The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-08

OF the value Of hunred pounds and above
all debts charged thereon" subsequent section pro-
yided the Governor and Lieutenant Governor DO
chosen by the same clazs Of voters.
That constitution remained in full force for the space OF
forty four years During that period slavery had become
abolished In this State and every negro who rented
tenement of the yearly value Of forty shilngs was
soon ~ free entitled to vote well white men, be-
'au'e there was nothing in the constitution with regard
10 color was mainly TO revise and correct the elective
franchise and avoid the evils then aarmingy the
increase that The Convention or 1871 organized.
In that convention at Stephen Van Rensselaer, James
Kent, Ambrose Spencer, Abraham Van vechten, William
W. Van Ness, Elisha Williams Erastus Root, Samuel Mel
son, James Talmadge, Potter r. Lvingston Nathan San
ford, Peter Sharpe, Ogden Edwsrds, John Duer Martin
Van Buren,, Rufus King, Daniel D. Tompkins, Samuel
Young Peter A. Jay, Jacob Sutherland Nathaniel Pchr,
and other distinguished statesmen and patriots. Mr.
spencer taking his the Convention made the
following remarts,"when, sir found myself eiecSed
member Of this Convention, ksld = solemn conrunon
with my own heart and understanding. considered
that vexion Of tho sagcG Of the Sate the mediate
representatives Of the people, was soon to take place, c
deliberate en- and settle tina fundancnal principles Of
csal order to amend and improve constitution With
had bees founded by bsad Of pariotsa constitution
which had trumphantly carried through sanguiaary
revolution, and condustcd TO liberty and iadepen-
dence-a constitution which hsa, for nearly half
tury secured TO Tho bleeSings Of good government
and wholesome N,d salusary lsws. l determined
in such q convention met to deliberate ON
principles Of government wha,h were secure che pre-
sent age and TO future gsnerations,T children and
children's chdren tbs inestimstle rights ec lfe L.
osrty and propostyto rsoress in myself every feeling
calculated TO 6stend THO grave aid Harmonious consi
deration OF tho subectC 70 como under Discussion.
ssked myself how ought 10 sct II any incorporate in
divdsas, regardless OF what due TO such Assem-
bly, and 70 ouch OCCASION stoud endesvor TO excite
party feelings to stir preu<ce. and for the purpce
Of carrying favorite point, 70 produce excitement
against other individuals Ny answer was, that IL
my solemn duty to forbear rcrminatioo, TO condxc in
the good of this august body 70 resist all attepts
to induce decision from angry, revengeful party ami
mositc. believed that those who to CRAFTY the
feeDgr OF the moment shod far forget their d1ty
endeavor 10 excite preudces here would themselves
eventually depore the employment Of ouch mea-s and
that this Convention would rise superior 20 the
passions and the follies Of the day, in eontem.
plating the objects Of their meeting, and the sacred
ness OF the trust reposed In them. = On
my part, come hero determined 70 for
bear, resolved to ssppress every emotion I'm.
friendly 70 COOL calm and patient Investigation" Thus
soemny spoke 0aef Justice Spencer VIXEN enter
ing upon the duties Of remOdeng the constitution Of
I.77, established by the Revolutionary fathers.
the negroes had voted under this constitution down
TO ls2l an effort was mode in that Convention allow
them equal Suffrage With the whites Mr.. Ross, dele
cato from Genesec county opposed t. He said" mat all
men created free AID equal p maxim true only 10
state Of nature. In society this sasA equality is
strained for the public good On this principle the blacks
ere excluded They required 70 perform duty,
bear burthens The blacks arc, besides peculiar
people, upacqusined with civil liberty, and Incapable OF
approaching its bene6ss We exclude Aliens exclude
minors We exclude the better part emales exclude
the aborigines people vastly acute than tho AZ
rcsn and the only rChtfal prcpretors Of the soil, and
no complaints made Yet these all born free and
equal. . The petition Of the blacks
,o table will, IL in prayer be acceded 70, soon be fol-
lowed up by demand 70 DO represented In
this hall by their color. And gentlemen
prepared 10 90 this length Could be
consistently refused ngou admitted them to equality
at af Such privileges win only invite accumulation
Of this population In State; whom, thersfJre, n
mercy themselves and 70 ourselves ought 10 leave
without rgnu which they would certainly abuse"
General Root remarked hat thc black population OF the
state undoubtcd right 70 hold properly and they
arc protected In that right But In state Of war,
neither colorcd the alien be required to
take the field. And whyf Because IL has not been
deepd shores, 10 suppress Instruction aud shall
they brought 10 the polls 10 vote for commander In
chief whom they arc not bourd TO obeyf He
had known the tinc when few hundred negroes In the
city Of Vow York. following in the train OF those who
rode in coaches and whose boots and shoes they had
backed virtually gave Law 70 the State. He had known
the time when that sable majority, In period Of and
danger parlyzed the arm Of your government, IN or
gained and disciplined corps, that became power
full enough 70 defeat some q the most efficient aad
necessary measures Of your patriotic executive"
Colonel Young also discussed the ,priety Of allowing
negroes He spoke In answer 10 gentleman who
advocated the right and said"The scnismaa who hal
usi sat down had advcried 70 the Declaration Of
pcpdcncc prove that the blacks po@esscd Of
tain nslcuabe righu But 10 the right OF voting ma
tural righu mso, laws oppressive and upjast
natural right n that u born with ne. No man Ia
born twenty years old, and Of course al restraint
upon the natural right Of voting, during The period
Of homage, n uurpasioa and tyranny. This ccufa
sion arises from mixing natural With acquired righss
me right cf voting Adventt.0us n ID rcsorted - only
o. means Of securing natural rights. - Are
the negroes permitted 70 participation Ia s,a.s Inter
course with the whisess Are they elevated public
orccs No. sir, public sentiment fcrbidsh This they
lnow aud hence they prepared 10 sell their votes 70
the highest bidder. The distinction Of color is
well understood. II q Unnecessary 70 disguise ~, and
we ough, shape Constitution ~ 10 meet tbs pub
c sentiment that sentiment should altar II The tine
should ever arrive when the African shall be raised
70 the level Of the white maa; when the dlstlnc-
tons which nov prevail shall be done away;
when the colors shall lntermary; when
rrcss shall b invited 70 your tables, 10 sit
BY your Ere or ride in your coach may eu be proper
20 institute new conveniioo, and remodel the eoust1
ton % A. 10 conform 10 that state Of society.
ycu admit the negroes, why exciude the asorgiaesi
Tey have never been enslaved they born free
The air they breathe. That want Of self rwpsc, which
ehsrseierises the negroes cannot be imputed 20 them.
=. The minds Of the blacks are not competent 70
vote They much degraded 70 estimate the value
or exercise with adclIty and discretion that important
righ, II win be unsafe In their hands. Their vote
would be The call Of the richest purchaser Hthere