USA > New York > Civil List and Constitutional History of the Colony and State of New York > Part 15
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The following questions were submitted to the People during the prevalence of the Constitution of 1821 :
1825 .- On the election of Presidential Electors : By districts ....... ... ...... 66,324 By General ticket, plurality ......... 56,801 Majority ............... 931
1826 .- On electing Justices of the Peace :
For 129,098 Against 1,663 1826 .- On extending the Elective Franchise :
....... 3,215 For 127,077 Against.
I See " Elective Franchise," page 137.
129
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
1833 .- On authorizing the Legislature to reduce the duties on salt :
For .........
93,200 Against ... 7,865
1833 .- On the election of Mayor of the city of New York by the electors thereof:
For. 48,977 Against. 1,936
1835 .- On restoring duties on salt, and on goods sold at auction, to the General Fund :
For 65,126 Against. 8,675 1839 .- On the election of Mayors by the People : For 90,473 Against. 382
1845 .- In relation to the removal of judicial officers: For 111,769 Against .. 3,689 1845, May 5 .- On the abrogation of the property qualification for office : For 111,900 Against. 3,901 1846 .- On the excise act, except in the city of New York : For no license 177,6~3 For license 111.881
The submission of this act to the People was afterward declared unconstitutional by the courts.
CONVENTION OF 1846.
The Constitution of 1821 grew in disfavor with the growth of the State. There was a demand for stability in the conduct of the great interests of the commonwealth, and a feeling that the power in the hands of the Governor and Senate had become too great. The question of ordering a Convention to be held for the purpose of proposing a new Constitution was submitted to the people, November 4, 1845, with the following result :
" For a Convention,".
213,257 "No Convention," .....
33,860
Agrecably to this expression of the popular will an act was passed May 13, 1845, calling the Convention at Albany June 1, following, which met accordingly on that day, and adjourned October 9, 1846.
The new Constitution now limited the discretion of the Legislature in regard to some of the great concerns of the State, extended the Elective franchise, gave the People the selection of most of the gen- eral and local officers which had been appointed by the Legislature, or by the Governor and Senate, and erected an independent Court of Appeals. This last change did away with the sole remaining relic of the Colonial period. The reverence for Law resulted in separating its adjudication entirely from the purely political department of the government. Nowhere else can there be found such implicit regard
17
130
CONVENTION OF 1846.
for Law, such careful securities for its purity and independence The principle is coeval with the colony ; the organism is the growth of our own soil.
DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION.
President-John Tracy. &cretaries - James F. Starbuck, Henry W. Strong, Francis Seger. Sergeant-at- Arms-Hiram Allen. Doorkeeper-Heman R. Howlett.
Albany.
Ira Harris, Peter Shaver, Benjamin Stanton, Ilorace K. Willard.
Allegany.
Genesee.
Willtam G. Angel,
Calvin T. Chamberlain.
Broome.
John Ilyde.
Cuttaraugus. George A. S. Crooker, Alonzo llawley.
Cuyuga.
Daniel John Shaw. Elisha W. Shekion, Peter Yawger.
Chautauque.
Richard P. Marvin, George W. Patterson.
Chemung.
William Maxwell.
Lewis.
Russell Parish.
Orleans.
Tioga. Joli J. Taylor.
Clinton.
Lemuel Stet-on.
Columbia.
George C. Clyde,
Ambrose. L. Jordan.t *
Corlland.
John Miller.
Delaware.
Montgomery.
Queens.
Isaac Burr,
David S. Waterbury.
John Bowdish, John Nellls.
New York.
Stephen Allen,
Win. H. VanSchoonhoven, Perry Warren. Abram Whitbeck.
Richmond.
John T. Harrison.
Rockland. John J. Wood.t
Wyoming. Andrew W. Young.
Essex.
John L. Stephens, Sammel J. Tilden,
Bishop Perkins,
Elijah Spencer,
Those In the Convention who did not sign the engrossed Constitution, are marked thus *. Those whose votes are not recorded on the journal, are marked thus t. All others voted in the ntfirmative.
The new Constitution was submitted to the People November 3, 1846, with the question for the repeal of the property qualification for colored citizens, separately. The following was the result :
Constitution-Yes.
