The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-31 00:00:00

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THE. RHODE: ISLAND DISPUTE.
The New. York Courier;and Enquirer gives the fol-
lowing sketch of the Rhode Island atl'aira, which
have latterly assumed so extraordinary a complexion—
" Rhode Island some one hundred and seventy
years ago obtained; under the auspices of Roger
Williams, the patriarch of its first settlers,. a Char-
ter of Civil Government from Charles the Second
of England.. This Charter was penned by
those who prayed for it, and. was of course made just
as free and just as liberal as those who asked the Royal
sanctinn desired it to be. It granted, and the peo-
ple of Rhode Island lived under it in the most perfect
contentment (so far as the letter of the instrument was
concerned) till the declaration of American Independ-
ence released the people from any obligations to obey
it as a Royal Charter, and upon the adoption of
the United States Constitution, so partial were
the people of tha State to its provisions, and so well
satisfied were they that they could not frame a
better form of Government, that, instead of making a
new Constitution, they adopted the old one, with
such modifications as were consistent with, their
new relations, and the new circumstances under
which they were placed. Nor is it sur-
prising that such should have been the feel-
ings and opinions of the Rhode Islanders, for
there is not a State in the entire Union whose Con-
stitution is so thoroughly democratic as this same
Charter, in all its features. The most thorough free-
dom in all matters, civil and ecclesiastical, is secured.
The broadest liberty in every thing that relates to
man's volition, consistent with the requirements of
civilized society, are guaranteed to the people, and thr
nearly two centuries the citizens have enjoyed as
large a share of happiness and prosperity, social, poli-
tical and personal, as ever MI to the lot of man.
" The thirteen colonies, however, had adopted writ-
ten constitutions of their own penning, and a portion
of the people of Rhode Island, have been for some years
desirous of doing the same thing a and they have from
time to time made efforts to that end. The real citi-
zens, however, the owners of Rhode Island,
thought. they had the
‘right of governing Rhode
Island, and they have Yeaolutely resisted any inno-
vation upon the old Constitution—a Constitu-
tion with which they were well enough satisfied,
and until within a year or two past they have
resisted all attempts to " make very well, ' bet-
ter." There was, however, a very general de-
sire for a new form of Government, and, certain
prominent individuals got together and deter-
mined to have one. They accordingly, of their
own mere motion, called a Convention without the
shadow, and without even the pretension of law, forthe
' purpose of framing it. Persons, calling therw elves dele-
gates, met in Convention, and adopted an instrument
which they denominated a Constitution, and directed it
to be submitted to the people of the State—permitting
every white male inhabitant twenty-one years of age
to vote' on it, and allowing those who could not
be present at the polls to send their ballots.. Under
these circumstances, a majority of votes were reported
to be in favour of it, and orders were given to elect
a Governor and Legislature under the new instru-
ment, which has been done, that is to say, nearly six
thOusand votes were thrown, or purporting to have
been thrown, in favour of certain candidates presented
for their suffrages. •
"In the meantime the lawful Legislature of the
State had passed a law calling a Convention for the
purpose of framing a Constitution. That body met and
did frame one of the most liberal forms of Government
to be found in the world, and submitted it to the people.
This, thought it granted more than the real people of
the State had ever thought of asking before; was op-
pbsed by the demagogues who had made a Constitution
of their own, and by a system of very outrageous de-
ception and unfairness of all sorts, it was rejected by
about six hundred majority of the voters. This
being the case, of course there was no new Consti-
tution, but Rhode Island remained precisely where
she was before—under her old one. The people have
met and elected their Governor and State Officers and
Legislature according to legal and immemorialusage,
by more than seven thousand votes. Thus clearly
showing a majority of upwards of a thousand over
ail that. could be mustered for the unlawful ticket,
allowing that ticket every possible latitude.
" Now, forsooth; the revolutionists declare their de-
terminatioli to take possession of the Government, and
to maintain it by force, against the regularly consti-
tuted Government of the State ! And with this view
they are organizing military companies, training them.
for war, and calling for assistance from other States.
Sympathy for such conduct is more misplaced than it
would. have been for David Shays. The Rhode
Island insurgents have not even the- semblance of a
claim to any other feeling than contempt for their
. countrymen •