The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-06-08
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s. I'D " % CsA TE.
WHOLE No. 3A A..

dominance ofeach@-rel;gion--th the degree
''i knowiedge and moral rsfiueIneut@-nCa Cat
II be consulted in tie formation OF Ia hgi-
] mi conssttAlv(46s; snd ttsxnnfsrs i is Tint
E,os pstsutnsht ofgcvernn,ens csu ~ 30
"shioDed, thai il can be applied win e.
lnal advantage TO all conditions o, men,
md to slI nations: even some Dt the States
II this Unop would becomerestiye undes
ooIstituti ms congenial to others.
In some countries, despotism may be
the only alternative ag ainst an anarchy.
| II would be as impossible to sustain FREQ
government in Russia, as il would be iE
the United States TO sustain government
II King, Lords and Commons.
The. freehold qualification in Rhcdo
island, might have been expedicnt once.
The population being entirely ag,icunu-
ral, when the charter was granted, il was
iot unwise, perhaps, TO provide that the
quaiIhcation should Consist vi that species
oi property which constituted the ertile
property oi the colony; but circunst ances
nave changed--society has assumed u
new aspect-oiher interests have sprung
into life and activity, which worid seem
to render 1t expeti Mt that other classes
besides agricu!turalists should have $, me
voice IN the election ot their rulers, aid
some Influence in Legislation. Much
property exists in personal eflt cts, which
often constitute the entire capital oi many
merchants, traders, manufacturers, me-
chanics, seaiaring and professional men.
Once, one hundred and thirty four dol
lars would have purchased isrm and
u permanent residence: now, that sum;
Invested in real estete, is not enough to
oind the freehoIder TO the State, orto cre-
ate any strong interest in its prosperity.
fosecure the attachmeal and support Of
the people, other and higher lee shngs must
oe relied on, than those which arise from
d trifiing property in the soil. ~
The provision in your charter, making
freehold qualification Indispensable 10
the exercise OF the right Of suffrage, ope-
rates with much inequality in ths city cf
Providence, aud in the compact and pop
ulous towns. IA such places, the SMALL
est house and shop-iots are worth more
than one hundred and thirty four dollars;
therefore men OF small means must either
associate In the purchase Of real estate,
OF greater value; or throw away the sum
necessary to constitute the qualification
IN strips of land, far from their domiciis;
or abandon the most invaluable privilege
of an American citizen.
ll The right Of electing and Of being e.
I, lected,' is, in my opinion, the most i'm
: portant oiour civil rights; and every one
is justified for attempting, by constitutional
and proper means, 70 obtain the right
! Without il, he has net, 10 his country ANY
privilege superior to the privileges Of the
stranger and sojourner. ile is protected
in person and property, and po is the Cor
l"isner: nay, short residence, ard ORC
Iundred and thirty-four dollars in land,
will impart totbe foreigner this high priv;-
lege, denied to native born Americans.-
The possession OF one hundred and thirty
iour dollars in land inpars no superior
intelligence or moral worth and know
40 good reason why the want Of that par
.icuiar qualification shoud deprive ma
i've born Ri de Islander of that which
may how be called birth-rght In Mas
sachuse,ts.
With respect TO ssnirersal suffrage, eau
only say, that the current oirubsic opin-
ion, both IN the United States and fpg-
md, is running in that direction the teu.-
ner Of the times is la,ora5le ~ the II iil9n.
In Europe, the experimer, Any be- dam
gerous-i in America, il cannot be, until
the character b. the people is totally
changed. We have brt few OF that class,
which in Europe constitute 'the raoh!e;'
and there Is high degree of independent
md manly feeling among cur poorest cti--
zens, which will long preserve them irour
the influence OF bribery, corruption, ind
intimidation.
lam, Gentlemen,
with much respect,
your obed,ent servant,
FRANCIS BAYLiES~
Meisrs. William l. I'ilinghast,
| Il A.,