above twenty-one years of age, and no other,
having resided twelve months within this State
and six months in the county, or in the city of
Annapolis or Baltimore, next preceding the elec-
tion at which he offers to vote, shall have a right
of suffrage, and shall vote by ballot, in the elec-
tion of such county or city, or either of them, for
Electors of the President and Vice President of
the United States, for representatives in this State
or the Congress of the United States for Dele-
gates to the General Assembly of this State *
* * and sheriffs.
Judge CHAMBERS reminded the Convention that
the instrument from which the gentleman from
Cecil had read his amendment was not the origi-
nal Constitution of 1776, but was comparatively
a late affair, (1809.) The language of the old
Constitution was very different as may be seen by
a reference to the proceedings on its adoption.
The language of the old Constitution runs thus :
" All freemen, above twenty-one years of age,
having a free-hold of fifty acres of land in the
county in which they offer to vote and residing
therein, and all freemen having property in this
State above the value of £30 current money, and
having resided in the county in which they offer
to vote one whole year next preceding the elec-
tion, shall have a right of suffrage in the election
of delegates for such county."
He supposed that when the amendment was
made which had just been submitted, it was be-
cause we required citizenship, which was not re-
quired in the old Constitution. That. instrument
only required that persons should be residents of
the State—it also used only the word "free,"
not "free white," Conceive the phraseology
altered in the slightest possible degree, what
would be the effect? We have citizens of the
State certainly; as nothing is more common than
to pass laws to enable foreigners to hold estates
Now he did not desire to insert any language
which does not convey the precise idea intended
to be conveyed. He wished it to be distinctly
indicated what a citizen of the State is. He
hoped the gentleman from Cecil would see the |
the Constitution, be entitled to vote at every
public election in the election district where his
residence may have been established
days preceding such election, and not elsewhere."
The Chair suggested that that amendment
would be in order after the one now pending
shall have been disposed of.
The CHAIR stated the question.
Mr. DONALDSON proposed to insert the time,
and moved to fill the blank with sixty days.
Mr. MCHENRY suggested that a vote should
first be taken on the principle.
Mr. DONALDSON. No, Sir—it is a practical,
matter as to the length of time.
After some conversation, Mr. MCHENRY
moved to fill the blank with ten days.
Mr. PHELPS moved thirty days,
The question was taken on inserting sixty days,
and was rejected.
And the question was taken on inserting thirty
days, and rejected.
And the question was taken on inserting ten
days and rejected.
Mr. BROWN enquired of the Chair, whether it
would now be in order to move an amendment
to the proposition of the gentleman from Kent,
(Mr. CHAMBERS.)
The Chairman said it was not now in order.
The pending proposition had not yet been dis-
posed of.
Mr, MCHENRY enforced the propriety of the
adoption of his amendment, by reference to the
changes which were proposed to be made in the
new Constitution, and the elections which would
grow out of them; and he defended it against the
supposition that there was anything in it which
would interpose new restrictions upon voters.
Mr. PHELPS said the object of the amendment
he had proposed was to put the wards of the
City of Baltimore, on a footing with the counties.
We have been told that the frauds do not usually
grow out of fraudulent naturalization papers,
but from the same individuals casting their votes
at different places. He wished to reach this |
