The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-05-24
w A r. r. Z N .

RHODE ISLAND. An alteration in the
law ofsufrage is what we mo st desire to
see in our little independent Republic
Not exactly the law that curses New York,
but one that shall make an Oldest son no
better in the eye ofthe law than the youn-
ger one, and that shall permit every man,
who pays taxes, bears arms, nd is ruled
to have voice in the choice of his rulers
In other respects, Rhode Island stands
SECOND to none in the confederations.- -
The shackle is only here, in this single
place but this one shackle is the most de-
grading of all Like the iron collar OF
the Russian surf, it marks us for slaves, it
marks all who do not belong to the soul,
with the stigma Of bondmen.
Rhode Island is small cut her up acre
by acre-apportion her off from north to
south, from east to west, in lots just large
enough to create votes according to the
present law; and she would hardly permit
oil the citizens to vote, even il they had
money enough to buy it with, and dispo-
sition to expend it. In a few years at
least, her territory woulo be insufficient
Manufacturing villages are sprInging up
throughout the county. The mechanics
employed in them are of the same flesh
and blood as those that compose the great
body Of the landed interest. They be-
lieve that they have the same unalienable
rights, and they know they are taxed in
the same proportion. Under this belief
and this knowledge, they will then make
as we now do, the claim for relief
That the spirit Of our laws is in direct
opposition to a limited suffrage, is appa:-
rent upon the face of our DILL Of rights;
that suffrage should be universal we are
not prepared to say, but that it should be
more open than it is now, is our opinion
So much for our belief; now for our rea-
sons. We believe that our system OF
suffrage ought to be changed
Because. As it now stands, first birth
is qualification. A mans birth being
ON merit of his own, and being beyond
his own control, and, in itself being nei-
ther property, common sense, nor talents
ought not to qualify him for powers which
others cannot exercise, without at least
one OF the latter very essential requisilion.
Things that ought not to exert, yet do
exist, should be removed; it is proved
that such is the case with our law
Because, Under the present law an
idiot and pauper may 60 to the polls, and
exercise q right that our honest mechanic,
who is enlightened and industrious, cannot
do merely because his father was rich
man.
Because, 1t is calculated 10 build up
an aristocracy; aristocracy is the curse
ho n,,f i'll
the misery of the people; the misery Of
the people is what we would avert
Because, 1t is the undeniable right OF
the whole people to govern. If the Leg
islature have a right to present, by max
ing property requisite one half CT the
people from voting, why have they not
right to serve the other half in the same
way? IL tho Legislature have right to
say that man shall not vote unless he
owns one acre of land, why have they not
a right to say he shall not vote unless he
owns thousand acres of land, and thus
pN the government of the state entirely
IN to the hands Of the rich'
These and other reasons induce us 10
believe that change may be made in our
electoral law for the better. I
Tac little spec, that but two months a
70 appeared in the political horizon, has
llready assumed the aspect of a large
loud IN the armament, and from one end
IT the State to the other, the voices Of the
lislrenchised are heard, declaring in the
majesty and strength of an insulted peo- I
lie, that they will have their rights ex- I
ended to them, and that they will not any a
onger submit To the oppressive yoke that
las too long CALLED them and reduced
hem to the condition ofthc degraded and .
c
But we shall have some evidence Of
that patriotic baud Of gallant Frcemen r
an and will do, Tor the security of thos" u
ights, which were ordained for their ac-
cptnnce, by the hand of high Heaven, !
nd (which we have come dispoiled by
10 tyranis of an inquitious government.
'hich has sought for supremacy aud pow
9, at the expense Of the Liberties Of the d