Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-20
SOUTHERN SUFFRAGE LAWS.
Regulations of the Elective Franchise i'm
the Southern SfafeA.

The following is an abstract of tie provi-
sions in the constitutions of the late slave
States In force Immediately prior TO the or
| dlnances ofSeeession, so far as they bear on
| the question of the right Of suffrage. 1t win
be seen that no two Of them entirely agree
in any other respect than that of excluding
minors, blacks, and females from voting
DELAWARE,
| by her Constitution as revised in 1881, article
| A, section ], gives the elective franchise to
every free white male citizen OF the age Of
| twenty two years, OF upwards who has
| resided one year in the State and the last
month thereof in the county, and who has
| within two years paid county tax, assessed
at least SIX months before the election, every
| free white male citizen over twenty-oRe and
under twenty-five may vote without paying
any tax. Soldiers quartered in the State are
not made voters thereby; idiots, insane per-
sons, paupers, and felons are excluded from
voting and the legislature may impose for
feiture of the right of suffrage as a punish
ment for crime.
MARYLAND,
| by her Constitution, adopted in 1851 article
/, section !, allows every free white male
personof twenty one years age, OF upwards
who has resided one year in the State, SIX
months in the county, and is citizen of the
in which he resides but no adult convicted
of an infamous crime, unless pardoned, and
no unatic or person non conlpOs naeatls shall
vote.
VIRGINIA
by her old Constitution of 1851, admitted to
vote every white male citizen of Virginia
of twenty one years, who has resided two
years in the State and twelve months In the
county except persons of unsound mind,
paupers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers
seamen, or marines in the United States ser
vice, or persons convicted of bribery, or some
infamous offence; persons in the military and
naval United States service not to be deemed
residents by virtue of being stationed therein.
NORTH CAROLINA,
by her Constitution of l776, prescribed three
bases of suffrage:
|. All freemen tWenty-One years old who
have lived in the country twelve months,
and have had freehold of fifty acres for six
months, may vote for member OF the Sem
ate.
. All freemen of ike age and residence
who have pail public taxes may vote for
members Of the House of Commons For the
county.
3. The above two classes may, if residing or
owning freehold in town, vote for mem-
bers Of the House of Commons for such town
provided they shall not already have voted
for member for the county and uice rersd.
By the Constitution, as amended In 1856,
all freemen twenty one years of age, living
| twelve months in the State, and owning
| freehold of fifty acres for six months, should
vote, except that
"No free negro, free mulattoo or free person
of mixed blood descended from negro ances-
tors to the fourth generation inclusive,
Though one ancestor of each generation
may have been white person., shall vote
for members OF the Senate or House OF
Commons,
Itstrikes us that the above clause is rather
severe on white blood.
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
resident of the State, having owned free
hold of so acres or a town lot fer six months
or In default thereof, having paid tax
of three shillings sterling shall vote for MEM
bers of either house. No person, however
was eligible to such seat except free white
man, of the age of twenty one years, Q citi-
zen, and for three years a resident of the
State; and, if a resident IN the district, he
must ewnfive hundred acres of land andsten
negroes, or real estate to the value OF fl50
sterling; if nonresident, he shall own q
freehold therein worth f500.
This was amended In 1908, giving the suf-
frage to EVERY free white man of the age of
twenty one years (paupers and non eonmis-
stoned officers and privates, United States
Army excepted being citizen and resident
for two years, with freehold of fifty acres
or a town lot for six months in the district,
or in default thereof being himself fer six
months a resident of the district.
GEORGIA,
by her Constitution, adopted IN 1793, de-
clares that "the electors of the General AS
sembly shall be citizens of the age of twenty
one years, who have resided two years In the
State and shall have paid all taxes required
of them and resided six months in the
county.
by her Constitution adopted in 1850, makes
every free white male citizen of the age OF
twenty one years, who has resided two years
in the State, one year in the county, and :
sixty days In the precinct, voter.
TENNESSEE, snas 4
by her Constitution, adopted ID 1924, gave
the election franchise TO every free white
man of the age of twenty one years beng
citizen of the United States, and for SIX
months a citizen of the county; provided
that all persons of color, who are competent
witnesses in court Of justice against
white man, may vote.
LOUISIANA, s %
by the old Constitution of July Slst, 1862,
gave the ballot to every free, white man who
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 eftwenty
one years of age, who shall be a citizen Of
the United States, who has resided one year
in the State and four months in the county,
a qualified elector.
ALABAMA s4
is the same as Mississippi, with the Substltu.
ton of three months, residence IN the county.
FLORIDA, &
limits the suffrage to every free white male
person of twenty one years of age a others
Of the United States, two years resident Of
the State and six months of the county
duly enrolled in the militia and duly regis
tered provided that no soldier or seaman
auartered therein shall be deemed resident
and the legislature may exclude from voting
for crime. ,.
Ely ARKANSAS,
makes every free white male citizen OF the
United States twenty one years OF age who
shall have resided six months in the State.
a qualified voter in the district where he re-
sides, except that no soldier, seaman or ma
rine in the United States service can vote In
the State. la