The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-09-09

under the weight oil The deeds TO make ffeuds
uieDt vo,eis, that q, iiu,es have been brought
into their Town Meetings. In the country
but few instances OF tho kind have beer
touod. The commercial owns under the old
system, rsined oil The influence that could bo
gsinsd, snd J. believe we are ell satisfied from
past exreIietico, IL is easy for 9 eslthy maa
10 those .plsces to qualify voters whenever
they please, TO suit a psrticula' purpose. We
oil RENE mb,r nm instance IN the late war os
q citizen Of commercial town qusiHInE
nire men es voters, on the property of . ittie
island in Seekonk river, which was nearly
swept away in the September gale, sDa
which, the owner himself declared, could not
support two merino bucks q year These ia
ciiitcs which exist in mshing voters show
that the lsndholding system is no safe. guard
ags'n1t ffaod.--T axe an instance in thi. town
(Newpori. )-Tbera is q brick sloro thar
would rent for S7oo. Suppose a few mens
are anxious to carry . particular question :
what need they do to effect their pur pose hue
10 combine together in the purchase Of such
building, and then convey Il in parcels to
one hundred men Even il your laws wero
SO strict thpt they could not be evaded, in
such case they nigh, convey il bona .jfde, ON
The condition Of insuriog tho votes Of ono
bundled men, to secure the success Of fs.
vori,e measure--or il they have confidence
10 tho persons they select, they may convey
Il TO 100 men under their control, and take q
mortgage for ono year. IL they have CONF
dencs 10 these men, they have only to run the,
risk for one yssr, and their property comes
back 10 them again.
F'om tho view OF the case Il is evidene
Mere are the same facili'ics for fraud under
The old system, rs ihc,o can be In the ono
proposed---Thetc will be f;suds prsctisedy
more or iess, 10 eve'y system that can DO de-
vised, no,wihs'snd,pg all the piecau,ions ,hae
have been taken, what mortal man doubts rhae
deeds have repeatedly been given, and per-
sons have taken The qualifications unde, them
knowing Tho interest did no, pass I, Is in
this wsy your system Of suirrags Is esieuis,ed
to render the ommission OF PERU y frequent
These evils will be remedsd by tho propos-
cd amendment. IL you say u will make vot-
e's Of the refuse OF society, snswer they arc
sltesdy io,r oduced. II is The young men Of
smsli capital who are tngsged 10 trade, in
commercial pursuits, end the Mechanic, who
is only able to support his fsmily by his La
Dor, who are excluded hy your isws.
The plan which l propose, does not intro
duce foreigners and non.reJdcnis. The no.
cesssry qualification is q residence Of ono year
next before tho ,ine Of voting. il is intend
ed 10 introduce TO the privileges OF fteemeDp
The man who pays his tax or does military
service, or who POSSESSES his 100 dollars un
Bank Stock, in river boat, in HE implements
Of industry, or stock in trsdc. And bavo not
such men IS gres, proportional interest i'm
the laws that arc made, and in tho welfare Of
the community, - tho wss,,hiea citizen in
tho State, or - the owner Of lew acres OF
land /!
II 10 seid that if we introduce this gehersL
suffrage, the manufacturers wilLeome to the
polls with oil their wotkmcn aSd have TOO
g,est influence 10 tho State bu, il cannot be
60. A very gics, proportion OF the wo'kfnen
in our manufacturing embellishments Me fore
eigne,s, and OF course csnno, become vois'r
in any case, without Q longer sesidencc than.
the one con,em plated 10 the proposed amend"
ment. Has . charge In politics ever been ef-,
fected in manufacturing towns by means ~
such persons ! No But il has been dono
by ffeeholdcts who moy have reel or spec,
ious interest in lspd.--IO this respect, ib, I
evils under the old sys,ern arc grsper ihsS
those that can arise from ,he one PROPOSED,
Ifs wealthy nsnufsc,urer in Warwick, Ejr
instance, wishes TO change the politics Oh vho
town, oil bs hss TO do is to select lot his
wokmen those men who have the sppeaf snce
Of possessing, Sufficient real cs,a,e, o. 10
whom he can give that appearances, vhc n in
fact the properly is in himself, ood hs may
then control the affairs Of the town. And
this is effected by Introducing peopIa who do
not belong to The town, and who nesa not hsvo
resided in il but o few months.
There ere no difficulties TO bs sVp'ehesdel
from manufacturing establishment >, 1t you o.
dopt ,hc plan ,ha, tho man whr, hiss rssided d
ono year in the town where he clsisns tho
tight 20 vote, and who can show 100 dollars oe
person,i property, shsl) beer mo . heemsn.
The evils have arisen from the old sys,sm 8
bu, let personal services to The S,s,e, or tho
possession Of personal propery 10 q cer,sin a.
mount, constitute the qvsliics,ions, snd tho
industrious snd rneri,orIous class Of the COM
e. i'm ~. r