The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-20

unfounded opinion, that they did M
wish TO be overrun by an army of foreign
ers. Now we have totally disclaime
any design Of enlarging the franchise
this vide extent. If men will not rea
the documents in which our objects IN
principles are explicitly laid down, It
extremely unjust for them to charge upoI
us principles and designs which we err
phatically disayow. As the principles Q
the constitutional party have been call e
into question in this debate, shall tas
the patience of this House "A few me
ments while l read from report Of
committee who prepared the resolution
adopted by the convention in Providenc
on the 22d Of February last
WHEREAS il is the undeniabe right of,hc peo
pie at all times, peaceaby to assemble for con
sutaon and conference touching the government
under which they live, and which they nssist an,
have an interest in supporting and independently
to utter and TO set forth on such occasions OF NEE
ing together, their views, sentiments and plans a,
to the correction both Of defects in the crganyat.or
Of government and Of faults in the administration
Of the same We, who are now here assembled ia
Convention as represe natives Of a portion of the
people Of this State. do declare their and our opn
ions and purposes, in the following resolutions
Resoiped-l. That it is repugnant to The spirit
of the Declaration Of American Independence, and
derogatory to the character OF Rhode Island re.
publlcans to acknowledge the Charter of BRIT
1871 KING, as a cons tuition Of civil government.
2. That the time has fully arrived for n vgor-
Gus and concentrated effort to accomplish the OBJ
ject of political reform in this State.
3. That the public good imperavely requires
fha nf pI ,b, a
the citizen, which are now where clearly deill-
eG and fixed by n written State Constitution.
4. That the representation Of the towns in The
General Assembly, az originally established by the
provisions OF the Charter of King Charles H. had
reference to their then existing population, and was
at that time, not unfairly adjusted to it but that
by the great increase of population in the towns,
the existing apporionment has become exceeding
iy unequal and unjust in its operation, and that u
more equal distribution of representatives, among
the towns, will be an Indispensable article in a
Constitution for this State.
s. That, at the foundation Of this State, md
long utcr, property in land not only the prin-
cpal property of the citizens, but was so eesy at
tanablc that landed qualification for voters eN-
cuded only small portion Of the people from po-
ltical power but that the circumstances Of the
people have since greatly changed and that the
existing qualification has the effect CONTRARY TO
the design Of those who first established i) Of cx-
clud,ng the majority, among whom are large pro-
portion Of those who pay taxes, from all political
privileges and participation in the affairs Of gov
eminent and that, although we entertain n proper
respect for landhoders, we are not nsen-ibIe to
the merits OF the Mechanics, the Merchants, Work
ingMen and others, who own no land and that
we nrc OF opinion that the longer continuance Of q
landed qualification, as the exclusive condition Of
exercising the elective franchise, is great injus-
ce, and is contrary to the spirit aud principles Of
republican government, and that Constitution
for the State will be altogether insufficient, unsat-
sfaciory, and impracticahle, that does not restore
to the minority OF the people the rights and priyi-
legcs of American Citizens.
q. That in the opinion Of this Convention all
white male citizens ofthe United States over twen-
ty one years OF age, excepting paupers and per-
sons under guardianship who have resided within
this State, for period not less than one year pre-
ctding their claim 10 vote, and within the town
where they shall claim TO vote, should be entitled
to the night of suffrage upon paying tax and
that person born ont Of the jurisdiction of the
United States should be allowed to vote, unless he
have first been naturalized according to the Act
Of Congress have been possessed of freehold es-
tate according to the provisions Of the present laws,
for a term Of years aud have resided, previously
to voting one whole year in this State and that
there should be strict registration Of all the quail
fed voters
Z. That continuance Of the provisions Of the
present charter relating to representation. and of
the Act OF the Legislature requiring freehold es-
tate to entite citizen to vote for public officers
are each departure from the principle avowed al,
the first session ofthe General Assembly, in the
year l6i7, which was that the gope,nnunt Of
this STATE shouid be ;" DEMocRAcY."
8. That the judicial system Of the State may be
that one of the provisions of II Constitution should
be for tho essential inIpro yement of that system.
!. Tnit the VI doubt rights and privileges OF the
people, aud the prosperity and honor of the State
can only be completely obtained and permanently
insured by IA written Constitution, tn be framed,
approved and rati ed by both freeholders and nom
ireeholders and that we therefore pledge our
seA es individually to each other, and collectively
TO the public, that We will Use our unremittng ell
forts tor the establishment OF such Constitution.
10. That we Will h, reaiter be known by the name
of the CoNsTITUTIoNALP PARTY (; that we will
all OF US endeavor 10 enlist as many az possible uI-
der that name, and IN aid oi the aforementioned
objects, which We avow to be local in their ma
ture und to have no connexion with National pol
tics and that for the better accomplishment Of
these objects, we will propose and support Tick
ct Of General Officers, under the above name, at
the ensuing spring electlonio be composed OF men,
friendly to our cause, without distinction Of party.
What then becomes OF all this parade
and nonsense about universal suffrage,
about foreigners coming in here to over
throw our government and rule our prop
erty without restraint. Our proposition
is this-We wish to admit any native born
white male citizen to the privilege oil vo-
ting, who shall pay tax on not less than
a certain amount of personal property
This amount Is not liked, but is lett where
it belongs, 10 be determined by the fram-
ers OF the Constitution. We merely say
that the most which should be required is
payment Of tax. While upon this sub
Ieet am ready to admit with others that
Tho system oi voting IN New York Is
wrong and injurious to tho best Interests !
nj th.t G,.t. IL a. e,td that If ue i,t tho