, 1866-02-02
rHE suFrRAGE ouEsr1oN.

THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
We append a synopsis of the suffrage laws of
the twenty-Oue free States, from which tappears
that negro suffrage obtains 10 but eight States,
and in only four Of these is the the negro placed
upon an equality with the white man:
~. MAINE,
by her constitution, adopted October 20,
| 1873 gives the ballot 10 every male citizen
Of the United States of the age of twenty -one
years and upwards, excepting paupers, persons
under guardianship, aud Indians not taxed
having resided ia the State three months. But
persons in the military service, quartered in the
State, and students attending a seminary of
learning, do not acquire a residence thereby.
includes negroes.)
NEW HAMHsHIRE,
by her constitution, adopted 1892, still 10
force, gives the ballot to "every male inhab-
liant of twenty-One years, except paupers and
persons excused from paying taxes at their own
request.
VERMONT,
which abolished slavery by her constitution,
adopted July 4, 1898, declared in her bill Of
rights that "ail freemen, having sufficient evi.
denee Of common interest with on attachment
to the community, have right to elect officers
and be elected into Office" BHPrticle 81, ''ev-
cry man" twenty-ope years of age, who has re-
sided one year in the state, who behaves him
self quietly and peaceably, and who will take an
oath to vote, $50 as in your conscience you shall
judge will most conduce to the best good" of
the state may vote.
MASSACHUSETTS,
by her original constitution adopted in 1870,
gave the ballot to every male person twenty one
years of age, resident in the commOnw ealtb,
having an annual income of three pounds from
a freehold, or any estate worth sixty pounds
By the amendment now in force the ballot be-
longs to every male citizen twenty-One years Of
age Except pauperS and persons under guar
dianship), who shall have paid any tax assess
ed within two years, or who shall be exempted
from taxation. But by article 20 of the amend
ment, 'uo person shall have the right to vote
or be eligible to Office under the constitution of
this commonwealth, who shall not be able to
read the constitution in the English language,
and write bis name; provided, however, that the
provisions of the amendment shall not apply to
any person prevented by a physical disability
from complying with its regulations nor to any
person who now has the right to vote, nor to
any person who shall be sixty years Of age or
upward at the time this amendment shall take
effect"
RHODE ISLAND,
by constitution of 1912, gives the right Of suf.
frage:-
/. To every male citizen Of full age, one
year in the state, six months in the town, own
ing real estate worth Sl34 or renting for 81 per
annum.
2. To every native 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 negro votes without a |
property qualification, while a foreign born |
white citizen cannot.
CONNECTICUT,
gives the ballot to all persons, whether white or
black, who were free men at the adoption of |
her constitution (l8lS) and subsequently TO |
"every white male citizen Of the United States" |
of full age resident six months in the town, and |
owning freehold OF tue yearly value of 81, or
who shall have performed militia duty, paid |
state tax, and sustained good moral character
within the year. This was amended in IS45 by |
striking out the property and taxpaying quail
hcatiOns, and fixing the residence at one year in |
the state and six months in the town. Only |
those negroes have voted in Connecticut who |
were admitted freemen prior to 1873
NEW YORK,
admits to the suffrage "every male citizen" of |
full age, who shall have been ten DAYS a citi.
zen, one year in ;he state, four months in the |
county, and thirty days in the district But no |
man Of color shall vote unless he has been three
years citizen of the state and for one year the |
owner Of freehold worth two hundred and fifty |
dollars, over membranes, on which be shall |
have paid tax, and he is to be subject to no |
direct tax unless he owns such freehold Laws
are authorized aud have been passed, excluding
from the suffrage persons convicted of bribery, |
larceny, or any Infamous crime, also persons |
betting on the election. No person gains or To-
ses a residence by reason Of presence or absence
in the service of the United Statesmen in navi-
gation-nor as a student in seminary-nor in
any asylum or prison.
NEW JERSEY,
gives the ballot, by its constitution of 1874, to |
"every white male citizen of the United States
of full age, residing year in the state and |
FIVE months in the county, except that no SOL
der marine quartered therein shall acquire
the right, and no pauper, idiot, insane persons
or person convicted of crime which excludes
him from being witness, shall vote.
PENNSYLVANIA,
gives vote to "every white freeman" of full |
age, who has resided one year in the state and |
ten days in the election district, and has within
two years paid tax, except that once qualified |
voter returning into the state, after an absence
which disquali6es him from voting, regains his
vote by six months residence, and except that
white free citizens under twenty two and over
twenty-one vote without paying tax.
OHIO,
by her constitution of 1851, limits the elective
franchise to ''every white male citizen" of the
United States of full age, resident one year in
the state, excluding persons in the military and
naval service, and idiots and insane PERSONS
But the courts of Ohio having held that every
person of one half white blood is "whte male
citizen" within the constitution, and that the
burden of proof is with the challenging party to
show the person is more than half black which
is impracticable, we believe that in practice me-
groes in Ohio vote without restriction.
INDIANA,
gives the right of suffrageto ''every white male
citizen Of the United States" of full age, and siI
months residence in the state, and every white
Of foreign birth and full age who has resided one
year in the United States, aud six months pre-
ceding the election in the state, and who has de.
clared bis intentions to become a citizen. No.
soldier or marine shall acquire vote by being
quaftered in the state, nor shall any person lose
his vote by absence in the service Of the state or