The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-13

.hat gentlemen should persist in doubt
ing the constitutionality oftle law under
which the present Governor and Senate
hold their places. He would ask-have
this General Assembly net gone on, and
appointed their officers Of the State in
Grand COMMITTEE Have not the Judges
of your Courts been re-uppointed Do
they not proceed TO hold Courts. and
render Judgment Have not your Sher-
iiis, your civil and police officers been
re-appoiuted, and are they not now exc
cutting the duties of their offices under
their appointment There hare been
one or two capital trials aud one pun
ishmcnt by death, Inflicted in conformi-
~ to the judgment ofthe Supreme Court
since this law Are all the judgments
u nulIity Why Sir, if this law is un-
constitutional and the Governor aud
Senate have no power 10 join this ITonsc
in Grand Committee for the purpose of
elections, there is not n judgment of any
Court in the State of any validity The
Supreme Court for awarding sentence
of death and the Sheriff of the county 0c
Providence, for executing it, nre guilty
of murder. Yet gentlemen will contend
that this law is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
lie would caution them Of the dnrCcr-
ous consequences of such doctrines.
Without a Governor and Senate, VIC lavo
no General Assembly. would ask
the gentleman how he came here IIe
woufd ask the members of this House
how they came here, if we ha,e no Gov
ernor and Senate?
The present Governor and Senn,e II
year ago last April, were elected by the
people by u large majority. They nre
your Governor and Senate, they would
he SO without this law--by tho very terms
Of the Charter. They have never been
turned out Of Office by the people. At
no Wme since their election, have the
people seen tho faces of those, they liked
better. Are we to he told then, thni we
have no Governor aud Senate.--Why
Sir, how was il formcrly-tI,o people
used 10 assemble at Newport, in body.
on the first Wednesday of May, aud vote
until they got II Governor and ten Assis-
tants, ms they were then called. In ono
instance, they voted whole week, be-
fore they effected an clcciion-during
which the old Governor and Assistants
held their offices. So il would bc now
without this law.-The present Governor
and Senate would have continued to hold
their offices by the Charter, until others
should bo elected. They have never
been displaced by the people, and ln,e
as much right TO join in Grand Commit
tee rs the members Of this lIouse--ho
hoped this question would not be post
poned. ....t...a.t
The late Speaker J. l. TiIlinghner,
rose and let off "a speech upon the real
high pressure system. lie said, this was
not the first time he hnd heard it ini.-
mated in this House and from the same
quarter, that this law was unconstiiu'ion-
nj. But, ms often as he had heard this,
lie had always instantly met it and pu.
il down. lie was n little surprised, tn
hear TINT gentleman, (Mr. Pottcr) now
this law uncons. .itutional---
for, he had heard him in this very House
b boas,rngly claim the patent right of it
1t was too lato for him now To denounce
it--,hnt gentleman aided in passing the
law and maturing its provisions. For
whose boncft is this postponcment TO be
Ind /! This j. the time when we ought
to elect Senator. We we're sent hcrs
for that purpose. The people nre daily
and IN every hour of the day, expecting
10 hear whom we have selected Ia repre-
sent tbem aud their interests, in the SEN
ute of the United States. Shall we not
perform Our duty Shall we iorbcnr In
dotI,s because il is possihlr, nay more
probable, n new Governor ahd Senaie
may bc elected by the people, between
this aud the next SessiOnf Bic hoped
the members Of ihs House would no, he
or deferred from ,hcir dGiy
hy any, such sc0rccrCns. For hnc, l,a
was ready to respond against The post
aud fearless do his duty. 2
Mr.. Potter in reply. ] know ,he met
nj, have to contend with. ] cannot
speak SO loud, rs some gentlemen, but.
repent, ihat when this law was made,
did not believe il went to authorise tho
Governor and Senate to join in GRIND
for the purpose Of elections.
lad no such idea. do not contend
hat tho law is unconstitutional in aH
have never so conieHdsd. So
ar us IL connects the Governor and Sem
,te with The House Of Representatives,
o order new election by the people,
md enable them to hold their officers to
prevent us from having no Government,
md continue the officers of our own ap-
,ointmcnt in power, edIHN IL is eonssi-
uiional and proper, but, for the purpose
If clecting others 20 'ofIief, when they
have not been elected, ! never
,eIicved This Law was right. and legal.