The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-06
A SUBSCRIBER TO THE HERALD.

NEEDLE with the politics Of the State; al
though deem it duty for every free
man to contribute his share in support
Of good order, and of the government
and laws under which he derives his Sc
curity in state of society. / feel but
little preference for men, provided they
are respectable and competent-whatev-
or may be their political speculations -
Such men will not wantonly do wrong,
as respects the domestic concernSkof the
state. They may, l agree. displace their
political opponents from Office, and put
in their friends; but to him who can nei-
ther be put out, nor wishes to be put in,
it is matter of hut little consequence,
so long ms the great ends for which gov
ernment was instituted, arc fully real
lied. ] have been drawn from this state
of political quietude by an Act of thd
General Assembly passed at their ses1
sion in January last. That act declares
that in case the people do not elect 4
Governor by majority Of all the vote
given in, that then, the House of Repre-
sentatives shall order the suffrages of tn !
freemen to be again taken IN not les
than ten nor more than thirty days, an
in case that, on the second trial, ther
should be no election by majority q
all the votes polled, the House shall ol
der another new. election to be had j
like manner, until one of the cand
dates for Governor shall be found
have more votes than all the other car
didntes for the same Office. fit har
pen that the deputy Governor with
moiety of the senate nominated, shoul
fail to be elected as aforesaid, the Hous
are authorized TO order new electiol
as in case of the Governor.
Let us examine the practical effect d
this novel, and ! think, unconstitutionaI
law. The present Governor and Sen
ate, with tho representatives, newly chd
sen, meet in Newport on the thir
Wednesday in may as usual. The gran
committee are formed, the votes of th
freemen counted, and the votes are s
divided between Governor Arnold, Go,
Fenner and Mr.. Sprague, that not on
of these persons has majority of th
whole number; and / will also suppes
(Which is equally probable in the comm
election, ,)that no deputy governor or Ser
ator is elected from the same cause
The effect will be to 1egalize and con
tinue in Office the present governor, Eeu
tenant governor and senator's, whethe
there are any votes given in for them d
not. The case of Mr.. Benz. Smith, III
present senator from N. Kingston
one in question. Mr. Smith, although
senator at this time, has not been red
commended by any one of the three n,
merous ard respectable convention
which have been held for the purpose
recommending candidates for the ems,
ing election. Mr.. Smith would und(
the present law, hold his seat, possibl
through the next year, yes, and years al
ter that, unless a majority of all Il
freemen voting, should be given to anot
or for The place he holds. l have tax
the individual case Of Mr.. Smith to sho
the inconsistency of the law, and that
might possibly be the case with the who
prox, even if the House of Represent
tives did as the law directs, Bu. VIII
security have the people that they "
do sol The Representatives fthe q
pie when they meet in May, can, ift
choose refuse TO order a new electi,
and justify themselves in so doing by
unconstitutionality of the act Of the |,
General AssembIy--and to whom |,
the Representative accountable for th,
decision! Ia such dilemma the e
ernor and senate who have already