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

cans, to acknowledge tne ChdrteI vi q
BRITIsm KING, as a constitution OF civil
government.
9. That the time has fully arrived for
vigorous and concentrated effort to ac-
complish the object of political reform IN
this State.
3. That the public good imperatively
requires that the powers OF the leglsla-
ture and the rights of the citizen, which
are now no where clearly defined, should
be defined and fixed by a written State
Constitution.
A. That the representation OF the
towns in the General Assembly, as org
inally established by the provisions OF the
Charter of King Charles ii, had refer
ence to their then existing population,
and was, at that time, not unfairly ADJUST
ed to it but that, by the great increase
of population in the towns, the existing
apportionment has become exceedingly
unequal and unjust in its operation, and
that more equal distribution OF repre-
sentatives among the towns, VIII De
an indispensable article in Constitution
for this State.
3. That, at the foundation ofthis State,
and long after, property in land was not
only the principal property ofthe cltlzens'
but was so easily attainable that iaNd-
ed qualification for voters excluded on
ly small portion of the people from po-
litical power but that the clrcumstan-
ces of the people have since greatly
changed, and that the existing qualihca'
ton has the effect CONTRARY to the de-
sign of those who first established lt) oi
excluding the majority, among whom are
large portion of those who pay taxes,
from all political privileges and partlcl,
patton in the affairs OF government ana
that, although we entertain proper re-
spect for Landholders, we are not insen-
sible to the merits of the Mechanics, the
Merchants, Working-Men and others,
who own no land; and that we are Of
opinion that the longer continuance OF
LANDED qualification, as the exclusive con-
dtion ofexercising the elective franchise
is great injustice, and is contrary te
the spirit and principles Of a republican
government; and tb% Constitution fol
this State will be alto. ier insufficient
unsatisfactory, and ,mpracticable, that
does not restore to the majority OF the
Ipeople the rights andprivileges of Amer
lean Citizens.
6. That in the opinion Of this Conyen.
ton all white male citizens Of the United
States over twenty-one years of age, lex
cepting paupers and persons under guar
dianship, )who have resided within TINS
State for period not less than one year
preceding their claim to vote, and within
the town where they shall offer to vote,
for the term ofnot less than three months
preceding their claim to vote, should be
entitled to the right of suffrage, upon
paying a tax; and that no person born
out of the jurisdiction of the United
States should be allowed to vote, unless
he have first been naturalized according
to the Acts of Congress; have been pos
sessed of freehold estate according to
the provisions Of the present law, Tor a
term of years and have resided, prevl-
ously to voting, one whole year in this
State; and that there should be a strict
registration of all the qualified voters.
Z. That continuance of the provl-
sions of the present charter relating to
representation, and of the Act of the
Legislature requiring a freehold estate
to entitle citizen to vote for public ofli-
GERS, are each departure from the prln-
ciple avowod at the first session OF the
General Assembly, in the year l647
which was that the government OF TINS
State should be a Democracy"
6. That the Judicial system OF the
State may be better adapted to the ad,
ministration of justice; and that ono o
the provisions of a Constitution should
be for the essential improvement OF that
system.
o. That the undoubted rights and pri-
vilegcs of the people, and the prosperity
and honor of the State can only be conf
pletely obtained and permanently insur-
ed by written Constitution, to be franz
ed, approved and ratified by both free
holders and nou-freeholders and that