The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1867-10-23

which occurs on, hearing these announce.
ments 'ost is, that it would be harsh measure
ana sasor Of injustice to require people to
vote IN an election, and then punish them
for the candidate, whether man Or mea-
sure, o. their choice. And further, that
Il would be still more unjustt to punish the
people OF North Carolina for failure TO make
constitution and Establish basis Of suf-
frage which Pennsylvania, Ohio, New YORK
and other great and leading states Of tile
north have refused, and still do refuse, Ia
establish Tor themselves, though With far
less c0gent reasons than prevail with us.
The Constitution Of PENNSYLVANIA. az re-
ordained in 1898, regulates suffrage in these
words: i2'1so - 3fd Ifot'for -
I'm elections by the ci,izens, eyery ,ol,ife
freeman OF the age Of twenty -one years,
having resided 10 this state one year and III III
the electioa district where he offers to vote vote
ten days Immediately preceding such cleo
tion, and within two years paid a state or
county far which shall have been assessed
a. least ten days before the election, shall
enjoy the rights of an eIector," &c.
That OF New York provides that {" "eyesty
male citizen OF the age of twenty -one years,
&C., shall he entitled to yote,n SC. a But
no man of color, unless he shall have been
Tor three years citizen Of the state and
Tor one year next preceding every election,
shall have been seized and possessed Of a
freehold estate of the valoeiof twolundred
aud Fifty dollars over and above all debts
and membranes charged thereon, and
shall have been actually rated and paid
tax thereon, shall be entitled to vote al such
election" &c. h
That Of Ohio is as follows: "Eyers
white male citizen of the United States, Of
the age Of twen,y-one years, who shall have
been a resident Of the state one year next
preceding the election, and Of the county,
&c., in which he resides .,,such time as NAV
be provided by law, shall have the qaalif-
catinn of an elector and be entitled 10 vote
at all elections" Since the passage Of the
acts of congress on this subject, an amend
ment has been proposed in the constitution
OF Ohio by the legislature and submitted to
the vote OF the people, so as to admit.e CO.
lOred men to the suffrage on the same foot
Il
ing with the white man; and after most
animated canvass in IFS favor BY the lead
Ing public men Of the dominant party in
that state. the news comes to Us, as write,
that il has been rejected by an orerw heim-
ing majority.
Now, will there be any punishment st
tempted upon the people Of that state for
refusing to extend the right of Suffrage to-
negroess II not, is any to be reasonably
apprehended upon ihe people Of North Ca
rolina, il they shall come TO like, deter
+mina,ion, Tor reasons far more powerful
and controlling ! II any penalty is to be
imposed, should il not rather be upon those
states where the negro is not numerous and
has been freeman for generations, if not
from before the foundation Of the state, (as
in Ohio,) than in this state, where they
constitute one third Of the population, aud
the, generality are necessarily, from their
recent condition Of slavery, in the grossest
ignorance II is derogatory to the con-
gress Of the United States TO presume, that
Tor negative vote on this question, which
would be but respectful Iemonstrance,
they would think Of visiting The electors Of
a state with punishment: aud IL. in the ex-
citement Of the fever. they should, their
commitments 10 the great states already
mentioned, as well as Others, who have
manifested no disposition to make the COW
etea change in their body Of voters. would
be quick TO perceive, that what is ours to-
day may become theirs tomorrow that
precedents accumulate and constitute law,
and that, as their representatives shall
have done TO Others. SO may it be done
to them However this may be, the change
proposed is in fundamental article OF the
state constitution, deeply affecting the Be
curity, safety, and peace Of society. and
the promotion OF the civilization and hap.
piness OF It's members. II is domestic and
concerns ourselves only. and We must act
upon il in the choice allowed us according