that in all elections of governor, senators and representatives, "every white freeman of the age of twentyone years, having resided in the State two years next before the election, and within that time paid a State or county tax, which shall have been assessed, at least, six months before the election, shall enjoy the right of an elector. And the sons of persons so qualified shall, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two years, be entitled to vote, although they shall not have paid taxes.”

Maryland. By the constitution formed in 1776, sec. 2, art. 14, "all freemen of twenty-one years of age, having a freehold 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 thirty pounds current money, and having resided in the county, in which they offer to vote, one whole year next preceding the election, shall have a right of suffrage in the election of delegates for such county," and also in the election of electors of the senate.

By an alteration of the constitution made in 1810, art. 14, provision is made "that every free white. male citizen of this State, 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 election at which he offers to vote, shall have a right of suffrage, and shall vote by ballot, in the election. of such county or city, or either of them, for electors of President and Vice President of the United States,

for representatives of this State in the Congress of the United States, for delegates to the general assembly of this State, electors of the senate and sheriffs."

Virginia.

The constitution of 1776, provides that "the right of suffrage, in the election of members of both houses, shall remain as exercised at present." By the laws then in force, the qualifications for the right of suffrage were substantially as follows:

Every male citizen of the Commonwealth, aged twenty-one years, who has an estate of freehold for his own life or the life of another, or other greater estate, in at least fifty acres of land, if no settlement be made upon it; or twenty-five acres with a plantation, and house thereon at least twelve feet square, in his possession or in the possession of his tenant for years, at will or sufferance, in the same county where he gives his vote, or in the county where the greater quantity of land lies, if the same lies in two counties, or where the house shall be; and every such citizen being possessed, or whose tenant for years, at will or sufferance, is possessed of an estate of freehold in land of the value of twenty-five dollars, (and so assessed to be if any assessment thereof is required by law;) and every such citizen, being entitled to a reversion or vested remainder in fee, expectant on an estate for life or lives, in land of the value of fifty dollars, (and so assessed to be if any assessment thereof is required by law;) and every such citizen who shall own and be himself in the actual occupation of a leasehold estate, with the evidence of title recorded two months before he offers his vote, of a

term originally not less than five years, of the annual value or rent of twenty dollars; and every such citizen who, for twelve months next preceding, has been a housekeeper and head of a family within the county, city, town, or borough where he may offer to vote, and shall have been assessed with a part of the revenue of the State the preceding year and actually paid the same, shall be qualified to vote for members of the general assembly in the county, city or borough respectively wherein such land shall lie, or such housekeeper or head of a family shall live." The laws contain some other provisions respecting tenants in common, &c., not material to the present purpose. They also provide, "that the right of suffrage shall not be exercised by any person of unsound mind, or who shall be a pauper, or a non-commissioned officer, soldier, seaman, or marine in the service of the United States, or by any person convicted of an infamous offence."

North Carolina. The constitution established in 1776, sec. 7, provides "that all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the State twelve months immediately preceding the day of election, and possessed of a freehold within the same county, of fifty acres of land for six months next before and at the day of election, shall be entitled to vote for a member of the senate.

And by the 8th section, "All freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and shall have

paid public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for members of the house of commons for the county in which he resides."

South Carolina. The constitution of March 19, 1778, provides, that "the qualification of electors shall be that every free white man and no other person, who acknowledges the being of a God, and believes in a future state of rewards and punishments, and who has attained to the age of twenty-one years, and hath been a resident and an inhabitant of this state for the space of one whole year before the day appointed for the election he offers to gives his vote at, and hath a freehold, at least, of fifty acres of land or a town lot, and hath been legally seized and possessed of the same at least six months previous to such election; or hath paid a tax the preceding year, or was taxable the present year at least six months previous to the said election in a sum equal to the tax on fifty acres of land, to the support of this government, shall be deemed a person qualified to vote for, and shall be capable of electing a representative or representatives to serve as a member or members in the senate and house of representatives for the parish or district where he actually is a resident, or in any other parish or district in this State where he hath the like freehold."

By the constitution of June 3, 1790, art. 1, sec. 4, "every free white man at the age of twenty-one years, being a citizen of this State, and having resided therein two years previous to the day of election, and who hath a freehold of fifty acres of land, or a town lot of which he hath been legally seized and possessed, at

least six months before such election; or not having such freehold or town lot, hath been a resident in the election district in which he offers to give his vote, six months before the said election, and hath paid a tax the preceding year of three shillings sterling towards the support of this government, shall have a right to vote for a member or members to serve in either branch of the legislature, for the election district in which he holds such property or is so resident."

By an amendment to the constitution subsequently made, the right of suffrage is established as follows: "Every free white man, of the age of twenty-one years, paupers and non-commissioned officers, and private soldiers of the army of the United States excepted, being a citizen of the State, and having resided therein two years previous to the day of election, and who hath a freehold of fifty acres of land or a town lot of which he hath been legally seized and possessed at least six months before such election, or not having such freehold or town lot, hath been a resident in the election district in which he offers to give his vote six months before the said election, shall have a right to vote for member or members to serve in either branch of the legislature, for the election district, in which he holds such property, or is so resident."

Georgia. Constitution of February 5, 1777, sec. 9, "All male white inhabitants of the age of twentyone years, and possessed in his own right of ten pounds value, and liable to pay tax in this state; or being of any mechanical trade and shall have been resident six