The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-24

Why they were Excluded.

The wonderful changes which have occurred
in regard to the status of the colored people Of
the United States, within the last five years,
and the discussions growing out of those
changes, make recurrence to the early
history of this country, in regard to the pos
ition they once occupied, of peculiar interest
at tins time lit should be remem bered that
the first constitutions of many of the states
were formed and adopted by men fresh from
the battle fields of the revolution, and when
they were in earnest in their devotion to the
first principles of government.
In every southern state except South Car
DINA, the right of suffrage was originally
held and exercised by "all freemen." The
declaration of rights prefxed to the constitu-
ton of Delaware, and a. part of that docu-
ment, declares: s;sn
Every freeman having sufficient evidence of
permanent common interest, with an attachment
to the community, hath right of suffrage"
The constitution of MARYLAND provided
All freemen above twenty-one years of age
having a freehold of fifty acres Of land in the
county in which they offer to VOTE and residing
'iieieni' anu AL IFeelneh having property IN this
state above the value of thirty pounds current
money, and having resided in the county in which
they oner to vote one whole year next preceding
the election, shall have the right of suffrage in the
election of delegates for such county,
The Virginia declaration of rights proyid-
"Aii men having sufficient evidence of perman-
ent common interest, with an attachment to the
community, have the right of suffrage"
The constitution of North Carolina con.
tanned this provision Ed.
AN freemen of the age of twenty-one wears
who have been inhabitants of any one county
within the state twelve months preceding the day
u any eiection ana shall have paid public taxes.
shall be entitled to vote for members of the bopss
OF commons for the county in which they reside"
The constitution of Georgia declared that
1.-The electors of the members of both branches
ol inc general assembly shall be eitisess and in
napitants OF this state, and shall have attained tn
the age of twenty years. and have Maid ta xed
LOT the year preceding the election and shall have
resioed ELK months within the county,"
30 lar not word about distinctions ON ac-
count OF color. "All freemen" "every free
man,"-that is the phrase. But now we
come to South Carolina state which never
had republican or democratic form of gov
ernment-whose people never voted for pres
ident; where only the few wealthy citizens
were held capable of holding Office. The
constitution of this aristocratic state provided
that sAGs - SP-
The qualifcationspf an elector shall he fr.a
en'te men, and no other persons &C.
Coiored people voted in Pennsylvania till
1883 IN Connecticut they voted tills1sl7-f
In New York, originally, white and black
stood on the same ground, the right to vote |
m oo.h oelng dependent upon property
Qualification About the year 1926 ~
amendment Of the constitution abol;sh;a
thus property test as regards the white -.
WAS adopted, but left it unrepealed as -
CARDS the blacks. That is to sav.it WIS., he
reform. 7A-as "S 1'"ii
WITHIN the memory of men now living me-
groes voted in North Carolina and IN Ten.
.sasee. IN the former state, it s related that