The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-04-08
THE FIPTEENTm AMENpNgNr.
IPon Parkirsbars Times.

The unionfwish tue single exception 0,
South Gsrolna.voted ou this moasuro,--
In the beginning Of the Republic 90 one
questioned the right Of the free negroes
to vote eroeptia the single State mem
toned, provided they had the requisite
qualifications, No tcsls was made on
account of color, 10 passing the Fif-
teeth Amsndmont hsstfors, We are Ou-
Iy rcstorleg to thai despised aud much
abuGad rsco a right, trust, which they
bad 10 cOmon with all other citizens;
sni which was wrqogEully wrO,Ied from
them by the usurpaIious Of tyranny and
outrage, Thatlbis point may stand set.
tied beyond controversy We select the
following extract from the Constitutions
OF the several sta'os originally forming
the Uu,op,
The constitution of Massachusetts, pro.
vidcd that
Every male person (being twenty. one
years OF age, and resident in any psrtic,
ular town 10 this ommonwestb for the
| spaco Of one year next preceding. nav.
lug freehold estate within the same
town, OF the annual income of three
pouads, or any estate Of tho value of six
y pounds. shall have right 10 vote in.
the choice Of representative or ropsc,
sCnIativcs IOr the said town. ,,
Rhode Isleni had adopted no consLi,
ludon but continued under colonial cha,
tor. which prpyided for The election of
members Of the general ASSEMBLY by The
major part OF the freeman of the re,pec-
tive towns or pInccs,'
Connseiicat also consiunel under col
oninl charter, according to which The
qualifications of an elector were % sluri,
iyinyear' quiet end pcaccablO behavior,
ciSil conversations and forty ShilIiugs
treohold, or forty pound. personal es-
tare.'
Tho constitution Of Nsv York ptOyid.
c that
Every male irhabilaut Of full ege,
who shall have pasonaly resiled with.
10 oao Of the counties Of this Stato for
six months immediately preceding The
laY Of slecllQn. ahsll. al such eleeliou be-
entitled to vote f0r representatives for
saii county in The assembly, il fd0ring
tho lime sfuresaid, ho shall baye been q
troeholder possessing a freehold Of the
value OF twenty pounds within tho said
county, or have n rented lenment tliere'
IN oI Ike yearly value Of forty shilling',
aud have rated and actually paid taxes
to this Stale.
The constitution oI New Jertey con.
tanned this provisions:
An inhabitants OF This colony, Of full
age, who arc worth City pounds, prOclu.
nation money, clear estate in tho same,
aud have resided within the counly 10
which they claim to yole, for twelve
monthg imme lately praceediug The cleo.
lion, shall be eulitled 10 vote for refre-
sen'a'iges ia counciI aud assembly, and
also Tor oil other public otlicers hat shall
be elected BY tho people Of the county
q Large
Tho consultation Of PcnnsylvauiI pro.
vilcd that o a'f as.ea:
Every ffetman, Of the full age Of
twenty ono years, having resided in this
state for the space Of one year next be-
fore the day Of election for representa-
lives, and paid public taxes during that
time. shall enjoy the rights of % elecior,
provided always, ,ha; sons of fr9ch elders,
oI the age of twenty ono years. shall be
enlilled to vote although they have not
paid lsxes.'
The constitution Of Delaware declared
that
The right Of suffrage 10 the election oil
members OF both Houses, be and remain
as eFereiled by law OF present.
The decI'a'ion of rights, pref<od to
the constitution, contained tho follow.
ing;
Every freeman. having sufficient evi,
dencs OF permanent common interest
with and attachment TO tho community,
hath tho right Of suffrage ~
The constitution of Maryland provided
that
AN freemen, above twenty one year,
Of age, having freehold of diy acres
Ilpnl 10 the county 10 which they ofr,r
to vote, and residing therein, and all
(rsepen having property IN this State
above the value Of thirty pounds. euucnI
money, end having resided 10 the coun.
Iy ia which they Offer 10 so'o, one whole
year next preceding too election, ahllI