The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-07-15
TO Me Ereemen Of Rhode. Island.

mcnt of this Stale wes published tn our last
paper but without comment comment per-
baps 10 adnscesssry for is determines are
such as 10 be palpabe to every understand
log.
A Constitution was not called for by the
people Of this state they were contented with
their existing institutions aod happy under
them they desired not the proposed change.
These institutions, which wero made 10 them
and to which they were made, their customs
and their ussgss; their received notions sno
principles, heir settled habits Of acting and
thinking, were 10 the IN in the place of Con.
sh,u,ion; and answered we'll enough the pur.
poses Of one. /, Is oil the Constii ution which
the state OF Connecucu, has had ill very 20.
Gently: and a'e dghts any ssfes he'e now,
Than hey we before Are their afrsits any
better administered!
Ii is true the people Of Msssach chusetts have
loDg had u written constitution and they are
? g oaning unde' It's blessings ! bears upon
shem w,sh weight, that impairs materially
the market value of their landed properly
Compare landed properly there and here, 10
situations, in which d'Hete ence Of cove rDent
makes the d'f ence 10 the MAJ kei value, and
the comparison will sifvfd you every reason
to be sau,h d with youS present condition.
There 10 not farmef Of that state adjoining
the borders Of this who would not re Joice 10
have his fs,m embraced within the lines Of
YOU jurisdiction.
The People Of this State repeat, did not
cali To- . itten constn0 lotion /; NOT did they
conceive they stood in need OF one or would
be benefited by one. Twice the questions
was put to ,hem by the Genera, A.eDby-
will you have q written constitu ion and
twicc they answered no and almost ununi.
ipousIy,
Those who from local and personal views
wished TO- wtitten constitution, did not
,hink proper, TO pu itegain upon tho, issue
The voice Of the people-but p occurred a law
20 be made by which 'hc people were IN
manne, furced into Convention, To for IN o
constitution. M did they think u W uic do
TO send contribution 10 the people, and allow
them tho liberty, 10 accept II eondiionaiiy,
that Ia, with such amendments as th.y would
wish TO be made IN it: but they have equir.
ed tho people 10 sccepi II, VI they do accep' IL,
wi hou, any amendment whatever ,They are
allowed the privilege OF saying yes OF OF ssy-
ing no, bu, nothing more. Thcy arc no,
deemed worthy OF the privilege, o' Fl to DO
entrusted with the discretion Of accepting il,
so fat q, they approve IL; and Of rcqui. ing
tctrenchments or corrections so far ss lh,y dis.
approve OF it. In what proceeding we,e the
UDdoi s'andinhs OF the sovereign people eve,
Ues,ed with more sovereign contempt and
this too, In proceeding, 10 which the people
mmediatoly exercise tho sovereign power
themselves. The Representatives Of the
people refused to allow the people the less,
disc e,ionary power, over The modification OF
constitution, by which they and thei pos.
seriy, are 10 be governed to tho latest gene
ro,ions. ft,
Another srbitraty feature IN thar law 10,
Iha, two (hhs Of the people are to- .be forced
10 1.-Two in subjecuon TO constitution. howev
q, odious II may be to them, u three 6iths so
determine but lttle more han Q bsie ma.
lothy They ate to be forced out of their
present happy state, the state OF their choice,
the state IN which they have Away, lived aud
their fathers be fore them; end which, they
consider as their inhe ritsnce, toto Q state oil
vsssslsge to a, constitution, abhot'ent to their
fesings Surely so largo portion Of The
people, ougb, not 70 have e.en forced, to
chsoge tho government with which they
were conten,sd, ior o governments, they dis
like, by another portion but 90 little large
and taat change Dot called, for even by ,hs,
larger portion who does not soc that twu,fif,hs
being discontenied with tho chsnge, ,ha, dis.
content will lay the foundation OF rancorous
and lasting divisions-;he mere fatal TO out
peace, as they win admit Of no remedy but By
conv0lsion aud revolution.
Were the cons,,u,ion much better than ],
10, u would prove curse instead Of bless
ing, unless, . much gres,er proportion han
three.6hhs concur 10 iis rsnGcstion--but ss !,
Is no unsaiml y could make It q blessing
II will produce 20 one public advantage
which might not be OBJ, sined ss we'll wuhoul
], by means Of Legislation while It will pro.
duce many evils, which we now sie exemp,
from, and which We can only aver, by eject.
ing 1t; evils too which are unnecessary sud
= siuiious.-Why Tor instance should YOU
eIdeW sons, born to the inho,uance of tree.
dom a. 'hoy are, DO disinhe,i,td. disf ancnis.
I'D, robbed Of rhsi' birth ugh, they are so
by this constitution and The fulure eIdet
sons of ycuf soas, through ell succeeding