221,523 No. 92.136
Equal suffrage to colored persons-Yes ....... 85,300 No .. 223.534
Solomon Townsend, Alexander F. Vache,t * Campbell P. White.
Niagara. Ilirmn Gardner,t * John W. McNitt.t*
Outinla. .
Hervey Brayton, Julius Candre, Biward Huntington, Charles P. Kirkland.
Onondaga.
Cyrus HI. Kingsley, David Munro,
Elijah Rhoades, William Taylor.
Azel W. Danforth, Alpheu- S. Greene, Eliliu M. MeNiel.
Kings.
Tunis G. Bergen, Henry C. Murphy,
Conrad Swackhammer.
John W. Brown,t * Lewis Cuddeback, George W. Tuthill.
Nulliran. William B. Wright.
Chenango. Elisha B. Smith,t * Jolin Tracy.
Livingston.
Allen Ayrault, William 11. Spencer.#
Madison.
Benjamin F. Bruce, Federal Dana.
Monroe.
Frederick F. Backus, Harry Backus, Enoch Strong.
Putnam.
Gouverneur Kemble.
John L. Riker. Rensselaer.
Wayne. Ornon Archer, Iloratio N. Taft.
Peter K. Du Bois, Charles 11. Ruggles, James Tallmadge.
Westchester.
Erie.
Absolom Bull, Aaron Salisbury, Horatio J. Stow .* Amos Wright.
George S. Mann, Robert II. Morris, Henry Nicoll, Charles O'Conor, Lorenzo B. Shepard,t
St. Lawrence.
Yates.
George A. Shumnons.
Franklin. Joseph R. Flanders. Fulton and Hamilton. John L. Ilutchinson.
Samuel Richmond, Moses Taggart.
Groene.
Robert Dorlon. James Powers.
Herkimer.
Michael Hoffman, Arphaxad Loomis.
Jefferson.
Ontario.
Robert C. Nicholas, Alvah Worden.
Suffolk.
Churchill C. Cambreleng, Abel Huntington.
Orange.
William Peniman. Oswego. Sereno Clark,t * Orris Ilart.t Otsego.
Tompkins. Thomas B. Sears, John Youngs.
Ulster. James C. Forsyth, George G. Graham.
Levi S. Chatfield.t Samuel Nelson.t * David B. St. John.
Warren. William Hotchkiss.
Washington. Albert L. Baker, Edward Dodd.
Dutchess.
William S. Conely, Benjamin F. Cornell. John I1. Hunt.t David R. Floyd Jones, John A. Kennedy.t*
Jolm Leslie Russell, Jonal Sanford.
Saratoga. James M. Cook, Jolm K. Porter.
Schon ctady. Daniel D. Campbell.t
Schoharie. William C. Boock,t* John Gebhard, Jr.
SiReca. Ansel Bascom.
Stuben. Benjamin S Britulage. Robert Campbell, Jr., William Kernan.
John Hunter,t* Auron Ward.
5
131
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE.
The civil and political year begins the first day of January ; the fiscal, the first day of October.
The following questions were submitted to the People subsequent to the adoption of the present Constitution, and prior to the vote ordering a new Convention, had in 1866 :
1849 -- On the adoption of the Free School law : For 219,572 Against .. 91,951
1850 -- On the repeal of the new School law :
For . 1$4.208 Against. .. 209,317 1854, February 15-To provide for the more speedy completion of the canals :
For amending the Constitution ... 185,771 Against. 60,526
1858, April 17-Shall there be a Constitutional Convention ? For 135,166 Again-t .... 111,526
1859, November 8-On a loan of $2,500,000 to pay the floating debt :
For. 123,370 Against ...
.... 77,166 1860, November 6-On egnal suffrage to colored persons : For 197,505 Against. 337,931 1864, March 8-Allowing absent electors in the military service of the United States to vote :
For. 258,795 Against. . 48,079
1865, March 14-Providing for appointment of five Commission- ers of Appeals : For 56,4~6 Against .....
....... .. 81,532
1865, November 7-Aet to create State debt :
For
393,113
Against.
.....
48,665
CONVENTION OF 1867.
