The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-27

u
pct that majority Of TWO in this House
represent less Man one third of this Stat,
Py the last census. That is one fact-le
} 4 be borne in mind. The white NAL
population over twenty-one years exceed
5000 The largest vote ever given II
pis State is somewhat between sever
, and eight thousand, It seldom if ever get
Up to eight thousand. Allowing tha
: there are ten thousand freemen in ths
} State, and this is far too high number
} tbere are then $4,000 white males ovel
y years of age excluded from the priv.
'|lege Of voting. l do not cay that they
are all as well qualified to vote as those
who now vote. 1t is obvious that large
deduction was made. Now put these
two facts together. Less than one third
lof the population OF the State choose
the majority in this House, and about
one third Of the males over 81 in that
population vote thus about one third
Of one third, or about one ninth part OF
the grown up male population Of the
State control the affairs Of the State and
how much, sir, this ninth part are control
led by certain individuals of a certain de-
scription, and how much interest those
individuals have in keeping up this sys-
TEN, and with how much grace they can
impGte improper motives to those who
ask reform of this system, l leave you
to Judge We do not ask for universal
sutfrage-we want to give the right Of
suffrage 10 at least majority OF the a
dult white male population. put 1t to
the good sense OF this House as serious
proposition, and intending to use the word
Republican, not in the cant phrase OF par
|ty-whcther that government Is entitled
to the name Of Republican which ex-
cludes q majority from participating IN
this privilege. Some gentlemen are
very proud Of the name Of republican, IN
deed, sir, we have "republican party"
in this State, but l do say that the
man who wishes to perpetuate the present
system Of Government is not republi-
can, he has deceived himself with name
and TO say that small minority are best
qualified to manage affairs Of the majori-
ty is not "A republican doctrine. Under
the rule Of one man, a freeman and a
good man, it is possible that people
may enjoy, for time, some Of the advan-
tages of good government. But the re-
publican rule is not to trust one man, or
IA few men, and that the majority are the
best guardians OF The rights of the people,
and ought to be possessed of the power
of seli-protection. If any line of distinc-
ton could be drawn so as to exclude, as
a body, those who now apply Tor political
rights on account Of their vices or ignor-
ance, the exclusion would be right and
proper. But, sir, large part Of those
who are now excluded by the operations
Of our laws, ARE like yourst Ives i; they are
the younger sons Of FIRE emen they are me
chanics, they are professional men. You
are constantly in the habit of employing
men in the cause Of your souls and bod
les, n majority who are not qualified to
vote. You are accustomed to trust them
with your most important interests and
yet are afraid to trust them with a voice
in the election Of their rulers. Now if
a certain class could be singled out, like
the Slaves of the Southern States, for any
of condition or character in
compatible with political rights, l should
say it was Inconsistent with their good
and the good Of the whole that they should
be received into a participation of the
right of suffrage. But those who are
excluded under our present system are
our brethren; those who now ask for ad-
mission are not distinguished for any in
feriority of character or of morals to any
other class of the community. DO you
say that you cannot admit them to an e.
quality OF privileges with yourselves that
a small minority among YOU should hold
on to all the power and keep them just
where they are Look at the injustice
of this thing in single instance.
1t is well known that the government
of the United States is supported by in
direct taxation. Now ask if it IS not a
hardship upon non-ireeholders, to oblige /
Them to contribute an equal share with ,
their fellow citizens to the revenue OF the {
general government, and yet allow them
no right to vote for one Of its representa- {
ives. | proposed TO state few facts,
and have stated them, and am now ready
o take the question. hope those gen
Iemen who are opposed to US will take
hese facts home with them (; they will
probably have some future occasion to
fecolect them.
MIR WEEDEN-I wish to make n single
remark as TO the relative operation of the
section of the resolution proposed by the
renteman from Newport now under con-
sideration and Of the substitute for that
section, offered by the gentleman from
The latter excludes cer-
tain description Of persons wich are IN
cludcd in the former. The proposition OF
The gentleman from Newport includes the
eldest sons of frcomen, whether they
have property or not, and lrlshmen ana
other foreigners who have been nnturai'-
zed. These two classes are excluded b.
the gentleman from re.sridonee. E;:% N:%