Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-02-05
HASKINS'S DEFENCE.
Explained Suffrage Provisions Of
the Vermont Constitution.
Representative Hardwiek OF Georgia Had
STRUNG Law Different from Its Prao-

Maue an OnWarranteu ATTACK con-
ssruinn avn Ditferen+ from Its prao.
u0e'
While the urgent defcience bill was
under consideration i'm the House of
Representatives Jan. 2S. Mr.. IIardwick of
Georgia made an assault upon the suf-
! fruge provisions embodied in the consti-
! tuition and laws Of the state of Vermont,
to which Congressman Ilaslins re-
| Piled as follows i'm the five minutes which
was allotted him
Mr.. Ilemenway-I yield five minutes to
the gentleman from Vermont CNIr. Has
kiusj.
Mr.. IIaskius-Mr Chairman. owing to
/ the fact that yesterday / was engaged in
/ committee ! was not present during the
remarks of the gentleman from Georgia
. tAlr HardwiclO This morning however
my attention was called to what he stated
/ with reference to the constitution and
/ laws OF Vermont touching the question of
suffrage. | read from his remarks:
Il respectfully invite the attention of
| the DISTINGUISHED gentleman and of the
/ Union League club to the constitution
! ana laws of the state of Vermont, by
| which citizens who are of quiet and
! pcaceablc behavior and who have the APP
/ probation of the board of civil author
! ictieS, shall alone he permitted to vote;
/ the most farreaching provision that was
/ ever adopted in any state, North or
| SOUTH
Mr.. Chairman, the original constitu-
/ tion of the state of Vermont was adopted
/ in 111i. It's framework was the const
! tuition of Pennsylvania of 1716. How
/ ever, in this particular they did not agree:
/ Pennsylvania based her suffrage provs-
/ ions upon tax paying; Vermont based her
suffrage upon manhood only, supplemented
/ 10y an oath, which We designate as the
/ "freenan's OATH which is taken 10y the
/ FIRST voter Now, that there may be no
/ MISUNDERSTANDING or apprehension
! hereafter as to the constitution and laws
Of Vermont, l desire to have them incor
/ porated in the Record They are very
! brief. ! read first from the "Declaration
/ of rights of the inhabitants OF the state
/ of Vermont chapter !:
! Art. N-rhat all elections ought to be
! free ana without corruption, and that all
I ireemen. having a sufficient. evident com
/ mon interest with and attachment to.
tn" community. have right To elect Of
/ liccrs, and be elected into Office. agreeably
/ to the regulations made I'm this consu-
/ tuition.
! now read from the plan or frame Of
! gov eminent chapter .. section p; and
this was the provision of 1777.
Sec. 21-EVery man Of the fun age of
- years, having resided i'm this State for
the space Of the whole year, next before
the election OF Representative, and is Of
a quiet and peaceablc behavior and will
take the following oath or affirmation,
small he entitled To all the privileges of
freeman Of this state.
Then follows the freemnus oath:
You Soemnly swear Tor affirm that
whenever you give your vote or suffrage
touching any matter that concerns the
state OF Vermont. YOU will do it so as in
your conscience you shall Judge will most
conduce to the best good Of the s,une as
established by the constitution, without
fear or favor of any man.
Then comes section ~:
Sec 42-The declaration Of the political
rights and privileges Of the inhabitants of
this state is hereby declared to be a part
of the constitution of this Commonwealth
and ought not to be violated on any pre-
tense Whatsoever
These are the only provisions In the con-
stitution as to suffrage now read from
the law. the statute of Vermont fixing
the rights and qualifications of voters:
Sec. 6O.-Citizehs of the United States
and persons who have become citizens Of
this State by virtue of the constitution or
laws are. while residing in the state, cit
liens thereof
Sec. 6i-Every male citizen 81 years
~ age or more, having resided IN the
aIa',,o U''e e,i' , a.
Such election for the officers to be elected
theroat IN the town Where ne resides on