The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-28

Aninquiry into the oris in OF rights, will de-
monstrate 10 us, that r hts are not the gifts
from one man to another, nor iiom one class
OF men TO another-for who is he, who could
DC the first giver, or by what principle, Oh Oil
what authority could he possess the right oi
giving "A declaration OF rights,is not Gre
alton of them, nor donation of them. IL is
manifest of the principle by which they ex-
is;-folowed by detail OF what the rights
are for every civil right has natural right
tor Its foundation, and it includes the princ-
pie OF reciprocal guarantee of those rights,
from man 10 man. AS therefore il is impos-
possible to discover any origin of rights
otherwise than in the origin OF man, il con-
sequentiy follows that rights apperlain to
man, in right of his existence only, and
must therefore be equal to every man. The
principle of an equality Of rights, is clear
and simple-every man can understand it
and 1t is by understanding his rights, that he
Claims his duiies--for where the rights of
man arc equal, every one must finally bee the
necessity of protecting the rirhts OF others,
as the most effectual security OF his own.
But if in the formation of laws, we depart
from the principle of equal rights, or attempt
any modification of it, we plunge into la5y-
rinth of difficulties from which there is no
way out, but by retreating. Whete are we
to stop! or by what principle are we to find
out the point TO stop at--that shall discrimatc
between men of the same State, part of whom
shall be free, and the rest not If property
Is made the criterion, it is total departure
from every moral principle of liberty, be-
, cause it is attaching right to mere matter,
making man the agent OF, that matter. 1t is
nm hold -c
discord-and not only excitng,but iustifyng
war against it for maintain the principl
that when property isused as an instrument
to take away property, it is used to an unlaw-
fnl purpose, as firearms, would be in SINH
lar case.
" In state of nstdre, all men are equal in
rights, but they are not equal in power--the
weak cannot protect himself against the
strong. This being the case, the institution
Of civil society, is for the purpose of making
an equalization of power, that shall be parel-
lei to, and guarantee Of the equality of
rights. The laws when properly constructed
apply to this purpose. Every man takes the
arm of the law for his protection as more eff
fectual than his own; and therefore every
man has an equal right in the formation of
the government, and of the laws by which
he is to be governed and judged"
There will be some apology for the coDtin-
uance of the election law, as it now stands,
notwi thstanding the whole force Of the fore
going reasonings and conclusions, if one
good reason can be adduced, why every man,
who has attained to the age of twenty
years, natural born citizen of the United
States, or in allegiance to them, in conformity
to the laws of natural zation, who has resided
three months in any town in this State-pays
taxes tor the support of govemment-and is
liable to bear arms, when called on in defence
of his country, ought not to be entitled to
vote in the eIection of representatives from
the town of which he is an inhabitant, to the
General Assembly OF the State. and of State
officers, and Representatives to Congress,
and in the choice of Electors of President
and Vice-President of the United States. In
short why he should not be complete in the
enjoyment of every right appertaining to
citizen of free representative government,
to elect and to be elected / appeal to the
Honourable Members of the General Assem-
bly, of this State, for refutation of this doc
trine, or a revision Of the law in question.
A FREEMAN.