Case Name: The State, ex rel. John Marsh v. The Managers of Elections for the District of York
Court: North Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1829-05
Citations: 1 Bail. 215
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State, ex rel. John Marsh v. The Managers of Elections for the District of York.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 215–216

Head Matter:
The State, ex rel. John Marsh v. The Managers of Elections for the District of York.
Columbia,
May, 1829
An Indian is not intitledto the elective franchise in this State; nor can merit, services, or any other circumstance, alter the condition of his birth, under the existing provisions of the constitution.
Before Mr. Justice Richardson, at York, Spring Term, 1829. .
This was an application for a mandamus, to the managers of elections for the district of York, to receive the vote of the relator, John Marsh. The managers showed for cause against the the application, that the relator was an indian of the Pamunki tribe of Virginia. It appeared, that the relator had been a soldier of the revolution, and attached to the continental army; in which character he had taken the oath of allegiance, and was now a pensioner of the United States. It also appeared that he had for many years resided in the district of York, and was a man of unexceptionable character. The managers, however, believed that he was not intitled to the elective franchise, not be-*n§ “ a fr'ee math” a’s required by the existing provisions 0f the State constitution ; and they had for this reason heretofore refused to receive his vote at elections.
The presiding Judge granted the order for a mandamus ; and a motion was now made to the Court of Appeals, on behalf of the managers, to set aside the said order.
Mills, for the motion.

Opinion:
Colcock, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
It is with regret I find myself obliged to declare, that by the laws of this State, the applicant is not intitled to a vote. He seems to be a man of excellent character, and has been useful to the country, both in a military and a civil capacity. But he belongs to a race of people, who have always been considered as a separate and distinct class, never having been incorporated into the body politic. Whether the policy which lead to this was wise, is a question not for us to decide. Our ancestors thought it so; and all the laws of our State provide for the regulation of their affairs in a peculiar manner. When guilty of of-fences, they are tried by a particular tribunal, and in no respect are they considered as citizens. But above all, our constitution expressly confines the right of voting to free white men; and there can be no doubt that the term was used as contradistin-guishing the white man from the indian, and negro, or mulatto. It is perhaps worthy of the consideration of the Legislature, whether it would not be politic to make exceptions in favour of such individuals as the present applicant; but we have not the authority to do so.
Motion granted.