The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-20

= mother part Of this debate they will dis
appear when il is considered that we ar
: not merely to thro out in this conyen
tion, another branch of this legislature L
make laws for the people, but that W,
are putting the people in the way of max
ing constitutional law for themselves.
they do not succeed in so doing, then the
} representation OF this House, and the
right of suffrage will remain where they
are now. No one .yust right will be i'm,
paired by enabling majority Of the peo.
pie to make fair and liberal constilu.
,ion.
hope the amendment proposed vii
be adopted no serious objection has been
urged aginst it, A great deal has beer
said about amending the constitution o
this State. Let US have one first that
deserves TO be called by such name.
Mr. CRANsToN--I have have had it in
my mind TO make n proposition before,
that might perhaps meet the wishes OF
gentlemen on both sides. The principal
question before US is this-whch Of the
two modes is best, to change or alter our
present charter, or 10 form constitution
Now the gentlemen who nave spoken on
either side of this question have gone
broad lance against each other upon eve
ry subject that is connected with con-
stitu,lon. have been sorry to see SO
much warmth exhibited as there has been
in this debate. l now give notice that
during the remainder Of this discussion,
l mean to see one Of the rules of this
House enforced not that / find any
fault with the Speaker,-he INDUCES us
fairly and honestly, according to the usual
custom in this House allowing an unlmit-
ed range of debate. The suggestion that
| mean to make is this that the conven-
ton should be called 20 amend or make
mind amending the charter is necessarily
the best course, it may be the best course
to make new constitution.
MIR HAZARD said he had no objection
to the course suggested by his colleague.
Mr. +. X. POTTER then offered an a.
mendment to MIR DORIS amendment, so
us to provide that this convention should
be called to amend the constitution or
make n new constitution, leaving it op-
uoDui WIN me CONVENTION 10 10 TIE one
or the other
Mr. Dom said he had no objection to
the amendment provided 1t were to amend
the present charter, instead of to amend
the constitution.
[ Mr. T.. X. Potter said he was not
willing TO say that we had no constitution.
When we separated from England, it
was in the power of The people to conlin-
ue under the form Of government they |
then had, or to make q new constitution !; |
they saw fit to 90 on with tie constiu-
tion as it then was, and it is as much
constitution as that is which the English |
call their constitution, one made up OF
usages not written or printed.
MIR DoRR said he wns willing to agree
that his amendment should be SO modified |
as to provide for calling convention to
amend the present form Of government or
To frame new constitution.
MIR T.. II. PoTTER said he would not
agree TO say that VIC had no constitution
1t was finally agreed by both parties that
the amendment should read thus "Be il
enacted sc. that on the - day Of -
next a convention shall be held at -
for the purpose Of amending the present
or forming new constitution for this
State" and in this form it was adonted by
the House The second section Of the
bill was now read. 1t provided for the
election of delegates to the convention
at the semi-a annual town meetings in Au-
gust next, to be chosen by the treemen OF
the several towns, and o., like qualificu-
lion, each town being entitled to the same
number Of delegates to this convention
as they are now entitled TO Representa-
tives to the Gene.al Assembly.
Mr. DoaR moved the following as an
amendment TO this section
ind be Il tiaiaer enacted, That said
Convention snail be composed Of seventy
two members, and that the towns shnil be
in the same according to
heir population, as ascertained by the
last census prorided, howerer, thav eve
ry town shall have at least one delegate
and TINT the following persons shall be
entitled to vote for delegates TO said Con-
,ention, and Tor the Constitution which {
shall be by them submitted to the people, !
native born white male cil-
zens Of the United States, being OF the !
nge of twenty-one years, who have resi- J
ded within the State twelve months next
preceding, end in the town where they !
claim to vote, three months next prece- c
Ing said claim, and who have been as h
ressed to pay taxes in the several towns, L
on no less than S'3i Of real or personal i
estate, during the year preceding and l
who have actually paid the same and !
hat certificate IRON collector OF taxes y
n any town that the pc son mentioned 10
{ has paid his last previous tax as aiore- I
'nid, shall entiiIc said person To a vote ms c
,toresaid, on its beng presented to the
moderator Of the town meeting IN the
own in which the person claiming to
vote tc,ulcv |,