The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-12-14
! NORTHERN STAR
WARREN. R. !. SATURDAY. DEC. il. isss.

WARREN, r. ]. SATURDAY, DEC. IL, iss
From ths.comnnnicatio efour Provideacs c6I
respondent, published in our last. il would see
that the meeting Of the friends Of Free safiags.
dis town, tho proceedings Of which were publisl
ed in this paper, has besa subject Of some ints
est in other parts Of the Siats, a. well as her,
and has caused somewhat Of stir among Ii
Charter folks, and given an impulse to the cause
by encouraging our friends to renewed persevsr
snce.
Thatse goody number Of freeholders shoul
have attended and given their sanction to the pro
cesdings Of that meeting, has been source .
much surprizs to many Of our opponents. who b,
this begin to discover that the cry for reform is ne
confined only to the rabbls. as the friends of Ere
Suffrage have been hitherto termed. The pres
encs ofthe freeholders on this occasion was alto
gerher voluntary, dictated by principle, and with
desire to extend 10 large class Of citizens, thos,
rights which lave already been too long unjustI,
withheld. Ths Of Itself, il there were no othcl
example, is sufficient refutation Of tho ISLANDERS
which the inteppsrate zsal Of some has put in cir
culaton 10 their prejudice !; and shows conclusive
y that the freshoders regard the welfare and hsp-
piness Of the whole community, ofwhich they cen
slider themselves a. forming pa'E II shows al
Sc, that they, as well a. other citizens, have wit
messed the evils Of the existing state of .hegs until
they are satsed radical reform is called for and
this they are determined to effectuate. We have
before frequently spoken ofthe interest taken by
the fieehoders in the cause of free suffrage but
our opponents have hitherto been, or affected 10
be, skeptcal as TO the general prevalence Of such
an interest, and accused Us of laying claims TO
sympathy which did not exist. The progress Of
the cause, however. and the great number of free
holders who openly advocate it, have at length
drawn from them reluctant admission Of the fact,
and caused variety Of conectures as TO the means
by which this revolution of opinion, as they now
crm it, has been effected. Some have assigned a
general disafectien and desire of change a cause
and others, want of respect and veneration for
,ur ancestors; whilst sagacious writerin the Her
I'D attributes the origin of the whole difficulty to
he want Of proper sympathy with the soil 'mi-
able dictu'!! Not a word is said, in accounting
or the organization of the friends Of suffrage as
'arty, Of the unequal and upjnst regulations in re;
ard to the rights ofsurage, and the ratio Of rep
esentation, which prevail under the Charter, and
which have become oppressive to a large portion
+ the community Not word is said Of the pro-
rsss of population and Improvement, nor of the
,ore general prevalence of liberal sentiments, as
.lculaed to render the charter less adapted to the
haracter, situation and circumstances ofthe State,
I'd to excite in the people desire to reform those
ouses which have chiefly arisen by conforming to
'gulations intended only for an infant csmpsui.y.
nj i = eonsi1ssed hatsuch, and other considsra-
ons ofequsl fosce which might be adduced, are
themselves well calculated TO influence the opin-
pms Of men on measures of local policy, a. well a.
n other mattsrs. Hitherto, however, we have
ad but little to do with the causes of the origin Of
ae free suffrage party it is sufficient for our pur-
ose that such party does exist. OF the extent Of
ne party, and Of the measures il has proposed to
dopt we have simply stated the facts, and left our
pponents 70 draw from them such conclusions ~
ait them best. Iffom the signs Of the time, they
an discover indications favorable to the perpetui-
Of the charter. be it so; we shall neither COM
lain NOR attempt to deprive them Of the consoIa-
on which such discovery is calculated to pro-
uce. But, at the same time, we claim the right
forming our ownconclusions on the same sub
'ct, and Of drawing from them what consolation
nd encouragement we are able,-even if they
aoald be ofqsite an opposite character. We will
'ersfore, again admonish the friends Of free suf.
age to take encouragement from the success that
10 already attended their efforts, and to persevsrs,
nt the work, which has thus been SO suspicious
begun, is fully completed. For we think we
IN already discern the elements, which, when
roperiy regulated and combined, are to PROSTATE
10 existing charter in the dust, and rasie on its ru-
9 Constitution, which shall secure equal rights
every citizen, raise each class Of the community
its legitimate influence, give sanction and sup
,rt to the great principles Of American freedom
I'd be worthy the adoptiOH-apd support of liberal
ID sDIightsned fresmen.
yoR TUE STAR.
Mn. RANDALL,
Feeling great love and respect for the pso-
. ofthis town and vicinity; and having many in
resting and growing ties to strengthen an n 7.