The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-04-27

there is something implanted IN the Dreas
Of man, so tenacious Of privileges once
obtained, that in such situation, eithe
to discuss with impartiality or to decid'
with justice, has eyer been held the sum
nit of all human virtue. This opinion
was published in land Of aristocracy
where no declaration of rights declaring
all men equal by birth, could be found
Yet, even in England, there were those
who saw beauty in the doctrine Of equa
rights, Of no ordinary character, or why
such sentiment as we have quoted a
bove But what an Englishman sixty
years ago held to be the summit Of human
virtue, subsequent events have renderet
an imperious duty to the Legislature o
Rhode Island. The Constitution Of the
United States recognizes principles o.
freedom, no where to be found in the
charter of king Charles. But more than
fifty years have been suffered to pass a.
way, and this offspring ofthe feudal s.ys-
tenn remains to disgrace our State and
violate the federal compact. Our free
men, as they are called, in contradiction
we suppose to the slaves-boast much oi
GREENE and others, who distinguished
themselves in fighting FOR "represeniation
with taxation" These men did win ar
fame, yet, let it be remembered
that inihe sight Of all men, the glory OF
Green and his associates, only reflects
deeper obloquy on the injustice of that
Assembly who maintain in very deed, the
same iniquitous system which our fathers
tesisted unto blood
by the charter certain men can vote a.
way the money Of others who have no
voice in the matter; and this thing is done
so frequently, it has become such COM
mon occurrence, that in the eyes Of some,
familiarity seems to have stripped off its
native delornity. BY this principle a man
might be stripped of his whole fortune
and find no redress ;since the same act that
robs him of part can with equal impuni-
ty sweep the whole. And then, after be-
ing reduced to beggary, he may be "read
out Of town." as one who has ''no visible
means of subsistence" Such are the
principles ofroyal Charley's charter to the
good people of Rhode Island and Provi-
dence Plantations. 1t is time such an
instrument wns given with heather Gods
to the " bats and moles.". 1t has seen
the light of day long enough.
~We have cheering news from every
part of the State", respecting the memo
rial which is to be presented 10 the Gen
eral Assembly, for the extension Of the
suffrage system, in Rhode Island. There
appears to be but one voice about it. All
acknowledge it TO be an unjust law, as it
now stands; but how shall it be altered
for the better, is the question now to be
settled. DO those who now enjoy the
privilege, consider themselves any better
qualified, than they would be if they did
not inherit that little spot Of earth Dc
they consider one hundred and thirty-foul
dollars invested in land to possess SC
much virtue, as to allow them a privilege
over one who pays ten times the amount
of tax, on personal property Certainl,
not. Then why object to an extension o
suffrage. Our opponents s,y that it vii
allow all the Irishmen in the State to en-
joy equal privileges with them and tina
It will heave all the power into the hand
Of manufacturers, some Of whom it hal
been asserted, could bring Q or 800 vo
ters into tho field. Nov all this we ut
terly deny. The fact is no foreigner i.
allowed to cast his vote, unless he be ,
naturalizcd citizen ofthe United States
and he now has that privilege by only pos
sessing that qualification, together will
$l34 worth Of sand and gravel. What I
qualification 1t is enough, as the say
ing is, to mike horse slip his bride =
How much virtue there is in little dirt
Il allows one the privilege Of choosin,
his own rulers yes, reader, if you wish ,
voice in the selection Of those you are
bound to obey, II is a very easy matter
Dirt is plenty and cheap ! And by pos.
;sessing q little Of that precious article ,one
is more apt to be attached to his country
Whew such docfr;,o N, ,h:. :. al