to ascer
tain the political condition of the free col
ored people of African descent in the sew
eral States, at that time. Were they
then recognized rs citizens of any of the
States which entered into and composed
a part Of the United States Let the con,
stitutions OF the States then existing, and
the practice under them, answer. The
tact of citizenship may be established in
various ways. The enjoyment of the
elective franchise is believed to be one o
the highest tests of that fact. There may
be citizenship without the enjoyment Of
this right, as in the case of women, chill.
dren, paupcrs, and the like; but it is be.
lieved no instance can be found in which
the right vote at our general elections
has been conceded to persons born ON
our soil who were not at the time deemed
citizens OF the States in which they enjoy
ed the right.
The constitution of the United States
was adopted September IL, 1887.
The constitution OF New York. adopt
cd April, 20, l777, section I, provides
"lhat every male inhabitant Of full age,
who shall have personally resided in one of
the counties Of tnis State for six months im-
medlately preceding the day OF election,
shall ut such election DO entitled to vote for
in said county in assembly |;
IL during the timc aforesaid, he shall baye
been u ireeholder possessing u freehold OF
the value OF twenty pounds, within said
or have rented tenement therein
OF the yearly value Of forty shillings, and
been rated and actually paid taxes to the
Statc.'
BY the constitution Of New York,
adopted in 1921, Art. ri, S |, the quail
tication OF electors was to SOM extent
the word citizen was substi-
tutcd for the word "inhabitant," and 9th
er notifications made, among which was
added he following clause:
'But no man OF color, unless he shall
have been three years citizen Of this State,
aud for one year next preceding any election
shall be seized and possessed OF freehold es.
tate OF the value OF two hundred and filty
dollars over and above al. debts and incum-
brances charged thereon, and shall have
been actually rated, and paid tax thereon,
shall be entitled to vote ut any such elec-
tion."
The old constitution did not contain this
provision discriminating against the 'man
Of color
The constitution OF New Jersey, adopt
ed July ., 1870, S.4, provides,
THAT all inhabitants Of this colony, of
full age, who are worth fifty pounds, proc.
money, clear estate in the same,
and have resided within the county in which
they claim vote for twelve months imme.
diately preceding the election, shall be en-.
titled to vote for representatives in council
and assembly; and also for all other pubic
officers that shall be elected by the people OF
the county ut large
In 1914, the constitution of New Jer-
sey, was amended, and the elective fran
c Use was restricted to "white male citi-
zens of the United States
Maryland adopted constitution in
l776. the second section of which pro-
vides that
"All freemen above twenty-one years OF
age. having freehold of fifty acres oil land
in the county in which they offer to vote,
and residing therein, and all ireemcn having
property IN this State above the value of
thirty pounds, current money, and having
resided in the county in which the oder to
vote one whole year next preceding the elec-
ton, shall have right OF suffrage IN the
election oi delegates Tor such county.
And by the fourteenth section all per-
sous qualified as aforesaid to vote for del
ega,es, were also made electors OF sena-
tors. ...
The constitution was so amended IN
1902 that the tight of suffrage was con-
fined TO Stree white male citizens above
twenty-one years of age, and no Others.
North Carolina adopteda a constitution
Dec. Is, l77G. This constitution con-
tains the following provisions:
"SEcT Z. That all ireemen Of the age ol
twenty one years, who have been inhabi-
ants of any one county within the State
twelve months immediately preceding the
day Of any election, and possessed ot Tree
hold within the same county of iity acres OF
land, for six months next before, aid on the
day of election. shall be entitled to vote ior
member of the senate.
"SEcr. 8. That all freemen Of the age OF
twenty one years, who have been lnhaoi-
tants ol any county within the State twelve
months Immediately preceding the day, oil
election, and shall have paid taxes, shall be
cnt.tled ID vote for mem Iers ot the house OF