The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-03-12

the spirit oi the Constitution, the Sc majors in
Congress ought not TO represent the interests
and feelings OF the people, as they exnt at
the Time Of their cominy into office.
The principle for which your memorialists
contend, has ever, in tbis State, until the haze
election OF Mr.. Is. been deemed sacred. No
party, 20 feelings, no interest, has ever be-
fore emboldened any one 10 spproach this sa-
cred landmark Of the peoples rightt; this
safeguard 10 Q due expression ot their will
for the time beihg.-For, your me norialists
humbly copceive, that The members of both
branches oil Congress, ale TO carly with them
the sentiments OF the people, as they exist
when taey come into cffice nor rs they may
have existed years or months before nor a.
any NJ suppose they viH exist, years or
monlhs O come. This is not tie Legitimate
representation Of treemen il is its mock
shew, but the reality OF usutpation. 80
Your tnemorialists would fh'ther state, as
sn expression of the sense oi the people Of
this State on this subjec,, that by The act, .
part Of which is before reciied, the Repre-
sentatisss from this Ssale iu Congress are TO
be chosen on the same day on which Repre-.
scniatives TO the General -asse mbiy are cbos-
en-, who represent the people frUln October
and Senators 10 Congress, from this State,
represen, the views and interests Of the peo-
pie, ss they arc felt u, one and the same time
being expr ressed by themselves in the choice
Of their Representatives to Congress, and by
their Representatives in General Assembly
in the choice Of their Senators.
Your memoriaiists are aware, that 10 some
Of the States, Senators are chosen in June,
whose offices Commence the March following.
But in those States, us your memorials, are
Informed, no new representation in Genersl
Assembly takes place, before the com mencc-
mcot Of the Senatorial If.ice. Thi, fleets not
the principle for which your memorialists cen
tend.--They admit thar any Legislature may
elec, to the Office OF Senator, If that office COM
mence during the existence OF the electing
Legislature. But may Legislature elect a
Senator, when q new Legislature shall inter-
vene, before such Senator shall come into Of
nee II they may, how long before the
being Of such ncrr Legislature may they {.
lect
Our present Senator, M. Hnntcr's term
OF Office will expire on the third day Of March
a. ~. 1921. Will il be competent for The
Legislature Of this State, al a session in
March or April, 1870, to elect q successor to
Mr. Hunter fso, then will such success.
sor be elected by o Legislature, which will
be socccesled by f'Yo new Legislatures, before
such successor Can come into office, viz one
nee.ing in Msy and Gro in Oc,oLcr follow.
ing. II not, wheh shall the time arrive when
1t will be competent for the Legislature of
this State 10 eT ect a successor 10 MIR. II
And by what principle shall that time Le as.
80 ,Sx.;s
session IN MAy, 1920, by mock conformity
to the constitution, resolve, that we will at the
present SESSION proceed 70 the election OF
Senator TO succeed M. Hun'er snd may
they carry that resolution into effect! WHY
then might not the preceding Legislature,
meeting in March or April, have done the
same, and thus ,rsmple the principle OF
Representation under the feet OF Aris,ocra.
eyf fnd by. what principle could such an
election have been declm ed void
Your memoii, ,Iists, with view further to
illustrate the subject, would ask, would j,
have been competent for the Legislature Of
Massachusetts, whose legal existence termi
mated the day preceding The last W.dne sdsy
OF My, 1916, and whose me mbcrs arc cbos-
en- snouniiy,to have met m he doy preceding
their dissolution, o. on .,y day in the month
OF March or April preceding, and 10 have
electeds successor TO Mr.. Varnum! Had
such been the case, would no, oil candid men
have considered IL an open violation OF prin.
eiple, and usurpaiion Of rhe righrs Of the new
Legislature. meeting the said last Wednes.
day Of Msyf
To state the principle in q s,ill stronger
point OF view; Nay the Legislature Of a
State whose Rcp.e escntatiees are chosen
oiennialy, meet on ibe dsy or month preeed.
ing their dissolution, AID elect a Senator
whose term Of Office shall commence the
year following! Then, in such case, will
nine years expire between the last exprcssion
OF the peope's will, by their own act, and the
operation OF new expression Of their will
by succeeding election, s'though their Sen.
ators, be in fact chosen for term Of six years
only. This, pour memorislists conceive 20 be
trc fair and Legitimate consequence Of the