The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-07-19
WHOLE NO. -.

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From sho Address ofthe Constitssiohsl Convex
| toni r 2sf
While the general welfare IL tho great
aim and object OF the American Dian Of
government, most Of the governments of'
the old world are constructed and operato
for the benefit Of the few, It the expenss
Of ell the rest. The original principle Of
tcquatity Of suilfsEs II ths fessyueisu e
political society has been set entirely a
nought; and you will sec despot whose
remote ancestor was elected 10 tho head
ofa state, on account Of his valor and q.
chlsxements, now claiming to rule over.
their descendants by divine right, and to
exclude them from political privileges.--
The effect Of this kind Of government and
OF the artificial condition of society cosa.
nected with it, il to place all the wealth
and power of the country in the hands Of
the Intelligent few and, beyond tho
middle classes, At the ottsar exsrsmsty sc
the body polite, to create macs of pov.
erty, Ignorance and degradation, which il
ncapacitated to participate, to its own
good, in the government of the country,
and unfit to accept Of better governments
if it should be offered. This is the moJe
dreadful effect Of long-standing despot-
ism. In such a state of society, where
the vast majority arc taught to regard tho
few who rule them as higher order of
beings-are imbued with feeling Of en-.
lire servility, and have lost that of person.
al worth and Independence, true lover
OF his fellow men may well hesitate about
the propriety and the safety of suddenly
Republican system, and
making them voters all at once, without
the preparatory process of education
since the good Of the whole, including tho
oppressed themselves, might require their
exclusion. Such man, if in his heart
Republican, would, notwithstanding his
hesitation about immediate emancipation.
still acknowledge their natural fights
He would feel that tho poorest and most
degraded subject Of the most despotio
monarch 10 yet.a brother Of the humaA
race, and has within him the capacity
of better things that all who wear tho
form Of humanity are entitled to the hopes
and privileges of human nature. He
would therefore be anxious to qualify The
oppressed as soon as possible, and to
raise them TO the privilege Of selfgovern-a
ment. But whatever course a true pat.
riot might feel himself bound to adopt, in
one Of the corrupt monarchies Of tho old
world, no such reason can be given for
a postponement Of political rights 10 our
own country. No privileged orderss
have ever, existed in it, to create the vast
inequality which prevails elsewhere be-,
tween the many and the few. A spirit
of freedom was brought with them by our
ancestors, and has ever subsisted among
us. There is very general diffusion Of
useful knowledge. The great majori-
ty, also, in this country are interested in
Of some sort or other; and urs
thus strictly bound together in interest to
support the government. The only ex-
ception to this general equality is in tho
Slave States, where large part If the
population Is in q still lower condition,
than the degraded populace to which We
have alluded. But be the case AZ it may
in those States, thore is no pretence Of
any such marked inequality among the
citizens Of New England as to designate
any particular class Of them, for exclu-
sion from the benefit Of political rights.
Tho true American doctrine is that the
majority not only have right to govern,
but that they are sufficiently intelligent
and honest to govern and that, ifthere
be any doubt about this sufficiency, we
ought Immediately to set to work and
build more schools. Men in Europe who
are opposed to any farther Improvements
in government may talk about the nsces-
sity Of "barring out the people," and Of
I" defending themselves against the peo-
ple." But this will not do here. He
therefore who contends in New. England
Tor any limitation Of political privileges
that excludes a majority Of his fellow-cit-
liens from voting, whatever may be his
party, or professions, or denunciation Of
uther men on the score of Republicanism.
tells you in effect, startled though he may
be at the sound Of the verde, that he dis
trusts and is unfavoraLle to a Republicsn
form Of government--that he wishes "to
make il rafe'' by confning all power to tls
who will thus be able to protect
against the people. Protec-
ion against the people in this country -
Any man strenuous for the preseut sys-
tenn, and who calls himself friendly also
10 popular rights, would do well TO inquire
for the definition Of The word people. L.
includes besides landholders, many more
who are getting impatient for new def
nition Of the word, however its meaning
may have been settled by long nssgs IN.
This State Depend upon Il, fellow-eiii-
xens, that if the People of THE coustry
heco,no ;ouornnt and corrupt. our futm az