The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-20


of the last session of the General Assem-
bly, has awakened the upprehensions and
excited the jealousy ofthe true friends Of
the free institutions Of government, re-
ceived, adopted, and cherished by our
forefathers and transmitted to their chill
dren unstained, except in one single in
stance, by former usurpation. 1t has
passed the ordeal of six successive gen.
erations--it has been admired by the
statesman, and embraced by the patriot
ii, has been the American city Of refuge,
where liberty might boast herself secure.
They first discoveredto to the world the true
landmark between the rightfnl power Of
the government, and the civil and relig-
ious privileges of the people subject to its
laws. While the people ofall the Amer
ican states, have been continually chang
ing the most prominent features of their
governments-Rhode Island has hugged
hers closer to her bosom. Under the
tyrannical reign of James the second, the
constitution of Rhode Island, and the
liberty of her sons were suspended and
outraged for two years. King James it
is true offered the corporation of Rhode
Island mock trial, which they declined |;
but king Lemuel the first has put the
axe to the root Of the tree of liberty, not
only without trial. or the offer of trial,
but without notice also. What necessi-
ty was there for the exercise of this high
handed act of political suicide was not
the General Assembly to meet in New
port on the first Wednesday in May !
Was il not time enough for the Govern
or, if he saw in the political complexion
of the times, any thing that required ex-
traordinary legislation, to have called
the General Assembly to meet on the
Monday previous. or earlier, The thought
necessary before the term of the gov
ernor and senate expired, and while
all their power existed in its greatest
plenitude!s If at that time difficulties
should exist ms to the election they would
then be understood by the people. The
members of the House of Representa-
tives newly elected, and bringing with
them the views and opinio MS of their
constituents would be a powerful
auxiliary in aid of those whose times
were nearly expired. Then whatever
measures were deemed expedient; they
would have for their authority the evil
dence of actual, and not of conjectural
necessity; g. by that time the wound, if
any, would have been probed, and plais-
ter of sufficient size applied; but the one
spread last winter is SO large that its ap-
plicntion, SO far from curing small
wound, will fear disease what was be-
fore free even from infeciion.
The Legislature to be organized under
that law will present the strange anomoly
ofa governor and senate with full power
to join the house in grand committee, to
appoint all the civil and military officers
of the state for the political year, and al
SO to enact laws in their seperate house,
at the same time when the most impor-
tant act is to be made, (that for perpetual
ting our republican institutions) they are
shrewdly excluded, that the house may
bear the odium if they comply with the late
law and violate the constitutions, ,or refuse
to comply and by that means change the
character ofthc upper house from pop
ular to n permanent body.
And all these things because the giant
monster Of Anti-Masonry has appeared
to our rulers in their dreams. Like
Richard the Sd, their imaginations dwelt
upon their former mischief They fear.
ed an overthrow, and why because they
knew they deserved it. If the republi.
can prox with Governor Fenner at its
head should be elected. our institutions
would be saved from peril, order and