Extension Of The Right Of Suffrage

- By the present constituiion of this Stal the right of suffrage so far as persons o color ate concerned, s limitted to thos possessed of a freehold qualification. - Many petitions have been presented t the legislature at the present session, in favor of extending this right, toall coloree persons who may be residents of the State and the Committee to whom the subjec was referred, have reported in favor o such extensión. There ís, therefore, a probability that those colored persons who have heretofore been debarred from exercibïng the right of suffrage for no othe reason, than because they were a had or two darker in complexion than the majority of the inhabitants of the State, wil at last have justice done them. We are sorry to perceive, however, tha the Aibany Argus opposes the propose( extensión of the right of suffrage. Every one would suppose that a journal so claraorous as the Argus has always been in fa vor of what it chooses to desígnate as the "rights of man," and that advocates so strongly the loosest possible method tha can be devised of holding elections, wouU certainly not object to American bom cit zens, exercising a right which it professe to consider "invaluable." But such, ow ing probably to the inconsistency of human nature, is actually the case, and the soi-disant champion of the largest liberty, is now found an-ayed against a measure providing that free Americans shall be entitled to the exercise of the right of suffrage. Such is Van Burenism, as exemplified in the character of one ot its chief priests.The free colored inhabitants of this State, and of the Northern States generally, are a race of men, ofwhora nopeople need be ashamed. Faithful, afFection ate, and intelligent, among thetn may be found many of the most exemplary characters with whom we are daily thrown in contact . Their exertions to improve their condition, and edúcate their children, are worthy of all praise, and might be followed with advantage by many whose external complexion is of a lighter shade than their own. In most of the free States, no distinction is made at the polls between men of different colors. Why shouU there be in New York? Are we Iess democratie, or Iess philanthropic, than Massachuseils or New Hampshire? No citizen of the State will acknowledge that we are. Why then delay ionger an act o] justice to a large and respectable portion of our fellow citizens, already too long