Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-05-27

S0se hsPresenIosson.--i nc "uequsu-
ty Of Representation in this state, has
been a just cause Of compliant, with
the growing towns, for many years.
Wheo The British coloqial authorities
by which we were once governed, 6x-
sA,our rstio ofrreprssentation, Il vas'
based upon principles Of equality: but
they made no provision for that Increase
which WIS taking place daily; their
doings we're made permanent, and when
they would have altered it, the sceptre
ofpower had been taken away.
None will deay that the power oflevy-
ing taxes belongs strictly to the body Of
the people: those who pay the money
are the persons 70 say for what object
and in what quantity 4 shall be paid.
and in order to this purpose, every
town should be represented according
TO its population This has not been,
nor will il ever be the case in Rhode
Island, until the Royal Charter Of Esq
lands king. is placed with her lion. in
the dust. ~ ~. atf
The town Of Newport, with about
seven thousand inhabItants. has six
voices in the Legislature; being one
vote for every eight-hundred and sew
enty people 4; while Providence, with
fifteen thousand inhabitants has only
four voices !; being one vote for every
three thousand three hundred agd twen-
ty-6ve people. The town Of James
town. containing six hundred inhabit-
ants has tive representatives, being one
for every three hundred people
These representatives are paid out OF
the General Treasury, from money
levied equally, upon the property Of
the represented and the unrepresented ;
making the large towns pay the very
persons who are putting double taxes
upon their bank and insurance stock.
These things call for a. remedy, and
a remedy they must and will have
The legislative power Of the state will
not always be in the han,ls Of those
who now hold il. A majority of the
people are not so entirely dead to I
sense ofjustice, as to let that which il
few dollars in their pockets. make
them wrong their fellow citizens. A
few disappointed politicians, in orde'
to revenge themselves on their rivals
or on the district from which they arr
sent, propose bill which is intended
to injure their interest. and me'
rselways found, whose sordid mind
are just base enough to spare thei
own purses, although by so doing the,
show themselves to be both ignoran
and dishonest. Bot these things wi
not always be political intriguers ar
becoming more and more obnoxious
the people are beginning TO think fc
themselves, aud the people themelvf
are to liberal long to countenance tt
unjust doings Of those who have bee
trusted with power of which they wei
unworthy. ;
Had the people Of Rhode-lsland bee
represented in their legislature as the
should have been, the owners Of banl
stock would never have heen spong,
out Of q portion Of their property in
manner as unjust as it is snconstit
tional--were the voice Of the peop
attended to, Free Suffrage would be.
troduced, and with it that equali
Of representation and taxation which
now SO much and SO earnestly look
for. ag6t a - u
Congres. Monday last Congr'
closed the FIRST term Of IFS Nineteeu
Session. The doings ofthis body d,
ing the past winter, shave been shan
full buriesque upon legislation, a
have placed stigma upon the Anne
can character, which half cent?
will fail 10 obiterate. That the p
siding officer Of the Senate, sho
have winked at the disgrscefui see
which havetaken place in that body,
most sfaggers the strong faith we h
hitherto entertained for the cbsrss