The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-05

men, they met in Grand Committee,
counted the proxes and declared there
was no Election by the people. The
House of Representatives then immedi-
ately ordered new Election to be had
May 10Th by the freemen, and the votes
to be brought IN at the adjournment in
June. After that the Regency adjourn
ed, having restricted themselves TO some
very few minor acts of Legislation of
indispensable necessity. aud also con-
.inuing all the State Officers in their
several places, until the next meeting OF
the Assembly.
The Regency met again June 2lst
they counted the votes which resulted,
again, in no choice by the people. A
new Election was ordered, to take
place in the several Towns on the 18th
of July; but not in st rict conformity to
the provision of the Perpetuation act.
1t not having been done Immediately af-
ter the votes was counted and declared |
On motion, the House of Representa-
tives refused to join with the upper
house in Grand Committee, for the pur-
pose ofproceedIng to the election of
State Officers--but they afterwards did
join and reelected the old Sheriffs anew
on a suggestion that their 70 rmer bonds
would be in Vailed after that time-they
also filled few Offices which had be-
come vacant. The GOVERNOR
REGENTon taking the chair in grand
Committee remarked that it "was not
considered expedient by the Senate, at
this time, further to proceed on the FL
ection, than was necessary under exist
ing circumstances" The Regency con-
tinued, all the incumbents in Office, un-
I'll the adjourned meeting which was to
take place the first Monday in August.
Thus for the Regency restricted their
doings within the powers conferred by
the act Of January 1882.
F0urth!y. The Regency met again
on the first Monday in August. and on
counting the Proxies found, for the third
time no Election by the people. An
other poll was ordered to take place
August 2Sih the proxes to be returned
to the October Session. The Regency
then proceeded to the Election of Stute
officers, by the consent Of very small
majority This election, altho ques-
toned by many nt the time-may still,
by liberal construction Of the power
of the Regency, be sustained, their pow
er being only coeval with their own ex-
istence--and whatever appointments
they might make, could only secure the
incumbents their Offices, during the con-
tingent existance of the Regency itself
If the frcemen had elected a Govern
or Lieutenant Governor and Senate by
their vote which took place in August,
or any subsequent vote for that purpose
during the political year-the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor and Senate so elec-
ted, as soon as they were engaged to
their officers wonld have taken their
seats-and from that moment the regen-
cy would have ceased to exist. The
legitimate General Assembly, being thus
restored, would have held and exercised
all the power ofelection, ofstate officers,
from the moment of their inauguration
until another annual election. And SO
far from the officers-who were appoint
ed by the regency-holding to the end
of the political year, their term Of office
would have expired with those under
whose authority they held them. In
deed the very law which alone gave the
regency existence, would then have be-
come null, and the new Governor, bieu-
tenant Governor and Senate, with the
House of Representatives, would have
done for the remainder of the political
year, precisely the same as they would
have done had they been elected in May,
at the annual election. No right of e.
lection ever existed in the regency, ex-
cept such as was incidental, viz. TO gov
ern the State during the interregnum.
Let US now take further view of the
subiect--le! US ask every man 10 mt IL