The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-08-30
From the Providence Daily Journal.
RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE.
1yrnrE cESSjOMNE WPORT

JUNE SESsiON-.NEWPORT
DeJale on the Blu for ealing Conren-
ton 10 amendthe Constitutional Charter
Of his State.
IKuRsDAY Forenoon, juno 26.-Mr
B. HAZARD, called up the business as
signed Tor consideration to this morning,
viz. the bill introduced by him at the last
session entitled San Act to provide for
the holding Of convention for the pur-
pose of framing and proposing to thodree-
men sucii amendments Of the present con-
sltutionul charter Of the State as may be
found necessary.
MIR HAZARD observed that if il should
be the opinion of the House that some
amendment to the constitution Ut this
State was necessary, he believed that the
bill proposed would answer for the pur-
pose Of calling convention. With re-
spcct to the necessity of such u conyen-
ton, he presumed that they were all Of
one opinion. The difficulties OF a few
years past have resulted from The .9ilule
Of elections, aud paIiics have sprung up
rom tue encouragement which his slate
of things has afforded them. :he de-
.ects in the Charter in regard to this sub
ject he should suppose would show The
necessity ofproyIdng measures to guard
against some otthese evils. Another evil
complained Of by some individuals IN
some OF our towns, was the Inequality oi
representation. There was undoubtedly
AN inequality which ought perhaps to be
provided for. 1t was not for Us however,
10 provide the remedy, but tho people,
These were some Of the defects proposed
to be amended. lie had drawn the act
in such manner that the provisions to
be adopted should be in the form Of u
mendments TO the charter, for he was
perfectly satisfied that the people OF this
State would not denounce this chatter Of
their ancestors. He was not one of
those who impeached his ancestors for
obtaining that charter. lie was not for
burning or tearing it up, because it was
obtained in 1868. 1t was as free a con-
stitulion as there was in the United States
and in some respects more Tree. lie
would not 90 into consideration OF the
subject at this time. He had proposed
the form Of amendments, as was done with
regard to the constitution Of the United
States, in order that the people may re-
ceive or REJECT any oi them. There were
many amendments to the constitution OF
the United States submitted to the peo-
pie. If they had all been connected to-
ge,her not one Of them would have been
accepted, but by putting them in the form
of amendments TO be acted upon separate
ly, the wholesome ones were adopted
lie was not for restricting the people to
the adoption Of a hole system or none
at all. There was no other way of effect
ing any improvement, but by putting it
in such form that the people may adopt
OF reject any amendment proposed as
they please. The,e were two memorials
to this assembly in relation to this sub
ect, oIe in the hands Of committee, and
the other Oh the table, from party seek
ing free suffrage. The one on the table
asks for convention to be called on the
basis of population. One provision which
it requires is, that the General Assembly
shall overlook their present constituents,
and create freemen without limit or meas
ure, according however to such a plat
form as is recommended in that mcmor-
al However,their champions were here
and it was fortunate that they were
They would have full opportunity of
saving all they mad to say in favor OF
free suffrage, and the people would, he
hoped, be enlightened by them. Ii the
proposed Yct was adopted, it would dis
pose Of these memorials entirely. lfthey
called Convention upon the basis exist
ing at present, and as now provided by
our institutions, there was an end to all
these applications. He moved that the
bill be read.
After the bill was read, Mr. DoRR call
ed for the reading of the memorial pre-
sented by HIM at the last session, express
ing the opinions of Convention held in
Providence on the 22d of February last.
he same having been read
Mr. Dom remarked, that he was able
to agree with the gentleman from New
por; in one thing ut least. Thnt was,
that Convention for the purpose Of u
mcnding the present form Of government
in this State was imrcrattvely called for
by the wants of the people of this State.
lie had no doubt of the fact. He had
no doubt thnt the people Of this State, Of
all parties, were convinced that there was
radical defect in the charter or present.
system of goyernment-that most arbi-
trary power was vested in the Leg la
turc, drawing all the powers Of govern
ment into that body, and, in fact, into
one branch of that body. lie believed
that they were all satisfied that some
change was required. He now rose for
the purpose of proposing an amendment
to the bill before the House, SO that the
Convention proposed should oe called for
the purpose of framing Constitution, in
I..u.I - J.,.,ts 10 sha