Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-09-13
Suffrage Laws of the States

Suffrage Laws of the States.
Suffrage Laws at the SOHih.
We give below a condensed abstract of
the provisions in the Constitutions ot the
late Slave States, in force Immediately
prior TO the ordinances of secession, so ian
as they bear on the question of the right
of suffrage. It. Will he seen that no two
of them entirely agree in any other re-
spect than that of excluding minors,
blacks and females from voting.
DELAWARE,
by her Constitution as revised in 1881,
I Art. /. Sec. 4, gives the elective franchise
| 10 ''everv free white male citizen Of the
age Of twenty-one years, or upwards,
who has resided one year in the State,
/ and the last month thereof in the county,
and who has within two years paid acoun-
" tax, assessed at least six months before
| the election every free white male -citi-
zen over twenty-one and under twenty
two msy vote without paying any tax
Soldiers qualtered in the State are not
made voters thereby; idiots, insane per-
sons, paupers and felons are excluded
| from voting, and the Legislature may im-
pose forfeiture of the right Of suffrage as
punishment for crime.
MARYLAND,
by her Constitution, adopted in 1851, Art.
|, Sec. |, allows every free white male
| person of twenty one years of a ge, or up
wards" who has resided one year in the
State, six months in the county, and is q
citizen of the United States, to vote in
the election district in which he resides
but no adult convicted of an infamous
crime, unless pardoned, and no lunatic or
person non eoApos ments shall vote.
VIRGINIA,
by her old Constitution of 1851, admitted
10 vote every white male citizen of Vir-
ginia of twenty-One years, who has re-
sided two years in the State and twelve |
months in the county, except persons OF
unsound mind, paupers, non-commissiOn.
ed officers, soldiers, seamen, or marines |
in the United Service, or persons conYic-
ted of bribery, or some infamous offence; |
persons in the military and naval Uni
ted States service not to be deemed resi-
dents by virtue of being stationed there
IN.
NORTH CAROLINA,
by her Constitution of I776, prescribed
three bases of suffrage;
l. All FREENEN twenty-one years old.
who have lived in the county twelve
months, and have had freehold of fifty |
acres for six months, may vote for mem
Der of the Senate.
>. All FREENEN of like age and resi-
dence who have paid public taxes, may
vote for members of the House of Com
mons for the county.
3. The above two classes may, if resi-
ding or owning freehold in a town, vote
for members of the House of Commons
for such town provided, they shall no;
already have voted for a member for the
county, and Uice versa. i'
By the Constitution, as amended in
1855, all freemen twenty-one years of age,
living twelve months in the State, and
owning a freehold of fifty acres for six
months, shall vote, except that
No free negro, free mulatto or free
person of mixed blood, descended from
negro ancestors to the fourth generation
inclusive, Though one ancestor of each
generation may have been a white per
SOM, shall vote for members of the Sen
ate or House of Commons"
SOUTH CAROLINA,
by her Constitution of 1890, prescribed
that every free white man, of the age OF
twenty one years. being a citizen, and
two years a resident of the State, having
owned freehold of fifty acres, or town
loi, for six months, or, in default thereof,
having paid tax of three shillings ster.
ling, shall vote for members OF either
House. No person. however, Wss eligible
- 4. I. a. 4
the age of tWenty-one-a citizen, and for
three years a resident of the State-and.
If a resident in the district, he must own
500 acres of land and ten negroes, or real
estate to the value of $500 sterling.
This was amended in 1908, giving the
suffrage TO every free white man of the
age of twenty-oney years lpaupers and non
commissioned officers and priVates u. 5.
A. excepted being a citizen and resi-
dent for two years, with freehold of if
ty acres or town lot for six months in
the district, or. in default thereof, being
himself for six months a resident of the
district"
GEORGIA,
by her Constitution adopted in 1898, de-
clares that the electors of the General
Assembly shall be citizensand inhabitants
of the State, shall have paid all taxes re-
quired of them, and resided six months in
the county"
KENTUCKY,
by her Constitution adopted in 1850. |
makes every free white male citizen ofl
the age of twenty-one years, who has re-
sided two years in the State, one year in
the county and sixty days in the pre-
cinct."
TENNESSEE,
by her Constitution adopted in 1884, gaveI
the elective franchise to every free white
man of the age Of TWEEN ty-one years, being
a citizen of the United States, and for six
months a citizen Of the county; provided, l.
that all persons of color who are compe-
tent witnesses in court of justice against
4 white man, may also vote.
LOUISIANA, Is
by the old Constitution of July 3Ist. 1852,
gives the ballot to every free white male
who has attained the age of twenty one
years, and has resided twelve months in ,
the State and six months in the parish.
MISSISSIPPI {
makes every free white male person of ,
twenty-one years of age, who shall be !
citizen of the United States, and who has ;
resided one year in the State, and four =,
months in the county, a qualified cleo /, !
tor.
ALABAMA
IS the same as Mississippi, with the sub 8
of three months residence in the 7
county.
FLORIDA
limits the suffrage TO every free white i
male person" of twenty one years of age, a
a citizen of the United States, two wears 5
a resident of the State, and six months of I
The county-duly enrolled in the militia :
and duly registered, provided that no I
snldiar or seaman nnarfered fhera;,, shall :,