Speech #460075472

But when the right to vote at any election for the eboice of electors for Presideni and VicePresident of the United States. Representatives in Congress. the executive and judicial officers of a State. or the members of the Legislators thereof is denied to any at the malt inhabitonts of each State. being twentyocoo years xf age. and citizens of the United States. or in any way ahridgod. eXCept for parhipiatton in rebellion. or other crime. the basis ofrrepresentation therein shall o reduneed in the proportion which the number of each male citizons shall beer to thewhole number of male citizens twent.y.ono years of agoin sorb Slate. That is the clear provision of the Constitution of the United States . and it is expressly declared in the constitution of the gentlemans own State that citizens of the United States are those born in that State or in other States and those naturalized in that State or in other States. Many citizens of the United States in Rhode Island are excluded from the privilege of voting by a property qualification which the Stato has seen fit to establish. This being the fact. there is no reason why the necessary information as to the extent of this exclusion should not be placed before Congress in order that if Congress dooms it proper the representation of th State ion the House of Reprsentatives may he reduced in proportion to the numbermof otherwise qualified citizens whom the State excludes from suffrage by a property qualification.