Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-24
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
HOW II Is CONTROLLED BY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF
THE FREE STATES.

THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
HOW II Is CONTROLLED BY THE CONSTITUTIONS OF
THE FREE STATES.
We recently, in an editorial, referred to
the history OF the franchise question III the
late slave States, showing how it was eXer-
cised in such States, and how in the course
Of time it was restricted until the black
man was entirely distranchsed We pre-
sent, for comparison statement OF the
free States regulating 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 u years
and upwards excepting paupcrs, persons
under guardianship, and Indians not taxed
having resided in the State three months.
But persons in the military, naval or marine
service, quartered i'll the State, and stu
dents attending a seminary of learning, do
not acquire a residence thereby. Includes
negroes)
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
by her Constitution, adopted 1892, still in
force, gives the ballot to every male i'll
habitant" " of twenty-one years, except pau
pers and persons excused from paying tax
at their own request. Freehold property
qualifications were formerly required for
office-holders, but these are abolished
New Hampshire never excluded colored
men from voting or holding office.
VERMONT,
which abolished slavery by her Constitu-
ton, adopted July 4th, 1898, declared i'll
her Bill Of Rights that all treemen, having
sufficient evidence Of common interest with
an attachment to the community, have
right to elect officers and to be elected in
to office" BY article 2l, every man
twenty-onc years of age, who has resided
one year in the State, who behaves himself
quietly and pcaceably, and who will take
an oath to vote so as i'll your conscience
you shall Judge will most conduce to the
best good" of the State may vote In Yer
mont, therefore, "a white man is as good
as a negro, if he behaves himself as well
hot otherwise.
MASSACHUSETTS,
by her original Constitution, adopted in
1850, 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 cs-
tate worth EGO.
By the amendment now in force the bal
lot belongs to every male citizen twenty
one years Of age ( except paupers and per-
sons 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 per-
son shall have the right to vote, or be elig-
blc to Office under the Constitution OF this
Commonwealth, who shall not be able to
read the Constitution in the English Ian
guage and write his name : Provided,
however, that the provisions of this amend
ment shall not apply to any person preven-
ted by physical disability from complying
with its rcquisitions nor to any person who
now has the right to vote, nor to any per-
son who shall be sixty years of age or up
wards at the time this amendment shall
take effect" Massachusetts, therefore,
never excluded any man from voting on ac-
count of color.
RHODE ISLAND
by constitution of 1912, gives the right of
suffrage
l. TO every male citizen, of full age, one
wear in the State, six months in the town,
owning real estate worth $l34, or renting
for ST per annum.
,. To every nqiire male citizen of full age
two years in the State, six months in the
town, who is duly registered, who has paid
81 tax, or done militia service within the
year. Hence in Rhode Island a native ne
gro 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, lSlS) and
subsequently to "every white male citizen
of the United States" Of full age, resident
six months in the town, and owning free
hold of the yearly value Of ST, or who shall
have performed military duty, paid a State
tax, and sustained a good moral character
within the year. This was amended in
lS45 by striking out the property and tax
paying qualification, and fixing the resi-
dence at one year in the State and six
months in the town. Only those negroes
have voted in Connecticut who were admit
ted freemen prior to 1918.
NEW YORK
admits to the suffrage "every male citizen
of full age, who shall have been ten days q
citizen, one year in the State, four months
in the county, and thirty days in the dis
trict. But no man of color shall vote un
less he has been three years citizen Of
the State, and for one year the owner of {
freehold worth $3.50, over incumbrances OF
, which he shall have paid a tax, and he is
to be subject to no direct tax unless he