Rhode-Island constitutionalist. [volume] (Providence [R.I.]) 1834-1834, 1834-03-12


sees fit to make in the political rights oi
| its own citizens will be binding upon cit
izens coming from other States and fall
ING within the terms ofthose distinctions.
We have seen fit in this State to appoint
that our white males shall vote and that
blacks shall not. A colored man who
votes upon his freehold in n. York, when
he gets here is of course DISTINGUISHED.
Whether this be Just or not does not De-
long to our inquiry; but our law is not un-
constitutional nor is the proposed restrlc-
ion unconstitutional. If we should frame
an article in Constitution for this State,
which, without making any political dis
tinctions between native born citizens,
and naturalized citizens resident IN the
State at the time of the adoption OF such
Constitution, should attempt to bar out
other foreign born citizens, coming from
other States, or particular States, by a
special provision directed against them,
we should then come in conflict with the
article ofthe Constitution above mention
ed. But there is no such proposition be-
fore the Convention We wish that they
should all be treated alike, Withdrawing
any invidious line of discrimination.
The construction of the Constitution
contended for on the other hand would
put the political rights Of the States entire
ly under the control Of the other States.
According to this reasoning, if the State
of Maine, for instance, should see fit to
declare that all persons of the age of II
years, without regarding property, birth,
(native or foreign) or residence, should
vote at its elections, then any man, from
any part of the world, upon voting once
in that state, and obtaining certificate
from the registering Office of his having
done so, might present himself in any
State, and claim and enforce right TO
vote in it, thus setting its once political
regulations entirely at nought.
Such construction ofthc Constitution
we may safely say was very far from any
conception or intention of those who
framed that instrument.
Mr.. Rivers of Providence, advocated
this restriction upon foreigners as a eau
tionary measure, and on account OF It's
applicability to manufacturing State.
Mr.. Charles c. Harrington, of North
Providence, naturalized citizen and a
freeholder, demonstrated against the par
TALLY and injustice Of denying to those
whom the laws of the United States haye
pronounced wholesome citizens, privi-
lege extended to all other citizens, except
upon the condition that they would pur-
chase l34 dollars worth of sand and
gravel.
MIR. Joseph X. Angel, Of Providence,
advocated the expediency Of this restric-
ton under our peculiar circumstances /;
and thought, as we were not now franz
ing Constitution, but merely expressing
our general views on the subject, our
constitutional scruples might very prop
erly be deferred for the present, as they
would be very closely investigated in a
future Convention of the people. He re-
marked further, that the distinction pro-
posed in the resolution was certainly not
more absurd than that which has long
prevailed in this State between older and
younger sons.
After an amendment was proposed by
Mr.. John Fl. Wecden. Of North Provi-
dence and another by Mr.Samuel f. Gar
diner of Smithfeld, neither of whichpre-
vailed, this part ofthe 9th resolution pass
ed in its original shape.
The provision in the 18th Resolution,
that the proposed Convention of the Peo-
pie to form a Constitution shall be "baSed
upon population" was introduced by Mr..
Thomas Doyle, of Providence.
Mr.. VIM. |. Tillinghast, of Providence,
communicated to the Convention letter
from gentleman of high responsibility
in the south part Of the State offering to
place at the disposal of the Convention
a treatise which he has written in de-
fence of an extension of suffrage in this
State. This letter was received and re-
ferrcd to a select committee, consisting
Of Mcssrs. VIM. ]. Tillinghast. John H.
Weeden and Christopher Robinson with