In compliance with the provisions of the Constitution (art. 13, $ 2), the question, "Shall there be a Convention to revise the Consti- tution, and amend the same?" was submitted to the electors of the State, at the general election held in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-six. The vote was officially declared as follows : For. 332,-51 Against . 236,361
Being thus directed by the Constitution, and the will of the Pco- ple, the Legislature, in 1867, provided for the election of Delegates to revise the organic law of the State, which was held April 23, of that year. Thirty-two Delegates at large were chosen, electors being restricted to sixteen names upon their ballots, thus securing equal representation, so far as these Delegates were concerned, to the two political parties of the day. The Convention met in the Assembly
132
CONVENTION OF 1867.
Chamber, June 4, 1867, and adjourned sine die, February 28, 1868. In the meantime, an adjournment had been had from September 24 to November 12, 1867. The meetings of the Convention which were had contemporaneous with the sessions of the Legislature were , held in the Chamber of the Common Council of the city of Albany, through the courtesy of the members of that body.
DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION.
President-Willlam A. Wheeler.
Secretary-Luther Caldwell.
Sergeant-at-Arms-Samuel C. Plerce.
Lit Large.
Chark, Andrews,* llenry D. Barto.t Tracy Beadle .*
Marshall B. Champlain, ileury O. Chesebro,t Sanford E. Church. t George F. Comstock, Era-tus Cooke,* George William Curtis,* Angu-tus J. H. Duganne,* William M. Evarts, Charles J. Falger.#
Angustu. Frank,# Horace Greeley, Jacob Hardenbergh,t Ira larris, * Waldo Hutchins,* Francis Kernan, George Law. John Magre, Joseph G. Masten, Henry C. Murphy,t Homer A. Nelson, t George Opdyke,* Alonzo C. Paige, Erasta, S. Prosser,* Augustus Schell, + David L. Seymour, Martin 1. Townsend,* Joshua M. Van Cott,* Smith M. Weed, William A: Wheeler.
First District.
Erastus Brooks, Selah B. Strong, Solomon Townsend,* William Wickham.t
Second District. Dandel P. Barnard,t Walter 1 .. Livingston,t Charles Lowrey, John P. Rolfe.t
Third District.
Tennis G. Bergen,t Stephen 1. Calhan.t Jolm G.Schumaker, f William D. Veeder. t
Fourth District.
John E. Burrill, Charles P. Daty.t Sammel B. Garvin,t Abraham R. Lawrence, Jr.
Fifth District. Elbridge T. Gerry, Nathaniel Jarvis, Jr., Henry Rogers.t Norman Stratton .*
Sixth District.
Magnus Gross.t Frederick W. Loew. Abraham D. Russell, Gideon J. Tucker.t
Serenth District.
James Brooks, Edwards Pierrepont, Anthony L. Robertson. Samuel J. Tilden.
Eighth District.
John E. Develin,t William litehman,t Richard L. barremore, Claudin > L. Monell.
Ninth District.
Robert Cochran. Abraham B. Conger,t William 11. Morris,t Abraham B. Tappen.
Tinth District.
Stephen W. Fullerton,* William H1. Houston,* *Clinton V. R. Ludington, Gideon Wales. *
Eleventh District. B. Platt Carpenter, John Stanton Gould,* Francis Sylvester, ?: Wilson B. Shellon.
Tuy lith District. Cornelin - 1. Allen,* *Jonathan P. Armstrong, John M. Francis, * *Adolphus F. Hitchcock.
Thirteenth District. William Cassidy, t Erasmus Corning.t Amasa J. Piker, t James Roy.t
Fourteenth District. Manly B. Mattice,t
Ezekiel P. More.t Marins Schoomnaker. Solomon G. Young.
Fifteenth District. Hezekiah Baker .* Jud-on S. Landon,# Alembert Pond,* Horace E. Smith.+
Sixteenth District. Nathan G. AxuAl, George M. Beckwith .* Andrew J. Cheritree,* Matthew Hate."
Seventeenth District. William C. Brown .* Edwin A. Merritt,* Leslie W. Russell,* Joel J. Scaver."
Eighteenth District. James A. Bell, * Maren- Bicklord,* Balward A. Brown,* Milton 11. Merwin. *
Nin teenth District. Theodore W. Dwight. Benjamin N. Huntington. Richard U. Sherman, George Williams."
Twentieth District.
