The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-01-29
HpUsE OF REPRESENTATIVE, JANu.-
RY SESSION. A. ID. 1893.

NJ ''tNSfoNs "A. ~. -OD.
Tie undersigned, members of the
House Of Representatives., entertaining
an unyielding attachment and respect
for the unaiisnated aud reserved rights
of the people : aud firmly believing that
the election Of Asher Robbins to the
Senate of the United States on Saturday
last, by the concurrent act Of the pres
ent officiating Governor aud Seua'e,
with a majoryiy of this House, is wholly
unauthorized by the Constitution of :hs
State, and repugnant to the settled and
long established usages and custo ms
thereof, deem it their imperative duty
to enter their solemn protest against
said election and do hereby publicly
and solemnly protest against it, as an
act of legislation, unwarranted by any
express or implied constitutional princi-
pie. and an open Infringement upon, and
an usurpation of the sovereign rights OF
the people, to which they never yielded
their assent, and by which they ought
not TO be bound.
First because it is settled and es-
tablished principle, that Grand Com
mitiee for the choice of officers, must be
formed and constituted by Governor
and Senate, and House of Represents
tives duly elected by Me people and, be
otherwise duly qualified to make choice
of such officers. ~
iSec0nd-Because the officiating Gov
ernor aud Senate, who, as coordinate
branch of the State Government, formed
the Grand Committee on Saturday, and
by whose cooperation with this House,
was effected the election Of the said
Robbins. a Senator in Congress, for six
years from the fourth Of March next,
are not 50 elected by the people; bat, who
assumed to exercise the functions of
their offices, by virtue Of an act enthled
San Act in addition to an Act entitled
nn Act, regulating the manner of admil-
ting freemen, aud directing the method
of electing officers in the Slate," passed
in. January, A. ID. 1882
Ihird-Because said Act was inten-
ded, in the. event Of failure of an cleo
tion Of Governor and Senate by the peo-
pie, only to preserve the legislative form
Of the Government, until an election of
Governor and Sehate could be made by
the pc pie, aud never was intended to
confer upon Governor and Senate the
power of electing others, themselves
not being elected by the people,) and
does not confer upon the present offic-
iating Governor and Senate, the right
or power Of joining this House in Grand
Committee for the choice of any officer
80 -.
gress.
FSurfh-Because the present Cover
nor and Senate, when elected in April
1881, were not chosen by The people,
with any view Of electing Senator as
aforesaid, nor have they ever taken any
obligation, binding upon them in regard
to such an election, the term Of service
for which they were SO elected, and the
oath Of Office then administered to them,
terminating with the political year on
the first Wednesday of May, A. d. lS-
80. 20 1AtNss8
Ffh-Because as the vacancy in the
office Of Senator does not occur until
the 4th of March next and as one OF
more elections Of Governor and Senate
by the people, were specially provided
for BY the aforesaid act, the pesople
might have had one or more opportuni.
ties Of expressing their opinions in reIa
ton to the choice Of Senator ; and az
the House might have been adjourned
and continued in Session from time to
time, as of the annual October Session,
before the 9TH Of March, There was no
necessity Of proceeding in the choice Of
a Senator at the present time.
Sirth-The election ofAsher Robbins
bv the votes of the present acting Gov