The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-08-02
TOR THE STAR.
THE ooM sTITUTIoN or
RHODE.ISLAND.
NO. I.

The discussion OF the question, whether Their
shosld be any change in the Constitution Of thi
State, and il SO, what that change should be. hs
led 10 much excitement on both sides. At th
same time points have been assumed which are mol
true, and arguments advanced which are notsound
These errors arc by no means confined exclusiyel,
TO either party. Ono, to which l alude, 10 tha
| which has been committed by the friends Of the
constitutional cause themselves, by asserting, that
F." we no,o have no Constifution, whatevcr." -
Now this is an assumption of poiut which has no
foundation in truth, and consequently all arguments
founded upon sucha principle must fall. While
| all who are opposed to US are firmly of another o.
pinon, they will not ofcourse listen to any argu-
menis that may be urged in support Of this. Let
us admit then that we have a Constitution |; and
then shcw that il is very faulty one let us
poiat out these ;and then appeal TO our OPP
ponents as philosophers and honest men, 10 amend
these defects by adopting new Constitution.
wish here to be clearly understood as not advoca-
ting simple alteration Of the present Constitu-
ton but the entire repeal fit, by the adopt
ion Of new one In these numbers intend to
exhibit although very partially and mperfec,ly, the
great defects which attend our present system Of
Government, and the very great advantages which
would accrue to all by the adoption ofa now one.
Before close this communication, however. l will
just explain the point, by which ! may seem to
differ from others who arc equally the friends Of a
new Constitution. What is Constitution If !
understand the term, it signifies the fundamental
principles on which Government is formed and
conducted"
A Constitution may c:i. :: under any form Of sim
pie or mixed government, whether monarchy, a
ristocracy, or democracy" "a Constitution may
exist under any Of these forms, If the Government
be administered according to established rules and
principles, and be the result of general consent,
either actually expressed or fairly to be implied"
g. Hence Constitution may be derived from
traditionary information or from the acts and pro-
ceedings Of the Government itself, us well as from
a written compact"
We have certain principles, on which our gov
ernment is conducted. and they are the result Of
the general consent Of the people, which has been
both indirectly expressed, and fully implied by
we have no Uritten Constitution. do not by
my means lock upon the Charter asany more of
Constitution than the proceedings and acts Of the
government il is clearly no further Constitution
han our supreme Ii gisature choose to make it,
The Legislature from whom there is no appeal,
have certain principles on which they manage the
government Of the State these rules whether
Tound scattered throughout the Charter, or among
heir own acts, or have authority but tradition,
are equally constitutional. whenever they receive
the sancton Of the Legislature. All con readi-
y see how loosely and imperfectly the Govern
nent Of State must bemanaged, when LEFT to be
regulated on such unstable principles.
will endcavor at some future time to illustrate
ne parts Of our government which are dependent
,pon the sereraI sources of.a Constitution, and
he evil effects which result from them It will
not answer to say that we have no Consfitution
because we have no wriften conpact, A writ
len compact among the people is by far the best
Constitution we can have, but as we have already
shown it is not absolutely necessary. We hear
much about the English Constitution ; but who ev-
or saw it when was it adopted or by whom
Il is far from being written compact, between
The people Of that nation, but it is no less Con-
s,itution, which is equally binding upon the whole
English nation. u.
*Duer onthe Constitution Of the u g.