The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-09-23
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YoR THE II 1 REPUBLICAN.

The general defect OF the ConsiHuIon Coo'
lists. I will now proceed 10 snaiyss It moro
minu,eiy. and without exhsus,ing so cop'ous
o subiec,, consider such paris OF II only, as
arc in my opinion, liable to rational and we'll
founded objections. have said, II Is desPo'
tic in its nature, and OF an sri'tocrancsi ten
dency. This /. capable OF satisfAe'o proof
from the endesvor that has been cove'sly
made, TO deprive the people OF rshts' which
unless this Constitution be fa,hed, they pos
ses, the undeniable privilege OF using, eithei
by themselves, or some ohef organ, oesoe
tho Legislature, Of thei' own appointment.
To take q full view Of tho mat'et, Il Is neces.
say 10 examine, no, in detail, to- that would
be !edious,) bu, a, is'ge, snd as iehy as pos
sibie, the ines,imsble benefs cons'ied on
Us, or rather acknowledged IN ou favor, by
tho msgna Charter, on which our libeities De.
pend. And he &c le, me ask, what Was he
plain, clear pl lincipIe Of the blessed donation:
Was ary exclusive pretogsiive given, TO s"y
ono ot the Departments, OF government Did
not the Language Of IL run, IN the name oi he
Governor, Assistsnts, and L eemen OF the
State OF Rhode I,isnd, end Providence Pan
tations? No advantage devoived on psftic-
uiar portion. il was TIC WHOLE ot the con
munry, that derived the prohl. How difis'.
ent the svbuancc and tenor OF The proposed
Constitution There, the tvo houses are
pred dominant. All pow.r, (exceping con
ined light Of suE age, aud some m'no'
rjeh,s i, eonfidenI 10 their bands--issues out
ot them-is 'etu nable 10 them--snd com.
priced within 'he scope OF thei almost un'
Imited despoism. ] shalt presently esIet.
ws,ds show, tho People, OF The T. eemeo, as
they arc termed 10 ,be Chaue', s'e now 'o'
duced TO mere shadow os the eu'ho"V,
originally intended ior them. Legislators,
unde prctexl OF Interpreting, have narrowed
down the road basis, oi pppu'ar constructive
freed IN but 10 con,Insc. .--P ov's'on Is
made "tbat the powo, Of The cove 'Dmen',
shall be distributed into III &c d's'inc' anch
rs,"--snd immediately done awy ny snose'
Quen, clause, ths, "nons s6a' eH. e'se a"J ID
the powe's properly belonging to erhe' oi the
Others, excep, IN csses heteIn expressly di.
rec,ed, o, pc tmitied." Such on ar,icie pro
misses little TO secure en- equs! connteip0ise oi
checks, SO essentially a grsnd ms ed'soi ~
Republican policy Indeed, The aosufdI'ic'
and ircong ui'ics Of this Consiitu ION &c o'
'ha, kind, 10 70 bid the idea oil its sn'sung The
dcpos, Of out political o'chives, as s,a'e IN
s'tument. Without mcan'og cry 'thecion
on he respectable Commti,se who i'smed IT,
md 'hc Convention, who gave II Wy the'' seal,
shah be guilty OF no offence, when dec lac
il as my deliberate judgment, II is en'irt'y
unworthy of The ,sien,s 'ot the rational and
rminen, men, CONGO ned in It's compilation.
Mo o ,giosI,,y might, in truth, have been
expec,ed As i, senJs, II is not absolutely
W, bou,i,. Yet originality, accompanied by
absu tdiy. though tolerated IN novel, or even
On epick, poem, where ingenious hcioO sup
plies the place OF usefulness, are not perhap'
rcuu,, cd in written definition OF the people,
rights, and legal maintenance ot them ny
positive espriion. Several s,ucles, TO such
as are disposed to mske spot, might be uen
tioord WITH derision. But l will pass ovet
these spparen, .ol'cism, IN po'n'eo, p'e|um
ing, however lit expressed. snd conus'y to
law and inslice, they were well in'eodsd' and
view more comprehensively, the ma'n po'
nor, of tho instrument. All men have nut
alike the same command Of language, and IN
common charry conclude, some OF the pro.
visions, were 81 e ), penned (,om whom they
have been borrowed by masnsnimoas lush
r,stesmen, solieiious ,athe' ot good intent
ihsn sppa cn, constituency m terms lhs OK
pulsion Of o rue uobar OF the Legislature who
is duly chosen, by. o vote of Two th'' do OF Ihe
whole body, is certsioly dsnge' Gus p'erogs'
tive. We, II 10 recognized IN The Constitution
o' th% Uoi,ed States, and among others, those
OF Pennsylvania and Deiswa'e OF course,
however loosely, or vaguely deGaed' sop
pose II ja.,sablc on ,he plea OF neee"'y'
Bu, why is no, th,, power given IN ALL the
different CONSTITUTIONS : Have All he SAFE
Assemblies full !etNpde to eApsi mcmbst,
yet no, second tine for the sams cause,
when expulsion, one would think, 1t opera,
tive, must extend TO The very close ot the
chapter, o. a,e penalties universally IN
fl'cted ty minority on on absent maj N.Y.
for non attendance, liable TO be resigned, as
soon a. the less shall become the g. estet
number! Tho assertion o. fights, cont'adic'
toy to principle, ough, not I'D DO immods'
rste'y INDUCED. Who docs not SEQ the pso.
pie IL over JteG in either io.sace IL ,oses
deiey.ie mr. itS ten,ese ten, alive. AZ sinst their