Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-08-23
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
How it is Controlled by the Constitutions Of
the Free States,

clsed III such States, and how in the course
OF time 1t was restricted until the black man
was entirely disfranchised. We present. for
comparison, statement of the provisions in
the Constitutions Of the free States regulat-
ing the same privilege:
MAINE,
by her Constitution adopted October 29th,
1919, gives the ballot to every male citizen
OF the United States of the age Of 2l years
and upwards, excepting paupers, persons un-
der guardianship, and Indians not taxed,
having resided in the State three months
But persons In the military, naval or marine
service, quartered in the State, and students
! attending seminary of learning, do not ac-
qulre a residence thereby. Includes ne
| groes.
! NEW HAMSHIRE,
| by her Constitution, adopted 1892, still in
| force, gives the ballot to every male inhab-
liant OF twenty-one years, except paupers
and persc rs excused from paying tax at their
own request. Freehold property qualifca-
tiOns were formerly required for officeholders,
but these are abolished New Hamshire
never excluded colored men from voting or
holding office.
| VERMONT,
| which abolished slavery by her Constitution,
adopted July 4th, 1893, declared in her Bill
of Rights that AL freemen, having suffi-
Gent evidence of common interest with an
attachment TO the community, have a right
! to elect officers and be elected into office. P"
by article u, every man twenty-one
years OF age, who has resided one year in
| the State, who behaves himself quietly and
peaceably, and who will take an oath to vote
SO as IN your conscience you shall Judge
will most conduce to the best good of the
State, may vote. In Vermont therefore,
"a white man is as good as negro if he
behaves himself as well''-not otherwise.
MASSACHUSETTS,
by her original Constitution, adopted in
1880, gave the ballot to every male person
twenty-One years of age, resident in the
Commonwealth, having an annual income of
three pounds from freehold, or any estate
worth 600 BY the amendment now III force
the ballot belongs to every male citizen, 2l
years of age (eXcept paupeis and persons
under guardianship, who shall have paid
any tax assessed within two years, or who
shall be exempted from taxation. But by
Art. 20 OF the Amendments, No person
shall have the right to vote, or be eigable to
Office under the Constitution Of this Com
monwealth, who shall hot be able to read
the Constitution in the English language,
and write his name: Provided, however,
that the provision Of this amendment shall |
not apply TO any person prevented by phys |
zeal disability from complying with its requi |
sltlons. nor to any person who now has the |
right TO vote, nor tC any persons who shall |
be sixty years Of age Or upwards at the time |!
this amendment shall take effect. Massa-
chusetts, therefore, never excluded any man |
from voting on account OF color.
RHODE ISLAND,
by Constitution of 1912, gives the right Of
suffrage: /. TO every male citizen, of full
age, one year IN the State, six months in the
town, owning real estate worth Sl34, or rent
ing for 81 per annun. =. TO every notjce
male citizen of full age-two years in the
State, SIX months in the town, who is duly
who has paid 5 / tax, or done mi
lltla service within the year. Hence in
Rhode Island native negro votes without
a property qualification, while foreign
born white citizen can not
CONNECTICUT
gives the ballot to all persons, whether white
or black, who were freemen at the adoption
Of her constitution, (1SlS, and subsequent
ly TO every white male citizen of the Uni
ted States of full age, resident six months
in the town, and owning freehold Of the
yearly value of 81, or who shall have per-
formed military duty, paid State tax and
good moral character within the
year. This was amended In lS45 by strk-
ing out the property and ax-paying qualif-
cation, and fixing the residence at one year
in the State and six months i'll the town.
Only those negroes have voted in Connect
;ut who were admitted freemen prior to 1918.
NEW YORK,
admits to the suffrage, every male citizen"
If full age, who shall have been ten days a
:itizen, one year in the State, four months in ,
he county, and thirty days in the district
But no man of color shall vote unless he 9
las been three years a citizen of the State, ,,
md for one year the owner of freehold !
worth $3.50 over membranes, on which he !
hall have paid tax, and he is to be sub
ect to no direct tax unless he owns free
lold. Laws are authorized and have been
,assed. excluding from the suffrage, persons I
onvicted of bribery, larceny, or any infa-
nous crime. also persons betting on the E.
ection. No person gains or loses resi-
encc by reason of presence or absence in y =
he service of the United States-nor in !,
as student in a seminary !
r in any asylum or prison. A registry law {
lSo exists.
NEW JERSEY, n
he first of those enumerated which abso- n
ltely makes color the test of voting, and In \
yhich slavery existed up to very recent (,
eriod, gives the ballot, by its constitution q
t 1874, to every white male citizen Of f
he United States, of full age, residing one n
ear in the State, and five months in the r
ounty, except that no soldier or marine II
uartered therein shall acquire the right, 6
nd no pauper, idiot, insane person or per-
ons convicted of crime which excludes
i'm from being witness, shall vote. fl