The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-09-16
A9lsreiIantIIyII. D.
THE LAW OF suFFRAcE.-lNo !.
For rde X. 4. RefuSilcon.


That revision cf many Of ouS-statvss laws
Is highly pecessa.y, muss appear obvious to
cvsfy discerning mind Some Of them, lram-
ed 10 fofmcr tinsos, and under ,irc iofuenec
OF government different from that which
we now enjoy, were founded on principles
which arc no longer Recognized by afcce peo-
pie. Othc. are proved by experience TO be
imperfect and ineligible, and not suited TO
the prcscnt improved state OF society. Hence
ao emeDdWent, or father q radical alter alton,
appca' 5, Ia numerous instances, TO be abso.
iu,ely requisi,e. The subject certainly de-
maDds serious attention, and 1t Is hoped our
Legislature will consider il with that regard
which its importspce seems 10 require.
ITO fsEr-a survey Of the whole OF our mu.
nfsipal laws, snc point cut the val ious defects
which seen 10 prrvadc a great portion oi
Them, you'd be "a Iabosous task. The at
tempt would undoubtedly be useless, as such
geuerahrhangc would nee, tho united op.
POSITION Of Ignorance, pee jsdice, self interest,
and tho corrupt views ct designing cbarac-
sers. This Improvement mus, be a work oi
time, gradually supyeftiDg I" ,yrant custom"
and long established errors. The period,
however, having arrived, when reform may
be trynn with advantage, VIE have presumed
80 Offer some brief rc1Datks on the law rsgu
lating the admission OF frcemcn and the eieC-
tion Of officers. :. ~. .,
The present law respecting the subject di.
rects that . person, In order to be made free.
shall be in posse ssion of freehold es,ste OF
the value Of ooe hundred and thirty four dol
lars. or DO tho eldest son Of such a frcehol-
der. No person, not possessing such estate,
or being fortunate enough TO bo'the eldest'of
such frcchoIdcr, cen be freeman, Or enjoy
theimm0ni,ies of ftpcmcn. Flo must re-
main in passive condition, and subjected 10
the control Of laws and regulations c,uenat.
ing from thoss who ate no more wise, yirtu
Gus, or pat,iotic than himself. Hp is depiiv
cd Of essential rights which naiuie. by her
high behesls, destined him TO enjoy, but which
fhs- rulhless hand Of power wantoniy with
holds.
The trainers OF this law wore not so guard
ed as the trainers OF the election law ia sew.
cral Of the other states. We no where find
'ahe restrictive clause, g white mafcs," oris~
equivalent. We cannot, however, help think
ing hat this was the intended meaning OF he
ritter who pcnned he statute. fh was, his
ideas ou,run his pen. Blu, as the statute now
Stands we perceive nothing that can operae
10 p eveOlIoga black person from being ad
mit,rd 20 the elective franchise. Ii he be
really possessed of a freehold estate, agtcc-
noly 20 the provision Of The act, no power OK
is's tina, can legally hinder him from being
invested with tho privilege OF vo,,ng. Be
fore nc can be deba.red the exercise of lhis
right. The statute puet undergo Legislative
revision. Therefore the clubbing Of negro
in Portsmouth, to assisr the federal interest,
10 he bcgiouing OF isl !, was perfectly legal,
polwitAs,andirg the mighty fuss made about
il by the republican party. The gedersiis,s,
for once, acted worthy Of themscives, aod
consistent with law (; and had they manufac-
tured al the Negroes aud Indians in The state
into 5recmsn, possessing a ruanfum sr09cif
Of property, they would have been Justified
by the very letter Of the statute. Indeed, 1t
was an cgrigious blundor in them that they
did not. 1t would have greatly aided their
cause, added strength TO their phaIanx, aad
responsibility 30 their character.
Under the regulations of the present law,
feme SOTO, who 10 seized OF a freehold estate,
may participate in the elective franchise.~' In
deed the state ei New Jersey exhibits pre-
cedcut of she kind Woven 10 thar state, in
possession Of properly of the value Of ono
hund' cd sod thirty. four doilats, are entitled
to and exc crcireslhe p iyiiege Of voting. This
is, however, assolita,y ,n,snce in tho Uaited
S'stes. But w can perceive no reason why
the same cussom should not obtain in this
State. Our law contains nothing prohibiting
il; and certainly there are many more cspa.
bio of exercising this p'erosa,ivs with dis
cretioh, than grcatnvmber of.oQr own sex.
Fo, our 6wn part we should be highly graft
6ed for the females To ssslrnc the exercise
of ,his immunity. We should then engage
In ihe- -pusinsss Of ~lec,ionesrins with pccu-
liar pleasuf'e, AIscri,y and ZEAL We arc also
Induced 10 believe that some advantage would,
result 70 society. as it would probably DO the
mcans of'lesseniog tho instances OF celibscy.
Bachelors would find an cxcellent pretence
Of ntrsduciny themselves into shs society Of
the,fair, and while then soliciting outrage,
might be emboldoned enough TO solicit
hand when, perhaps, they would otherwise
be .ioo diffident TO introduce subject of so
teoder and delicate na,orc. 1.-THE fair cleo
tor should happen TO differ from himself in
poh,ics, nc might be Induced to destroy hc'
vote by the tslismsuic power Of msuimony.
o:o: o:o:-