Oliver B. Beals, + John Eddy # Elijah E. Ferry,$ Ezra Graves .*
Twenty- first District. Lester M. Case,* Loring Fowler,* M. Lindley Lee, Ehas Root .*
Twenty-second District. Thomas G. Alvord,* Harnio Ballard. Patrick Corbett,* I. Harri , Hiscock, 1 Frank Hiscock. 2
Twenty-third District. John Grant,* Hobart Krum,*
Samuel F. Miller,* Elizur HI. Prinalle. *
Twenty-fourth District. Mito Goodrich, Stephen D. Hand,* Oliver 11. P. Kmney,* Charles E. Parker.4
Twenty-fifth District. Ornon Archer.+ Charles C. Dwight,* Leander S. Kotcham,* George Rathla.
Twenty-sixth District. Sterling @. Hadtev .* Elbridge G. Lapham,* *Melanethon Il Lawrence Angus McDonald.+
Twenty-se reuth District Elijah P. Brooks, * Abraham Lawrence,* David Rumsey, George T. Spencer. *
Treaty-eighth District. Freeman Clarke. " Lorenzo D. Eh * Jerome Fallet .* William A. Reynobls.#
Twenty-ninth District. Lovi F. Bowen, * Ben For.td .* Thomas T. Flagler,* Seth Wakeman.+
Thirtieth District. Isaac L. Endress .* Edward J. Farnum,* John M. Hammond .* William H1. Merritt.+
Thirty-first District. George W. Clinton,* Israel T. Hatch, Ven Potter. Isaac A. Verplanck.t
Thirty-second District, Angusms F. Allen .* Norman M. Allen,$ George Barker. George Van Campen .*
Members of the Convention voting in favor of the adoption of the Constitution are marked this *. Tho- opposed, thus f; all others were absent, or did not vote.
1 Killed in Stanwix Hall, June 4, 1867.
2 Elected June 5, 1867, to till vacancy.
13:
VOTES BY THE PEOPLE.
The proposed Constitution was rejected by the people in 1569, except the Judiciary article. The following was the vote :
Subjects.
Constitution ..
l'ir. Aminst. 290, ( .. ) Judiciary article 26.210 210.02
Tax article. 1-3,-12 27.5. 200
Property qualification for colored per-ons. 2:2, 103 20,002
The question of finding the canal debt was submitted to the peo- ple in 1870, by an act passed April 25, with the following result : Funding the canal debt -- For ........ 253, 992 Against 329,25;
The Legislature in 1872 (ch. 700), passed an act to submit to the prople the question of creating a State debt to pay deficiencies, not exceeding $6,600,000. The vote resulted as follows : To create a State debt - For.
Against 32,758 The act in pursuance of which the above vote was had was declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeals, May 6, 1-73.
The Legislature by an act passed May 17, 1872 (ch. 757), sub). mitted to the people the question of anthorizing the extension of the terms of the Commissioners of Appeals, not exceeding two years, which was agreed to, by the following vote : For 176,015 Against 9, 196
The new Judiciary article required the Legislature to submit to the people, at the general election to be held in 1873, two questions. as follows: 1. " Shall the office of Chief Judge and Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals, and of Justices of the Supreme Court, be hereafter filled by appointment ?" 2. "Shall County Judges and Surrogates, and Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the city of New York, of the Superior Court of the cities of New York and Buffalo, and of the City Court of Brooklyn, be hereafter filled by appointment ?" Both questions were decided in the negative : First question - Yes ... 115,887 No ........ 319,99 Second question - Yes. 110, 725 No ......... 319, 60 The Legislature of 1879 (ch. 320), submitted to the people the question of amending the Constitution so as to authorize an addi- tional Justice of the Supreme Court in the second judicial district, and the Constitution was thus amended, by the following vote : For 95,3.1 AAgain-1 25,573
The Legislature of 1550 (ch. 491), submitted to the people the question of amending the Constitution so as to authorize the detail- ing of Judges of the City Court of Brooklyn to hold circuits and special terms of the Supreme Court in Kings county ; and to provide that Judges of the Court of Appeals and Justices of the Supreme Court who may be retired under the constitutional limitation of age, and who shall have served ten years or more, shall receive the full amount of their salary during the remainder of the terms for which they were elected. The amendments were adopted by the following : For . 221, 903 111,225
134
VOTES BY THE PEOPLE.
