The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-13
From the Providence Herald.
THE PERPETUATION ACT A.
GAIN. .r.t ..

interesting to the people, and which af-
fec, most deeply their rights and privil-
eyes, was a debate upon the constitutions
ahty of the law of january 1882, by
which Governor Arnold and his Senate
now hold their seats. This question
arose incidentally from the motion of Mr..
Shaw, of Little-Compton, TO invite the
Governor and Senate to join the House
in Grand Committee, FOR the purpose
of electlng n Senator for the next six
years in the Senate of the United States.
The motion was made, while two Of the
known opponents 10 their course, were
accidentally out of the House, and evi-
IDENTIFY with view of taking advantage
of their absence, and of forcing the el-
ection through, against II majority of the
House. We shall not stop To reprimand
this attempt to steal IA march upon those
members, who were opposed to it-but,
leave the people to judge for themselves
of the honesty and fairness Of its projec-
tors. Our purpose is simply to give n
brief sketch Of the deba,e-becuuse, we
think it viii do much to awaken the peo-
pie to sense of the danger into which
the course of policy Of the Iriamuirate,
Hazard, Arnold, and Simmons, l.as in
v0lved the State, and their dearest right
Mr.. j.. X. POTTER, moved post
ponement of the question until the next
Session. He contended, that the motion
to join in Grand Comnwttee for the
choice Of Senator, was premature, and
unnecessary. The term of Mr.. Rob-
bins would not expire until the Sd of
March next and no inconvenience or
injury could result to the State, from a
postponement. 1t would he sufficient
time to elect at january session, TO cna-
BILE whomsoever might then he chosen
TO repair to Washington, g. tnkc his
seat on the 4th of March. He saw no
good reason to proceed to the election
at this time, but there were strong and
convincing reasons against it. The law
under which the Governor and Senate
now hold their seats was questioned by
large majority of the people, as being
unconstitutional, for all purposes what
soeyer. They were elected for one
year only. Their time had run out, Il
the people had not reelected them.-
And although he had aided in passing
this law, from the best of motives, TO
prevent the contingency of having no
government, and being left wholly with
out any compass to steer by, he had
strong doubts as To tho rights ofthe Gov
ernor and Senate, to Join the House Cor
the purpose of electing others to Office
and clothing them with constitutional
functions, when they themselves were
not elected by the people and were not
clothed with the power of elections
The law, commonly called the perpet-
nation act, went father in its terms,
than was intended il should do. lie be-
ieved at the time il was enacted, it went
only to the extent of continuing tho
Governor and Senaie in their places, un-
Ill the people should re.elect them, or G.
!ect others in their stead. If il were
susceptible Of n more extensive con-
struction, it was not what was intended
or what he believed this Assembly had
any right 10 pass. He was of opinion,
he saiI. all that the law was intended
10 occomolish was 10 hold together the
Government and prevent what tho law
yers sometimes called an interroanum.
lie had strong doubts, if the Governor
and Senate should nin in Grand Com
mi,tce. and electa Senator to Congress,
his seat in the Senate, might be vacated
ON the ground ,ha, wo have no Cover
nor and Senate legally and constitutions
ally authorized TO make the clection.-
In addition To tls-hc said, il would be
improper to proceed with the election
n, This time. because by the very law,
under which the Governor and Senate
now pretend TO act, provided for nn ell