The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-07-15

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the May session. In placing the militia solely
under the control OF bis Exoeiiency was
wrong, as they, by law, and by the oons,itu-
lion, are under the direction oil the President
of the United States. In sppointing his
Councillors by the General Assembly wes
wrong, they ought to be elected by the peo-
pie. He saw nothing IN The concuc, ct his
.ExcelleDct that tneIited his appreciation lie
therefore should vote against the motion"
The motion was then SO mended, as 10 read
thus, and was passed, eight voting against IT.
Resolved, That the fcreeon report be received
and thai this house 90 approve The ocuIse adopt
ed by Ls Exceency the Governor IN relation 10 the
draft Of militia ordered by tins AsseAoly.'
Thus his Excellency escaped Hhits
Uashng."
The two Houses then met in Joint commit
tee, to elect his Exec ileDcy's Gurdions Hero
they aIe-Hon. Simeon Martin, Christopher
Fowler, Inomas +. Ives, 1homss Noycs,
EphraIn Bowen,l Jun. and John I. Child,
Esquires. The Republicans were no, per-
mitted 10 have one OF the number taken from
among them, so that the 0rsuaI majority Of
the citizeus of this State remain without re-
presentation in that body.
A day OF public humiliation and prayer
was ordered. Several matters of smaller i'm
port were transacled--and the Assembly ad-
leurned.
CITIZEN Sit becomes our pain
IN! duty TO give our opinion upon the extra
ordinary session OF the assembly, and the mo-
tives OF their being specially convened.
What we assert, we declare to be the sol.
emn conviction Of our mind. No inyidous
and acrimonious party feelings impcl US 10
these declal ations. We will ask---what are
the imperious motives that demanded the i'm
mediate convening the Assembly II could
not be TO draft the militia, for that authority
was given to his Excellency in May last ; and
long since his Excelency has appointed offi-
GERS for that portion of them, that might be-
drafted. 1t could not DC ioi the purpose Of
appointing ior.his ExceIlency council, for
the Senate, is the council Of the Governor
1t could not be for the himsy purpose of es~
tablishing alarm posts ; this power is oonce-
ded by :aw 10 his Excellency. 1t could not
be to empower his Excellency to correspond
with the heads OF Experiments. What law,
what custom, what fornality prohibits such
a correspondence 1t could not be 10 su,hor-
ize his Exceliency to apply TO the President
for arms, for 1t is his duty, as Chief Magis-
trate Of the State to do so. To whatever
motive we turn our attention TO discover tho
cause of the Assembly's being convened, we
can discover no clue Tor such procedure,
more especially il we examine the la5ourC6
account detailed "a the isst Ncrcury.-Whas
good has the public derived from this session
extraordinary. We ask those men who are
members of the House 10 explain to the
world, the causes AND motives that impcled
them 10 conyoe oea;iop ct the Assembly lt
unwilling TO instruct us themselye at least d.
rect us some where, that we may obtain a
satisfactory reply. II is in vain. No Just
cause does exist, and the object, plotted in
secret, and matured in darkness, still remains
unaccom plished, as they dare not 10 avow tho
primary motive.
Was the protection of the State IFS objecte
Why then did they refuse to incorporate Col.
Perry's company OF nearly one hundred and
fifty men, and the company from North
Kingstown the major part of the number
of these oompapy's were exempted by law
from military drafts. Nc, fellow-citizens,
these godlike motives, never entered the
hearts OF the leading men of the Assembly.
Something of greater magnitude and Of a.
mother complexion was the motive. We
sincerely believe one ohjec, was 10 gain pos
session OF all the aims belonging 10 the Uni
ted States deposited in this town, that they
might be conhded TO the Governor and his
new council, who would distribute them, a.
greeable 10 their own will. Republicans
how many arms would you in such an event
possess ? Was the Object of the General As
sembly to prescribe the General Govern
ment, and, as a preclude TO that event, day
Of mock humilia, ion and prayer was ordered.
All this will be readily deuied-but says the
Mercury writers--" 1t was highly proper
and important that the General Assembly
should now express their sense OF the true
construction OF the great constitutional power
of calling out the militia" The opinion of
. the General Assembly then, according TO
,ha, writer's notion of the constitution, was,
that the militia at all times is under the i'm
.,aeAia.s can.rcl &C Lis Excallerc.. cxrerf