Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-12-07
PROPERTY QUALIFICATIONS FOR
VOTERS.


Al the recent election the people Of
Rhode Island adopted Constitutional |
amendment aboishing the property quail
ifcalions for voters. This ends long
and frequently bitter struggle. 1t also
sweeps away, we believe, the last veslige Of
this restriction OF suffrage in this country,
unless The poll-taIes, which several States
require 10 have paid before vote can be
cnst, can be 80 regarded.
Universal suffrage, without any rcslrict-
ion except Acknowledgement for unpardoned
felony, has come to be such an everyday
affair that lew people stop 10 think TINT
II has not always been 80, and that the
progress toward this condition was slow
and tedious, aud marked by as fierce
opposition ma this generation saw made to
the enfranchisement Of the negroes.
Thongh the early colonists had very ad-
vanced ideas on the "Rights of Man." as
the banner OF freedom was inscribed in
those days, they were very lar from believ.
Ing in or advocating universal suffrage.
In the New England Colonies the possess
ion OF nfcertain amount Of property and
orthodox Cnlvinism were necessary to
make an eligible voter. In Virginia
negroes, indentured servants, transported
ielons, and redemptioners" were specif-
cally excluded from the very first. Then
the attempt OF men "who had served their
time" to vote, produced rioting at the
polls, and IL was decided to grant voyce
in such elections only TO such rs by their
estates, real or personal, have interest
enough 10 tye them TO the endeavour OF
the publiqne good"
An attempt was made in the Csrolinns
to limit the suffrage tv "those possessed OF
hereditary wealth" but the men who had
but recently required property were sue
cessful in defeating tins.
South Carolina acquired every voter 10
acknowledge the being OF God, and be-
lieve in future state OF rewards and pun
ishments."
As late as the adoption of the Federal
Constitution Connecticut required of
voters maturity in years, quiet and peace.
fnl behavior, civil conversation and 40
shillings freehold, or G40 personal estate,
so certified by the selectmen."
AT the same time New Jersey prescribed
lamation money" Virginia, that they
should have 100 acres of unimproyed
land, or % acres of improved land, or n
house and lot in a town.; Maryland, so
acres, or property worth ESQ; North Caro-
| lima and South Carolina, 80 acres of land,
or town lot; Rhode Island, that they
should be freeholders OF an estate of the
value OF S134, or the eldest son of such
freeholdefs.
| Pennsylvania's attempt to continue n
property-qualiticatio WAS laughed away
by the sturdy common sence of Benjamin
Franklin.
Suppose" said he, "a man has this
amount of rersonly property invested in a
| jackass. This year lie can vote. Before
the next election the jackass dies, and the
man losses his vote. Which really voted
the man or the jackass?" ?"
The French Revolution exercised pow.
erfnl influence in widening the limits OF
suffrage in this country. The new Gospel
OF Manhood, so energetically preached by
the French agltators, found ready ac-
ceptance among the freemen this side OF
the Atlantic. Georgia abolished the pro-
perty-test for voters in 1898, Maryland in
1901 aud 1909, Massachusetts, and New
York in 1921, Delaware in 1881, New
|
Virginia In 1850. North and South Car
olina clung TO the property-qualiiicatio
until they were reconstructed after the
war.
The new States, which were admitted tc
the Union alter the adoption of the Con-
stitution, generally modoled their Consii-
tutions, and laws upon those of the older
States, from which most of their peopl,
had migrated. Tn those which were form
ed from the territory north of the OH,
River and west of the Allegany Mountains
there was much greater liberality of pro-
= vision than those south of the Ohio, an,
there was never any property qualification
required.
E Such as had tax-tesis abolished them il
the course of few years, for they becam
, empty forms. Parties always stood read
TO pay the poll or other delinquent take
OF their voters.
5 Some of the older States, howeveI-Ma'
: sachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania
Delaware, Tennessee and Georgia-sti
require the payment of some form of Ia
}, before allowing the exercise of suffrag
1 Maine, Massachusetts,, New Hampshir
New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolini
Texas and West Virginia, expressly pre-
hibit paupers from voting.