The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-04-20

alton and representation should always 60
Together. Every man by our form OF
Government ought to have voice in the
taxation Of his propeny-which taxes he
has to pay"
| So say we. And as the State election
has passed by, and nothing Of great i'm
portance demanding the attention Of the
public, at this time, we intend in Gew of
our succeeding numbers, to offer some
hints on the Right Of Suffrage. A me-
mortal is now being circulated IN this
town, for signatures, which will Be pre-
sented at the next session Of our General
Assembly. And it is to be hoped that
this august body, will, at least, suffer the
memorial to be read, and not lay it aside
without giving it a fair hearing, as was
the case in the year 1929. We be-
lieve at that time, there was not a single
member ofthe Assembly, who had cour-
age enough to advocate the petition Of
the MemoraIists. 1f we mistake not,
there were upward of 1900 signatures to
the petitions sent in from different towns.
These memorials were referred to a COM
mittee ofthrec, who reported at the next
session ofthe Assembly, that it was iner-
pedient to act on the petitions of the mo-
moralists intimating, that those who
were dissatisfied with the existing state
of things were ;nterlcpsrs' from other
States.
We sincerely belevc-and thousands
agree with us-that the old royal charter
is wholly and totally unfit for the pur-
pose to which it is applied. Disguise it
as they may, the very persons, to whom
this rotten instrument grants exclusive
privileges, are ashamed to acknowledge
any friendship for its partial provisions, or
any respect for its paternity; yet such is
their selfshness--their want Of public
spirit, ,that in this late period ofthe world
in one Thousand eight hundred and thirty
three, j, is retained as the supreme law Of
an enlightened-and as Calhoun would
suy-< sovereign State.' The principles
Of this political skeleton are similar to
those of the rotten borough system in
England, which has for many years been,
with our royal charter, standing subject
of ridiculc. The 6 Boroughs' are done a
way-but our charter remains the lonely
monument Of a dark ard despotic age -
and how much longer shall this reproach
to Rhode Island exist Efforts have
fruhlessly been made to substitute Con-
stitution in its stead but the Legislature
as organized by the present laws, refused
to call a Convention and the subject was
dropped; so that, for the last four years,
very little, if any, effort has been made to
procure the needed reform. 1t is time
the slumbering energies of the people
were again aroused to the prosecution Of
this good work. We talk about masonry
as IL that was the Pandora's box--but 'lis
oil mistake. The only political evils,
of any account, affecting this State, lurk
in that old charter-its unequal represen-
tation and very limited right of suffrage.
Lop off that dry branch, or rather hew
down the old calous trunk, and plant a
tree ofthe peoples choice, and all will
go well in politics with the children Of
Rhode-Island. The whole body polite
will feel an interest in the prosperity ofthe
State. and consequently each individual
will contribute to its prosperity all that is
in his power |; but now the mass of citi-
zens are disfranchised--they have not
part or lot in the government-ars-p nat en-
titled to its important protection, and con-
sequently feel AMI; or Indifferent to its pre-
servaticn Hence tumults and the in
creased criminal docket in our Courts,
SC. t
All we ask is fair and impartial hear
ing. And then, If il be decided that we
must submit-we will not grumblc. Let
it come fairly before the people, and let
them decide our fate. We do not, in the
language of the memorial, ask for an un-
limited extension Of the suffrage system.
We only desire, that the State first 10
recognize the sacred rights Of conscience
may still have enough Of justice rmain-
ing, to allow those who share the burden
Of government TO share also in the elect
| ion Of its oficera. If nnn-techoldcrA