The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-06

RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE.
JUNE SESSION-NEWPORT.
Debate on the Bill for calling Conven-
tion TO amend the Constitutional Charter
Of this Slate.
CONTINUED.
Mr. E. r. Potter, in allusion to the
proposition stated by MIR Dorr, acd which
was subsequently submitted by him to
the House, for having the Convention
elected upon basis Of representation diff
ferent from that OF the present House Of
Representatives., and by voters Of differ
ent qualifications from those of the pres
ent lreemen Of the State, observed that
the members of the House had heard
something about the necessity Of having
Constitution which should be the su-
preme Law Of the land, and which should
not be subject 10 alteration by the legis-
lature. II seemed that they were nov TO
begin IN this legislature by destroying the
old Constitution before they got up new
one. The Charter was the present Con-
slitution Of the State and had been ratif-
ed by the people OF this State. He
should like to know il it had not been
Considered ever since the Revolution rs
the Constitution OF the State, and had not
been acted upon as such from that time
TO the present? And now when SO much
fault was found by some gentlemen, with
the extraordinary power OF the legislature,
they propose tina. this same legislature
shall begin the work Of obtaining new
constitution by destroying the old ONE
He conleuded that there was no power
in tho General Assembly to alter the num-
Der of representatives of the several
towns in the Siate,nor to change the quail
iiicatlons Of voters. We may talk about
il AZ much as we please, il we have
Convention We must have one with the
same number Of Representatives that we
now have and elected by voters Of the
same qualifications us at present.
Mr. DoRR observed tha the gentleman
was Inconsistent. No longer ago than
1915 he declared the General Assembly
to be omnipoiGnt.
Mr f II. Porter declared that that
assertion was false. He never said that
the General Assembly was omnipotcnt as
to is powers Of Legislation in general
He merely asserted that it was SO with
reference to It's power over the subject
then under consideration. The misst ate
ments OF his remarks like many other
fulsehoods with regard to him, which got
into the Providence newspapers, he did
no, at that time tuke the trouble 10 con-
tradict.
Mr. Dom said he felt disposed to make
allowance for The iufrmities of that n,em-
Der; but if he stated that he MIR Dorr)
had mi.quoted his remarks as published,
he stated in lis place that which was not
true.
Mr. E. r. Porter said he did not pre-
tend that the gentleman had misquoted.
lie formerly stated that the General AS
sembly were omnipotent as to that par
ticular thing which was before the house
at that time and every body then present
so understood him.
Mr. DoRR-Ihe gentleman ought then
TO be more careful in his use Of words
(Mr +: II. PorTER--I speak az feel. }
1t the gentleman denied this power to the
General Assembly, (and not having been
that tinie,) 1 assert it-lt is fact that
they still exercise a power limited only
by the Constitution Of the United States.
As the gentleman disclaims this power OF
the General Assembly Il reassertit. Ihave
shown instances in which the Charter has
been altered by this Legislature. ! sny
that we have just as much power to Gull
this Convention upon different basis OF
representation, as the assembly had in
1896, 10 create the Assistants a separate,
co-ortinate branch of the legisla-
,ure, with check upon this House.
say more than this, the ground is perfect
ly tenable. BY what authority are
the people Of this State required to hold
land in order to become ffemem?. The
first nct requiring exclusively landed
qualification was passed in 1874 the
last in 1862. The qualification was va
ried from 40 to 400 pounds in land. Re-
peal these acts and what becomes Of the
freehold restriction Of this State' And
this Assembly has just as good right TO
repeal these acts, as they had to pass the
act Of 1894. But we are wandering from
the suuJect now Itntneoidtey oeioie uS
The amendment which / preferred. l
ask leave to withdraw It and 10 submit the
following.
"Be j, enacted, &c. tha, on tho -
day Of - next, a Convention shall be
held at - for the purpose Of forming
and proposing for adoption, written con-
s,itution Of COVE rnmcnt for this State"
1t will be perceived that this amend
ment leaves the whole question simply,
this, whether the convention shall be cali
ed to frame a constitution, or 10 amend
the charter. One word more. The gen.
tleman from Newport says tha, 1t 's
speaking disrespectfully Of the pso-
ple Of this State because Il implies
that they have heretofore been without a
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