Rhode-Island constitutionalist. [volume] (Providence [R.I.]) 1834-1834, 1834-04-07
TcosrrsuED FRox FIRST PAoE.l

necessary TO ask Who the People are? More on
this subject in another place.
Who viii say by what right the towns Of North
kingstown and South kingstown are singled out
from the other towns in the State, by the act Of
juno l722, and each entitled to Senator
In May, l778, the frat Senator having declined
serving, the General Assembly promoted each Of
the other Senators degree higher, and elected
n new tenth senator
Without citing any more examples, we appeal
then TO fellow -ctizens, and ask them whether
there does not exist abundant for proclaimng
what expressed in Of the Resolutions passed
at the Grst session Of the Convention, namely,
That the Powers Of the Legislature, and the Rights
ofthe Citizen should be defined and fixed by writ
ten State Constitution
A subject Of just complaint, and one which loudly
calls for the corrective hand Of a Constitution, Is
the extreme lHEQUALITY OF OUR KEPREsEF-
TATIoS. This evil has been entailed upon us by
strange adherence to the Charter Of Charles III.
This Charter provides (as wo have SEEM that the
towns in the State shall he represented by mot
exceeding six persons for Newport, four persons Tor
each OF the respective towns OF Providence, Forts
mouth and Warwick, and two persons for each other
town." At the time the Charter was granted, this
was fair and equal apportionment OF Representa-
tyes according the relative population OF the sew
eral towns. But since that period, the relative
population Of our towns has so greatly changed, and
80 many small towns, entitled to two representatives
each, have been incorporated, by dividing and sub
dividing larger ones, that the Freemen of this state
are now very unequally and unfairly represented in
our State Legislature. In order TO show the extent
Of this inequality, we ask your attention to a few
statements, which you will find fully supported, by
referring to the official returns Of votes pOlled, in
each town at recent elections, and by comparing
the number Of these votes with the number Of Rep
rcsentatiyes TO which each town is entitled by the
Charter.
At the last spring election, the whole number Of
votes polled in all the towns in this state was 1917.
One third Of this number is 2i39. Our House Of
Representatives consists Of ~ members. 3S of these
(beng majority Of two members) were elected by
1884 qualified freemen,-ess than one third of the
qualified ireemen Of the State who then voted.
The remaining "a members were OF course elected
by the remaining 1888 ireemen. The result is about
the same at our other elections.
Half the freemen or (more properly speaking)
qualified voters in the State amount by the returns
Ia $685. 81 Representatives (beng a majority
Of l5) are now elected by 3637 voters; less than
half the qualified voters in the State The remain
ing Fl Representatives Of course elected by the
remaining $3.50 qualified voters.
BY descending little To particulars, we shall find
instances of inequality still more unjust and inde
fensiblc. The town Of jamestown, for instance,
sends one Representative to every Is freemen -
while the town of Burrilvlle sends but one Repre-
ter but one Representative to every 1856 freemen -
the town Of Smithfed but Representative to every
zoo freemen and the city Of Providence but one
Representative to every 275 freemen.
Thus system supposes that one freeman Of
the town Of jamestown is entitled to as much po-
litical weight and importance freemen Of the
town of Burrlllye, 3 Of the town Of Foster, ii of
the town Of Smthfeld, and Is Of the city Of Prov
idence. 1t consequently takes freemen in Burrill.
vile, in Foster, IL in Smithfeld, and Is in Prov
idencc, 10 equal freeman Of the town Of lanes
town. The result will be very similar by comparing
other small towns with larger ones.
An inequality Of representation like this is too
ujust to be much longer tolerated. II is not un-
common in the monarchies Of Europe but, with
the single exception of Rhode-Island, il is unknown
in the United States. II was never intended by
our venerable ancestors who procured the Charter;
and, if Roger Williams now TO rise from his
grave, there be doubt that such inequality
would, Of itself, induce him to take the lead of a
political reformation.
II the number Of representatives from each town
he compared with the whole population Of each town,
the result will not materially differ from that to
which we have arrived in considering the represen-
tation Of qualified voters only.
The whole population Of this State, according to
the census Of 1890, Is 97,2l0. One third Of this
number is 80, ,433.-3l, 1918 (being less than one
third) are now represented by 3S members of the
House Of Representatives, being majority Of 2 in
diat body. The remaining 65, 1902 are, Of course,
represented by only - members.
Half the population Of the State is Just As, ,605
1866 (being less than half the population) are
now represented by 81 members OF the House Of
Representatives, being a majority in that body of I5
The remaining 49, S45 are of COURSE represented by
Fl members only.
OF the twelve most agricultural towns in the
State, the six largest have less than third the
weight Of representation in Legislature that the
six smallest have: yet this inequality is represented
by some "A mere question Of interest between the
agricultural and manufacturing towns.
This inequality Of representation has had the e.
feet Of placing the majority Of the qualified voters in
this State, under the control Of the minority This
is certain the fact that figures speak the truth
Now who does not see that upon all questions in
which the local interests Of this minority are adverse
to the local interests Of the majority, they will unite
against the majority And who does not see that
whenever they do so unite they will control the ma
joriyl II is odious feature Of present system
that il has given local character to some Of the
most general and yitally important questions of leg
islafion. What, for instance, can be more impor-
tant than just and equal apportionment Of taxes
And yet our present system Of representation has
given minority Of the Freemen both the interest
and the power, TO perpetuate unequal and ua
Just apportionment. What can be more impor.
tant object Of legislation than to establish just and
equal representation OF the peoplel Yet our pres.
ent system has given 10 minority Of the Freemer
both the interest and the power To continue oui
present unequal and unjust representation. Ou,
system ia nj war with the DrosDerity of thu