The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-08

apparent tHet II WAS The only proper mode
I-(Mr Halle was here interrupted with
a remark from Mr. T.. h. Potter that the
House were all agreed.
Mr. HAzARD-We don't ell agree he
did not agree to control the right Of their
constituents in this way.
MIR HAiLE-It would have q din Get
effect to control their constituents to a.
dopt the section as it now reads. How
were they to get at the viii. of the people I
You send forth constitution TO be ucted
upon by the people by article, and you
subject it to all sorts Of influence, to all
sorts of control, render j, liable to be OPP
Grated upon by sinister individuals, who
may operate upon majority Of the free
men so as to nix Upon the people Of this
State such q constitution as they will new
er submit to.
MIR HAzARD-Gentlemen 60 upon the
ground that the convention will make q
bargain between different parts Of The
State, and that the bargain must be a.
dopted in whole or not at all The peo-
pie want some amendments to their char
ter. Allusion has been made to the last
convention. We went there upon the
basis Of bargain, taking off here, and
sticking on there, without any regard to
principle at all /; the constitution was
made out of doors.
The gentleman from Warren has made
some very curious arguments. lie says
that we deprived the people Of their rights
by allowing them to vote for a part as
well as the whole that is if you don't
| a. 10 oil ha h,la
at all, you deprive them Of their right
What reason does he givei He says if
you send the amendment to be adopted
or rejected by separate articles, you SUBJ
ject them to all sort Of influence. This
is not a very respectful opinion Of tho
fsemen Of the State, and is very poor
argument to come from that gentleman
who is for opening wide the gates and let
ting in all sorts Of voters. But if there
is any force in this argument, it would be
bes, to take the whole power out Of the
hands of thopeople. He objected to
this amendment because It would curtail
the right of the people to have consti-
tuition of their own choice. Now suppose
that the whole body of the people were
together, and had met to form constitu-
ton what would be the regular and prop
er way for them to make one' Would
it not be right and proper to make such
II constitution as they pleased And
ought We not now to allow them this
right?
| Mr. TiLLrNGHAsr-Thc case which the
gentleman has put was very different,one
from that which was before the House.
IL the freemen were all assembled to-
gether for the purpose Of forming con-
stitution, one portion of them might agree
with another, one could say to the other
if you will accept this, will give up
that and all would have an opportunity
to vote upon each article separately, and
also to vote for or against the whole after
each article had been adopted separately.
! But the case before the House was
very differing thing. The freeman must
act IN this instance separately, in sepa-
rate towns, and under separate infuen-
ces, and not all together. As towns they
have now some particular right, some
much greater than others. Those who
possess advantages over others would not
consent to yield them up unless they were
sure that those parts Of the constitution
which we're more favorable to them should
be adopted.
With regard to the present constitution
of the United States, if it had been sub
mitted for adoption by article it would
never have been ratified by tho States.
MIR Z. r. Potter saic he thought the
House had done up the talking yesterday,
but it seemed that he was mistaken. lie
should never vote for Constitution |
which did not provide for districtlDg the
State for the choice OF Senators, SO that
we may be sble to get some OF different
parties into that branch OF the Leg,sla-
lure. As the law now stands the people
put in Of one party, and If they serve the
devil ut all they do 1t without any re-
straint or opposition among themselves.
They all flock together like an old hen
and chickens. The House knew very
well how it was in case the people vote
by general ticket as it is with the Sem
ate, SO it is with the representatives 10
Congress, they are generally all on one
side. lie did no believe there were iCur
men in the house that would vote Tor hav-
ing the institution or amendments Vo'eo
upon BY separate articles.
The question was then put on the a.
mendment offered by Mr. DoRR, which
was adop',a VI 81 risin in the affirmative
and IL ia ne negative.
The 9TH section as amended, was then
passed.
The subject of filling the blank for the I
time of holding the convention was then
taken up.
Mr. T.. II. POTTER was in favor Of FIX
inc il rs late as October or November,
after harvest time for the convenience oi
farmers who might attend the Conven-
tiou. y