have gone much further and settled a far more
critical question by deciding who shall be voters,
entitled to approve and reject the Constitution
framed by a delegated body under their direction.
la the adoption of no State Constitution has the
assent been asked of any but the qualified voters ;
and women and minors, and other persons not re-
cognized by existing laws have been studiously
excluded. And yet the Constitution has been
deemed entirely obligatory upon them, as well as
upon the minority who voted against it. From
this it will be seen how little even in the most
free of republican governments, any abstract right
of suffrage, or any original or indefeasable privi-
lege has been recognized in practice.
What may best promote the public weal and
secure the public liberty, and advance the public
prosperity in one age or nation, may totally fail of
similar results under local, physical or moral pre-
dicaments essentially different.
" In no two of the State Constitutions will it be
found that the qualifications of the voters are set-
tled upon the same uniform basis. So that we
have the most abundant proof that among a free
and enlightened people convened for the establish-
ing their own forms of government and the rights
of their own voters, the question as to the due
regulation of the qualifications has been deemed a
matter of mere State policy, and varied to meet
the wants' to suit the prejudices, and to foster the
interests of the majority. The subject has been
fully canvassed, as one of mere civil polity, to be
arranged upon such a basis as the majority may
deem expedient with reference to the moral, phys-
ical and intellectual condition of the particular
State."
The clause as it stands in the Constitution was
adopted by a unanimous vote, and the Federalist
remarks : ' ' the provisions made by the Conven-
tion appear to be the best that lay within their
option." The object of this second section is un-
mistakable. There are fifteen States of the Union
having a large negro population, most of whom
have been recently set free from domestic servitude.
The object is to require these States to confer upon
the negro the right of suffrage, or to deprive them

Report of the
Committee.