The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-09-09
@isrsiIanv.
Continuation Of Mr.. Pearee's Speech,
on GeneraL Suffrage.

class of tho community from tho elective
franchise you now ptopo,o to perpe,usie 10
ITS worst ioim--you say to this merito'ious
Gloss OF the community, your hands are ,isd,
and they shall continue TO be so--you shall
never participate in the AFFAIRS Of gove' 'nWent
you shall never enjoy the righ;s Of free.
men !, is attempted to support the opposite
eide OF this question by con,ending thai o'ig'.
nally this system of electoral qualifications
was adopted in tho Slele, aud conss sQuepily I'll
who have since lived under its laws, have tao
u'y consented 20 this principle, and of course
those who hase IL in their power TO say
whsther the light Of suff.sge shall be extend.
"a beyond It's original limi a,ions, are under
no obligations TO G.. END The privilege TO those
who do not come within the Limitations. We
also freqss ntiy hear it said by those who op-
pose general .ufi sge, shall the man no has
no property have the power OF voting 10 tsx
bis neIghbof who has property But, Sir, 10
the first place, if is DO proved that tho origi-
na system Of suTrsge ic wrong, no Argument
IN 5 iavot derived from pe speciive right cen
bsve any force. Ii u is sliowed in this case, II
VIII equally apply TO the systems Of all dcspo.
lic governments, which, with the same pIo
p'itIy, may be sad 10 have been sanctioned
by those who have lived under them. And
as 10 the s'gumect that man who tns no
property, ought not to vote TO tax one who hss,
| ask i. IL right for those men who il is said
have no properly, to be called TO ,he field NJ
bstle TO light for those who have property TO
defend The poof man has only hi, lie or
hbery at stake, while the one who IN qualified
20 voIe on sccount Of his properly, has evey
thing TO contend for. And yet, Sir, who is II
ths, arc called into the fald,, snd Eight the
battles OF the coun,iyl IL is the militia, the
men Of small p'opes'y, or OF no properly at
all, the gfce,ei proportion OF whom have II
not in 'helI power ciihct 10 constitute them.
selves freemen under your electoral law, or
20 ob,aln exemption from military service by
The psymen, OF fines, Or the provision OF Q
substitute. Lets call bo made upon the mi.
iilis Of this SLate to defend the country, end
whai proportion Of the men called into ser.
vice will be voiers, coder the prosen, syskm!
The man who has his susplus OF "a dollars
10 lay out in land, viii also 6nd sufficient
snr,Ius 10 Proeu,e a substitute for hs seivi-
ccs. The burden then of defending the
Stale, snd protecting the properly OF ITS CHI.
z.ns, falls upon those you are willing dclibe.
"a ely 10 exclude from oil participation in the
affairs Of government.
BESIDES, " properly is the sole c,i,erion Of
tho fgb.s Of q freeman, where 10 tho pfopti-
e,y 10 giving q man possessing barely the TO-
quisne justification OF . voter, the same vote
al The gsRs'eman on my right, (Gene'ai Car.
ring,ou) who possesses his ten, Of Thousands
Why should he no, have as many votes as he
has means OF Qualifying vote's and ~hst
greater right has man possessing l34 dol.
lars in land to vote for o tax which is TO affect
30 so grsn, en- ex,en, that gentleman's proper
ty, than one possessing but Itle or even no
propasty as all, has to vote for tsx which 10
o affect in SO Sigh, degree the property OF
the sma al !andholdet
II the possession Of land u the only thing
that csn give man sny consideration in the
State, ie, those who have This property defend
1t the emsclves. The poor mans life Is ns val.
usae as The rich mans, and much more so 10
MS family, who depend on him alone Tor sop
port. On wbs, principle, then, can you com.
pei him 10 expose that life for tho benht OF
others, when he is denied The righ,s OF q r:e.
man
The prejudce, Of this Committee are sp.
pealed TO, 10 destroy the pr opposition now be.
fore you, and it will be urged tha, II iree sui.
fsgo Is extended, the Influence OF The honest
yeymsn,y will be swallowed up by the sea.
pot towns who will raise their hordes oJ vo.
,rrs, snd carry every thing before them.
But look at things as they heretofore have
existed. Al those men whom you Fear will
have so much influence in your elections,
have already, IN times Of cxeilement, been
called into service in the see. port towns.
wealthy NE chant living In these places can
easily t.,ske his hundf oa voies and bring
them to he polls. lie can so divide his rents
snd his houses az TO make ibeso voters lor Q
special purpose: bu, The farmer hss not en-
.qla, eIIanee. He canno, we'll eu' up bis
farm into small parcels, and even IT he would
do so there is too much honor IN the young
men in The country, to accept OF these fisud.
Iieni qualifications. Boi 10 commercial p'a'
ee, they can readily be found.
Commercial towns, fom their compsc,
.itusuou, have it more 10 their power 10 set
an eo,re,t and ,he opoo,tun;ies OF making