Author: (The State of New York).
Title: The Constitution of the State of New York. [a Printed Copy of the Working Draft of the Constitution Which Was Subsequently Submitted to the Voters Together with a Separate Ballot Proposing Suffrage for People of Color].
Description: 1846. 1846. 1846. 1846. Fair. - Octavo, 9-3/4 inches high by 6-1/4 inches wide. Softcover, bound in printed self-wraps. Disbound with loose signatures. The edges of the cover leaves are chipped with loss to the corners and a small hole at the top. The rear cover leaf is stained. 58 pages. The edges of the pages are chipped with pieces out from the corners. An early owner's name is penned on the cover page. A fair complete copy of the proposed constitution of the State of New York. A working draft of New York's Constitution which called for a ban on "cruel and unusual punishment": "Section 5. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor shall cruel and unusual punishment be inflicted, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained." This draft includes "An amendment in relation to the equal suffrage of colored persons, separate from those incorporated in the engrossed constitution, is also submitted to be voted upon at the same time, with a separate ballot, which is to be deposited in a separate box." The constitution was submitted for a vote in November 1846 with a separate ballot granting suffrage to African-Americans submitted separately. Although the constitution was approved the ballot granting "equal suffrage of colored people" was rejected. African American men did not achieve equal voting rights in New York until 1870. Fair .

Keywords: AMERICANA; AFRICAN-AMERICAN; NEW YORK STATE; BAN OF CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT; THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; WORKING DRAFT; 19TH CENTURY; NINETEENTH CENTURY; EQUAL SUFFRAGE OF COLORED PERSONS; BLACK STUDIES; HISTORY.


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