The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-07-14

Black Rspsbitea. rsaud---seuti,
Carolina hslt9acd In order that Massa-
chssetts may ,s Eseussd.
The Black Republicans Of Ohio and
Iowa, while dissenting from the proscriptive
course OF their allies 10 Massachusetts
against Foreign-born citizens, have attempt.
Cd, inierentialy to excuse or palliate such
prescription, by charging that the State Of
South Carolina, which they class as Demo
cratic State few years since enacted q
similar law. This latter statement Is false,
ss the former pretcnce Is hypocritical. We
should, perhaps, not have troubled ourselves
TO expose the ialsehood and injustice to
South Carolina, involved In tho charge, had
II not been formally uttered by q Black
Republican convention 10 our own State.
At the Black Republican convention for
Ramsey County. held on Saturday last, Mr..
WILLIAM BsAScn,--whom we have hereto
forc exhibited before this community as
being heavy on preambles, and weigh,y on
resolutions, introduced the following rcso-
luton, among others, which the record OF
tho convention says was unanimously
adopted:
Rssoivsd, That the increased probation i'm
posed by the laws OF the State OF south Caro-.
lima, upon natusalixsd citizens, and the recent
action initiative thereof by the people Of the
State Of Massachusetts,, Ia unconstitutional and
antsgonstic to the spirit Of our free ions,
and cescrve the unqualified disapprobation Of
oil true lovers Of Constitutional liberty.
This resolution, 40 tar a. II refers to
South Caroliana, is, In letter and spirit, q
falsehood. And Il Is an inexcussblc fslse-
hood for there Is no paIliation Tor the mis-.
representation Of any public record so no
torious, and easy oi access, W the laws Of
State. The only law In South Carolina
on the subject OF suffrage, adopted since the
year 1910, Ia that passed by the General
Assembly Of that State. in December. 1856,
as al amendment to the State Constitution
which was subsequently, ratified and became
. part thereof, and which we here insert in
full:
No. 1896. An Acr to Amend the Fourth SEQ
ton OF the First Article Of the Constitution Of
this State.
81. BE II enacted by tho senate and House
Of Representatives. now met and sitting In Gen
cral Assembly, and by the authority Of the
same. That the amendment Of tho fourth
section OF tho first article OF the Constitu
ton OF thts State, ratified on the nineteenth
day Of December, In the year OF our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and ton, be altered and
amended a. follows; Every free white man Of
the ago OF twsnty.one years, tpanpcrs and
non comm ssioned officers and private soldiers
Of the army Of the United states. excepted,)
who hath been citizen and resident IN thus
state two years previous 10 the day OF election.
and who has a freehold OF fifty acrea OF land,
or a town lot, Of which he hath been legally
seized and possessed at least six months before
such election or, not having such a freehold or
iowa lot, hath been q resident in the election
district In which he oilers 10 give his vote siN
months before the said election. shall have a
right 10 vote tor a member or members, to
serve In either branch OF the Legislature Tor the
Election District IN which he holds such pro.
pcrty, or Is 50 resident.
In the senate House. the twentieth day OF
December Ia the year of oar Lord one thou.
eighty hrst year Of the sovereignty and indie.
pendencc Of the Tinted States Of America.
JAass cursrsur. ia.
Prs'idenf Of the Ssndie.
JANIS SMoSs.
Speaker Hos" u Representatives..
THIS act, which We extract from page sis
Of the Statutes at large Of South Carolina. /
was subsequently, ratified and now forms
part Of the Constitution of that State. II is
the only Law. statutory or constitutional.
which prescrib,s the period Of residence
necessary 10 the exercise OF the right
If suilragc in South Carolina. II will be
seen from i,s provisions. that No distinction
whatever Is made between the native born
AMI iorcign.boru citizen. The naturalizcd
citizen occupies, in every respect position
As favorable a. the native born Both ART
obliged to submi, toa residence OF two
years within the State. before they can cNer.
else the privilege Of voting. II there is
hardship in this, /, is a hardship hearing
equally on the American born aud the
adopted ci,zcn. rhen arr no invidious
distinctions drawn by the law or the cot sti.
tuition be,sccn them. TO the iisparas1 aient
of either.
Now let Us look at the amendment, 10 the
Constitution Of Massachusetts,. which was
Is,sscd by two Successive BLACK Republican