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

on which his 6 rsi election was maintained TO
be illegal, and manifest usurpa,ioo OF ~
rights Of the p-ople. Il will also, taken IN
'conosction with their Subsequent piocee.
dings, display the llt,le regard which the fed.
ersl rulers OF this State have ior law or de-
ceney:
TO The Honorable tie Senate Of The Unit.
ed Su.es, TO be conrened IN the city Of
Washington on the jonrth day Of
March, II. ID. 1917.
Tbs subsc ibers, citizens and freemen Of
the State of Rhode. Island, humbly petition,
ing, beg leave 10 demonstrate agsius, the ad.
mission 70 seat in you, honorable body, OF
the Hon. Jimes Burriil, jun. certified, as your
me enorisii,,s are Informed, to Save been duly
riec,ed a Senator from this State in the Con-
gress Of the UnIsed States. The principle
On which your memorIai,sts ground their OBJ.
lt c'ions, is, in their estimation, of the hrst
Importance tn the presersationof the peoples
,gh,s against Legislative eocr roachments, and
tJ'ihe prsscrv alton orthe rights Of succeeding
:gislatures against the usurpalicns Of their
9redecsssns. IL meri,s, independent Of tho
case in question, and will undoubtedly receive,
your Honors' candid and deliberate altcntion.
The only permanent legislative provision
OF This State, made pursuant to the 9TH sect.
of the fist art OF the Constitution Of the Unit
d S,a,es,i, in these words:
Whereas by the Con stitution OF the.Un
ed States, Two Senators are 10 be chosen by
he General Assembly, to represent this Stale
in Congress; acd whereas il is provided in
said Constitution, that no person shall be q
Senator who shall not have attained the ege
of thirty years, ana have been nine years
citizen Of the United States. and who shall
not, when elected, be an inhabi,ant OF that
State for which he shall b. chosen; aud that
he times, places and manner OF holding elec.
lions for Senators and Representa,ives shall
be prescribed in each State by the Legisla.
ture thereof: -.
Be i, therefore enacted by the General As
seu'bly, and by the authority thereof II is en-. +.
acted, That the Senators, quail ihcd as alorc-
said, to be elec,ed by the Legislature OF this
Sta.e, shall be elected agreeable 10 the usage
thereof in ne choice Of State officers, by the
General Assembly, joined in grand commit
tee, and not in separate houses"
At the session of the General Assembly in
June last, the same which has declared Mr..
Burrill duly elected Senator, t,e following
nl)-" In General .1ssem6iy, June 81, II. ID.
1916. Resolved. Tha. diis Genera! Assembly
viii proceed in Grand Compitire of both Hou-
ses, at the hresent session thereof to make
choice of Senator to represent his State in
the Scnac Of The United States, for the term
OF six years, to commence on The Jenrth day
Of March nert"--And the said Asse mbIy
did thereupon INN eiateiy proceed TO. elect
the said James Burriil j.. Senator, he be-
ing then Speaker Of Me House Of Represen-
tatiyes, acting in that capacity, end Chief
Justice Of he Supreme Judicpl Court: The
holdirx Of which Offices, simutane ously, was
in direct and open violation of a law OF this
State, which declares, " that no Justice Of the
Supreme judicial Court shall be member
Of either House of the General Assec Aly."
BY tho charter from Charlie. the Second
to the ls,e Colony of Rhoae Island, which is
the only 1vrinen form of government known
in this State, the Representatives Of the peo-
pie IN General Assembly, are supposed 10 be
chosen for every session, two sessions only
being expressly designated by the charter.
Blu, by irmenorial usage, confit med by stat
ute, they are, and have been, chosen semi
annually, tha, is to say--oo the third We'd
nesday in April, whose term Of cfhe com.
menLcs on the fist Wednesday, Of My FOL.
lowing, and continues until tbe last Monday
10 October aud on the last Tue sdsy in Au
gust, whose term commences on the last
Monday in October, and continues until he
frs, Wednesdsy Of Moy The semiapnual
election Of Representatives. in the General
Assembly is therefore an established, and TO
the people of this State, an IN pportant part Of
their constitution.
Your Honors will perceive by This state
ment, that new election OF Representatives
was to take place, long before Mr. Burtili's
Senatorial Office could commence Tha, a
new Legislature was TO meet in October,
bringing with them q new expression Of the
peoples will.--This nezy Legislature, actor
ding to the ordinary course Of proceedings
in this State, will have completed i,s Legs
lative functions before The commence nent Of
Mr. purriIl's Senatorisl Office For vour