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

der wheel, the Governor and Senate now
act, is strongly suspected by the people
to be an usurpation oftheir rights. They
have become distrusifui of,he power, this
General Assembly have assumed 10 them
selves, and declare they never hnvs given
i, ,ous. Under such state of things,
We ough; TO soothe, rather than irritate
public opinion. If our Courts are noi
legally appointed, the sooner VIC retrace
our steps the better. II is far more dan
gerous for us to persist in, than it is to
,etract our errors. Let us not increase
,hs jealousy of The people, by going into
Grand COMMITTEES, and electiug Scna-
tor, when no harm can accrue ny post
poniug it To the next Session. The gen.
fieman saws, the Governor and Senate
would continue to hold their places with
ou, this law. lfso, where was the ne
ccssisy ofthe lnwl Why provide for
new elections 7 IL wouiJ seem, if his
doctrine is correct, that the law 10 use
less. 1t had better be repealed. lfonce
elected, they arc always to hold their Of
fees. then, by the ssne rule. George
Field ard Jeremiah N. Potter, are as
mech entitled to- their seats and their par,
Us nay Of the present Senate. No per-
SONS hare yet been elected ia their room.
Yet two years ngo, when these vacancies
happened, it was then considered this
Assembly had no power TO fill them, the
Charter only providing for vacancies oc-
casioned by death, or resignation. Bnt,
says the gentlemen, .Governnr Arnold
. L.
have not been reelected, and iasge ma
!jority Of the people sro against their e.
lection. have 80 little objection TO The
perpetuation net, that ] should have been
willing to extend IL so far as to have per-
petuated the gentleman in the Speakers
chair.
J. l.. Tillinghast. If the gentleman
has no better argument IN reply lo n
sound reason than personal alIusion,
pity the poverty of his cause.
MIR. p. in reply. Ifthe gentleman had
M more common sense, than tO think he
alluded to him personally he not only
piticd the poverty Of his cause, but the
poverty OF his mind.
James Il. Summons. Said, he would
say one word. Tho power to postpone
was no less, than the power to appoint.
The gentleman from ). Kingstown, ad-
mits the right to postpone, but denies t!is
right to appoint. This is "a strange in
consistency No,e--(nfter this circle, he
sat down laughing at its supposed beau
ty.) Not SO, Mr.. S:t1nons. Had you
been in Grand Committee, yoor observa-
lion might have had some to:ceinit. y
would then hnye npphcd ~ ths, hranci!
Of the Government, not authorized either
% postpone or 40 elect. Bot, you mis-
took yOur position. The question be-
loaged exclusively to the House, whose
members were elocted by tho people.
They had the powers to postpone with
oat .lie concurrence OF tho Senate, hut
no. the power to elect, wiihnus the juno
,ion sni assent Of the Senate. Note
your distinctions, before you applaud
ycnr own efforts!
2nursiay Morning. Mr.. James D.
Wo,: COR whom the Adjournment had
been had, in order 10 give him an OPP
portunity Of expressing his sentiments
on this important question: rose and
said. lie fri, grateiu! 10 the House, for
this indulgence, and though he was more
used TO- manufacturing Other ihiDgs, than
set speeches, he would enisavor 20 ex-
press his views as briefly as possible Oh
this question, which, he considered one
Of the deepest interest to tho people,
Whatever other gentlemen might say.
lie held we had no constitution, other
than that wassh the people, had adopted
b. usage and pr sctice. This usage and
practice went no farther than the right
"f the Governor and Senate. to hold
their Offices for the time ,lrey were cleo
tel. This time was but for one year
THIS was tho case under tho Charter OF
King Charles. this practice had become
our Constitution. Nle never had known
q similar case. ia which the Governor
and Senate, had ever held over the
term, for which they had been elected
There was no precedent for the raw,
which continued them. He copteuled
nod ia,j down the proposition, tina: il
required as mach power TO continue th'
Governor and Senate, as il did 10 cleo
them. This power the people in thei
sovereignty alone possessed. They nev
er had inpnrted it to this General As
ssmb'y. The exercise Of il. therefore
WAS the summit ofusurpation. To e'ec
Governor and Senate, was alone th'
act oS the Sovereign people. They on'y
could give to this Assembly this power
Ifthercforc he vas right in his position
that !, inquired as much power to con
tinuc after their term of service, 70
which they were elected, had expired
us did 10 elect i'lcm, aud the people hat
no: given 10 this Assembly this power
ne rould ask, where We got the right q
pass This law. II did not exist. Th'