The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-08-02

From the Address ofths Constsudensl Conve.,
Il If 20 look at thsiC Chartes. and the sar-
FLY la~s relating 10 Freemess Ne ,shaIl ace
) still more clearly bow opposed1 1lIg peess
ent law 10 to the true intention Of our
predecessors. The Charter vests the e.
lection of Freemen in the General As
sembiy, and prescribes no qualification. -
The Company being land Company,
with powers OF government annexed, and
having in view to improve and settle their
territory as fast as poss ibIe, It would have
been natural for them, independently ofthe
reason that landed property was then
almost the only property, to prefer
such members as would take an interest
in the cultivation Of the soil. The Com
pany was empowered by the Cha rter to
transport to the Colony, for its plantation
and defence, such persons, as might be-
wiling to accompany them and the emf
grants became farmers, as matter Of
course. The Assembly therefore, in ia
vorably regarding the agricultural inter-
est, evidently had no political design; and
practiced no restriction, in the sepse in
which landed requisite is one, at the
present time. The requisite of admission
was not made political insti ument till
long after. There is reason to believe
that they looked more to the fitness oftho
person proposed for admission than to his
property in land /; though almost every
decent person in those times was a land
owner Of course. These were ,inhabit-
ants not freemen, but their number must
have been small. To show the, sense
ofthe Legislature on the subject Of quail
ifications, we ask your attention to some
of their Acts.
The Act Of March, 1854, declared.
g That all persons whatsoever, that are
inhabitants within this Colony and admited
freemen of the same, shall and may have
liberty to vote for the electing of all gem
eral officers in this Colony, &c. as is ex-
pressed in the Charter of the Colony"
1t also enacted "That no person shall
De elected to the place Of deputy to sit
n the General Assembly Of this Colony.
,ut those that are freeholders therein
Ind freemen Of the same.o
In the same year It was further declar-
ID "That all men protesting Christianity,
md Of competent estates,~ and of civil
who acknowledge and are
bedient to the civil mag istrate, though of
fferent judgements in religious affairs,
Roman Catholics only excepted) shall
e admitted freemen," and be permitted
0 choose officers, and to be eligible to
flee.
No estate Of any kind Is required by
he first act and none Of any fixed value
y the last, to make freeman. 1t prob
bly, varied, both IN kind and quantity,
'ith the opinion entertained by the AS
emily Of the applicants character and
emeanor. 1t is important to notice the
made between the electors and
lose who might be elected deputies to
,e General Assembly. The electors
ere to be frcemen--admiited at irst
ithout any specified qualification, and
ext upon having competent" estates: -
e deputies must have estates in land -
b treeholders, and freemen.
The act Of 1865 continues the quali6-
alton of "competent estates," without
ehning them. Page 154 Of old record.
In 1865 it was enacted, that the free.
en of each town shall have .sf.u power
"hsSt eSu " sO iudUy UCF8O0O~
habitants of their respective towns, free
en- OF their towns, as shall be by them
Judged deserving thereof I" 1t was
ade the duty Of the town-clerks of all
Q towns, once year, 10 send a list Of
the freemen admitted in their respec-
% towns to the General Assembly, tho
y before the election and of the gene
recorder to enroll in the Colony's
ok "such persons that shall be SO re-
rned, and admitted freemen Of the Coll
y."f
The desert here spoken Of must have
On good character, and usefulness. to
? Colony. The towns might and no
ubt did consider some TO be deserving
admission who owned no land, and 9TH
J to be unfit who did.
II was enacted in 1924, that no person
Duld be admitted n freeman unless he
re ireeholder OF lands, SC. of the val
Q Of 100 pounds, or to the value of 40
llings year or the eldest son Of such
reeho'der "any other act, custom or
age to the contrary hereof notwith-
ndipg."
La 1880 il was enacted "Thst no pseL
! whatsoever shall be admitted itse-
10 OF sny town in this COLONY upless