Year: 1867

From the Miavilte Repablican]


Mr.. NEwLIN, Dear SIR I'm your issue of
last week there were some structures upon
the members who voted against striking the
word "whiteo from the Constitution of New
Jersey, as the papers state the question.


With your permission, and in accordance
with your friendly suggestion, will explain
and give the reasons which think justified
my action.


The division among the Republican MEM
bers OF the Legislature was not SO much
upon the question of impartial suffrage as
upon the means by which it can best be
brought about. There were few opposed
to the agitation of the question at the present
time, and these would, probably, have voted
against the proposition in any form but,
with others, the vote indicated only differ
ence OF opinion as to the method proposed,
not the object. This difference arose from the
popularity OF our Constitution with. regard
to amendments. The Legislature cannot.
as can be done in most of the States, agree
to an amendment and submit it to the people
at once, but it has to be acted upon fayora-
bly, by the Legislature in two successive
years, and then not less than four months
afterwards be submitted to the people for
ratification or rejection, and amendments
can be submitted only once in fire years. (See
Article TX, Con. of N. J.)


The objection which l had to the resolution
in question, was that it proposed only one
amendment to our Constitution when there
are several others needed equally as much,
and five adopted this one alone, we would
thereby be precluded from making any
other amendments for fire years to come.


We greatly need change in our Consti-
tuition whereby members of the Legislature
may receive for their services more than the
niggardly pittance of one dollar and half
per day for about two-thirds of the time
spent in the service of the State, and thus be
relieved from the odium annually heaped
upon them for making appropriations that
are Unconstitutional, to save themselves
from actual loss.


We greatly need a change whereby citi-
zens who come here from another State may
not be disfranchised for one whole year.


We greatly need a change whereby our
soldiers when absent from the State in the
service of the United States may be allowed
to vote.


There are several other amendments of
not less importance which the people will
make as soon as opportunity is offered. The
three amendments above named are highly
important, and ought to have been embraced
III any legislative action tOwaads amend
ing the Constitution. The friends of several
amendments instead of one only.. prepared
and introduced into the Legislature a bill
providing for the election of delegates to form
Constitutional Convention that should
meet in May, and prepare new Constitu-
ton, (which would probably embody most
ofthe present one, with thenecessary amend
ments lncorporated) to be submitted to the
people for ratification or rejection in August
next By this means everv necessary
change could be effected, including impartial
suffrage, If the people SO will it, for it would
probably be the leading issue in the election
OF delegates to such Convention. Not only
could impartial suffrage be attained in this
way, but could be attained nearly two wears
sooner than by the other method. Some of
the leading legal minds of the, State-the
| Attorney General among them-th thought the
bill contained provisions that were not strict
ly Constitutional, and acting upon such ad-
vice the bill was withdrawn, and resolu-
ton embodying the same object was propos-
ed in its stead. That resolution had been Or
dered to third reading and was ready to be
| voted upon, when the resolution which was
defeated came up, and it was my decided
preference for the one which led me to op-
pose the other. We were prevented coming
to vote on the second resolution by the press
| OF other business and the preference given
to private bills at the close of the session,


My preference for the proposition to re.
model the present Constitution of the State
was declared early in the session, or as soor
as the question came up at all, and the Judi
ciary Committee, OF which happened to be
Chairman, We're unit on the subject and SC
Wv
can members of the Committee were a unit
for the Democratic members opposed ali
| such movements in any shape. The papers
| have generally stated that the Legislature
| refused to strike out the word "white" from
the Constitution of the State; but it is not
| within the province of the Legislature to
strike out that word, or any word. if all the
members should vote for it. The resolution
simply proposed to do it at some future time.
that is in the year eighteen hundred and six
ty-nlne, II majority of the people agree to
it. IN the meantime the resolution would
have to be acted upon by the next Legisla-
ture, which might adopt it, or not. and if if
should not the whole project would fail.


Inc better and safer method is to proceed
directly to the work by means of Constitu-
tlonal Conyention-as the people of New
YORK propose to do-that can make all the
necessary changes at once, without contin-
gencles or delays, and, although not a pro-
phet or the son of prophet, 1 venture to
predict that it will be the plan eventually
agreed upon to secure the rights of suffrage
for ALL


The position of the party on the suffrage
question will be formerly set forth in a cir
cular soon to be issued, and to which the
names OF nearly all the members of the last
Legislature will be attached When il an
pears, there will no longer be any doubts or
misunderstanding of the position of any one
ON this issue.


l claim to be second to no one in firm
adherence to the doctrine of universal equal
lty before the law. here proclaim anew
my hdellty to that principle, and only differ
from some of my brethren as to the best
mode of accomplishing the end sought. I
disclaim any fellowship or affiliation with
those who demand any suffrage test other
than manhood and citizenship. I never
have acted and never shall act with any but
the advanced wing OF the Republican party,
and I desire my constituents to understand
my position, and make up their judgments
upon my course with all the facts before
them, and in order that they may the better
do this, l have deemed it advisable to send
you this communication, -


Very respectfully yours, &c.,,


JAMES TT NryoN