The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-07-22
NEWPORT.
THURSDAY, July %, 1924.
CRemarks continued from our !ast.l (
To the Freen7en OF Rhode. Island,


lf any apolgy can be made for 9 con,,itu.
tion, go worthless in any, and So pernicious in
many particulars (snd The apology wants an
apology) II is 10 be found in the INC on sidera
haste, IN which II was huddled up, and with
which it was carried through, ty men VIII
did not du!y appreciate, the difficulty, nor the
importance Of .ho task they had uodertsk.n
Surely II was no, light malter, no. en- easy
matter 10 constfuc, governrnen,, at once -.
hcient and tfes IA government. in which the
several powers oI the steic sovereignty should
be so balanced and so connected, as 20 give /.
,ne'gy in action, and freedom IN result; 10
develope, to define aud 10 engraft ,hcrein the
proper principles, For the regulation OF it's
future movements, 10 all our fu'ure emefnen
c,es; and TO devise and provide therein iht
means OF giving TO, those principles on eiTec-
,ual and controlling influence, now and lorev-
er; and moreover to give TO tho whole system,
modification exactly adjusted, TO the exit.
ing circumstances and wsnts OF the People.
To form such o constitution, was tho proper
business OF the Convention ;-atssk no, so easi-
ly, and readily 10 be accom- plished-.a task TO call
forth The resources OF the grestsst minds, and
10 occupy those minds long time. Blu, this
constitution was ten.6ays Job by men who
had their business TO lea,n ss we'll a. to per.
form; who thought much moro Of the econo.
my Of their time, than the credit CT thcir
wo X; and who knew so little Of their busi.
ness, as to DO ignorant Of their ignorance: no
wonder then, that tho thing 10, IS il is, wholly
unh, TO answer the purposes OF q constitution
for this stcto.
There was very little debate, comparatively
speaking, in the Convention and that little
was endured with impa,ience full and fee
discussion. which ough, to have been indu,ged
and invited upon every important provision
was discouraged and disceun,ensuced upon
many important provisions were suddenly
submitted, and suddenly adopted or rejected
without debate or with very little for who
would force himself upon the reluctsnt siten.
uon Of that body wheh cns member would say
-" do hope, Me. President, we sesii have
the question without debate, or moro debate !"
another Mr. President, give Us the vote !"
and third would pesishIy ask ere We to be
kept here forever :" No assembly on the
last dsy OF its session, in the afternoon Of the
last day, st the eve Of IN cd journment, on the
wing of departure, ever passed 60 &C, With
more ineonsiderate haste than many provis.
Ions OF this constitute were passed: e owls.
ion, which wore to be perpetual end unal,er.
able which no after reflection, no after ex.
pstiencs could repeal or amend excepi by
overcoming difficulties ,hst were made nex'
10 impossible to be overcome provisions Of
which reflsc,ion, has already laugh, the mex
pedisney, and even tho petnic'ous tendency |;
sud which experience, II II is to come, to that,
would teach to rue in bitterness of heart.
II would be something, IL any advantages
to be gained by the constitution would com.
pensa,s hs disadvantages: we nigh, then
compare them, sttiks the balance, determine
which scale p'eponderstes and elect sccord.
ingIy 10 adop, or reject the constitution {: but
We have no such comparison to make ;-,hete
are no advantages to be gained by the consti.
tuIioni no, no, one ths,'s--advsnisgss which