The Legislature of 1882 (ch. 229) submitted to the people the question of amending the Constitution so as to abolish tolls imposed on persons and property transported on the canals, and providing by taxation for the expenses of their maintenance and repairs, and for the payment of the interest and extinguishment of the principal of the canal debt. The same Legislature by an act passed June 10, 1882 (ch. 343), submitted to the people the question of amending the Constitution so as to provide for organizing the Su- preme Court, not more than five General Terms, and for the elec- tion of two additional Justices thereof, in the First, Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Judicial Districts, and one additional Justice in the Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth Judicial Districts, the Justices so elected to be invested with their offices on the first Monday of June, 1884. The amendments were adopted by the following vote :
Abolition of tolls ... Additional Justices
For . 4×6, 105 248, 751 Against. 16.3, 151 75,614
The Legislature of 1884 (ch. 533) submitted to the people the question of amending the Constitution so as to prohibit counties, cities, towns and villages from giving or loaning their property or credit except for county, city, town or village purposes. The amendment not to prevent provision being made for the aid or support of the poor. No county containing a city of 100,000 in- habitants, or any such city shall become indebted for any purpose to an amount, which, including existing indebtedness, shall exceed ten per centim of the assessed valuation of the real estate of such county or city subject to taxation. The amendment was adopted by the following vote :
For ....................... 499,661 Against .... .............. 9,161
135
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION.
CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION.
The Constitution, framed by the Convention of 1867, contained several provisions, the essential principles of which were felt to be desirable in the organic law. Among these, we may mention, the clause forbidding the Legislature to audit claims, and the sections relative to the Public Works and Prisons. Governor Hoffman, therefore, in his anual message to the Legislature of 1872, recom- mended that a commission of thirty-two eminent citizens, to be made up by selection of an equal number from each of the two great political parties, be created, for the purpose of effecting a thorough revision of the Constitution. The Legislature (Laws 1872, ch. 884) acted upon the suggestion, by empowering " the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to designate thirty-two persons, four from each judicial district, who shall constitute a Commission for the purpose of proposing to the Legislature, at its next session, amendments to the Constitution ; provided that no amendments shall be proposed to the sixth article thereof." Vacancies were to be filled by the Governor and Secretary of State. Salary, ten dollars a day, for not exceeding fifty days.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
Chairman - Robert HI. Pruyn. Clerk - Hiram Calkins. Assist int Clerk - Diedrich Willers, Jr. Argent-at- Arms- Janis MeIntyre. Doorke per - Stephen Deltz.
First District.
George Oimlvke. Augusitis Schell. John J. Townsen 1, Juhu D. Van Buren.
Sound District.
John J. Anın-trong, Era-tu- Brouk-, Olle Close. Benjamin D. Siiliman.
Third District, Robert HI. Pruyn, George C. Bupleit, William Ca -- ily, 1 Joseph B. H.u.2 Cornelius L. Tracy.
Fourth District. Janies M. Undley, Elward W. Foster, Samuel W. Jick wohl, Artemas B. Walio.
Fijth District. Francis Kernan, El W. Leavenworth, Ralph M. Intosh, Daniel Pratt. Arth District. John F. Ilutibard, Jr., Barna R. Johnson, Jona, M. Preston, Lucitis Robinson.
Seventh District. George B. Bradley, Horace V. Howland, Van R. Richmond, David Runiwes, 3 Lysander Farrar.i Eighth District. Cyrus E. Davis. Lorenzo Morris. Benjamin Prinzte, Sherman S. Rogers.
The Commissioners assembled in the Common Council Chamber of the city of Albany December 4, 1572, and adjourned sine die March 15, 1873. The results of their deliberations were submitted to the Legislature of 1873, by which (after some modifications) the proposed amendments were referred to the Legislature of 1574, pursnant to the Constitution (art. xiii, $ 1), which Legislature sub- mitted to the people at the general election to be held in 1874 (Laws 1874, ch. 330) the amendments agreed to by it. The Fifth Article as proposed by the Commission, provided for the appointment, by
1 Born in Albany, Angust 12, 1$15; died January 23, 1-73.
2 A: pointed in place of Cassidy, deceased.
3 Resigue l January 9, 1873.
1 Appointed in place of Rumsey, resigned.
136
THE MATURED SYSTEM.
the Governor and Senate, of Secretary of State, Attorney-General, State Engineer and Surveyor, Superintendent of Public Works and Superintendent of Prisons ; and for the election of State Treasurer by the Legislature, with other changes. This article was not approved by the Legislature, and was not submitted to the people. The disa- greement in the Legislature upon this article resulted in the post pone- ment of the important amendments relating to the Superintendent of Public Works and Superintendent of Prisons and providing for their appointment by the Governor, by and with the advice and con- sent of the Senate. These amendments were submitted to the people in 1876, and were adopted by them. The votes in 1874 and 1876 were as follows :
Year.
Subjects.
For.
Against.
1>71
Suffrage and bribery
357.635
177.033
1-71
Legislation and its organization .......
325,904
20,09
1-71
Powers and forms of Legislature.
135,313
95.000
Governor and Lieutenant-Governor
3.26.197
196,125
1-71
Finance and canal ...
425,190
101.139
1×71
Corporations, local liabilities and appropriations.
317. 91
191,236
1×1
State appropriations ..
336,237
195,017
1-71
Compensation of certain officers.
335,51%
191.933
1871
Oath of officer
352,511
179,365
151
Relating to official corruption.
351,63
177.923
1-71
Time to take rileet
416,553
25.555
1576
Public Works.
533.153
81,832
1576
Prisons.
530,226
THE MATURED CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM.
We have now completed our sketch of the evolution of the New York system of administration. The vital principle has been, from the first, a goverment by the People, through their own chosen agencies, regulated by law. One form of organism after another has con- tributed to the more perfect working of this principle. Written Constitutions define and limit the powers of the various departments, and direct the general policy of the State. The powers of the Gov- ernor have been settled with the view of rendering him an efficient ageney in securing the public welfare, without investing him with autocratic powers. The Legislative department has not the suprem- acy once claimed for it, but it is theoretically so constituted as to represent all the varied interests of the State. The general adminis- trative officers are chosen by the People, and the heads of depart- ments mainly appointed by the Governor and Senate. The Judici- ary, as the interpreters of constitutional as well as statutory law, derive their authority direct from the people. Thus the system of goverment in this State is a popular system, as distinguished alike from Parliamentary government and Executive government. The development of this system will be traced, in each department.
137
RESTRICTIONS UPON SUFFRAGE.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The Charter of Liberties, passed in 1691, provided that " every freeholder within this province, and free man in any corporation, shall have a free choice and vote in the electing of the Representa- tive," and that "by freeholder is to be understood every one who shall have forty shillings per annum in freehold." The veto of this act in 1697 was followed by the passage of an act relative to the election of Representatives, at the first session of the Seventh As- sembly. Electors were required to be residents of the electoral district for at least three months prior to the issue of the writ, and to be possessed of a freehold worth $40. Catholics were not per- mitted to vote, nor to be elected to office, and Quakers and Moravi- aus were virtually subject to the like disqualification at first, and until they were allowed to affirin. The elections were held by the Sheriff at one place in each conty, and voting was rica roce. Minor local officers were the only ones chosen, except Representa- tives in General Assembly.
The framers of the First Constitution adopted a clanse that " whereas we are required by the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but also to guard against that spiritual oppression and intolerance wherewith the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind," therefore, " the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, withont discrimination or preference, shall forever hereafter be allowed within this State, to all mankind. Pro- vided that the liberty of conscience hereby granted shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices in- consistent with the peace or safety of this State." The Governor, Lientenant-Governor and Senators were chosen by freeholders, being actual residents, and possessed of freeholds of the value of £100, over and above all debts charged thereon. Male inhabitants who had resided within one of the counties of the State for six months preceding the election, were entitled to vote for Membersof Assem- bly, provided they owned, within the county, a freehold of £20, or paid a yearly rent of forty shillings, and were rated and actually paid taxes. By an act passed April 9, 1811, these values were changed to corresponding sums in the Federal currency, viz .: $250, $50 and $5. This was an extension of the elective franchise, as liberal as conservative men could be expected to make, in a day of great and important experiments in government. No discriminations
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