The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-27

IN cessavy deductions and what remains
oi probably will not overgo $4,000, and ol
d this number this free suffrage address a.
: lows 10000 10 be already freemen, and
o we know there 10 considerable number
o of freeholders who will not qualify them
selves. Thus, sir, it appears that these
free suffrage gentleman are very much
out in their calculations about the "phys-
ical force" That force rests where it
ought to rest, aud ever will rest with le-
gitimate freemen Of the State. Isit right
or fair for those who do not qualify them
selves to complain that they are oppsess-
ed? Has not every man nm equal right
] 10 quaisfy himself No soon ~ he pssasese :
Suppose two mechanics, blacksmiths for
instance, having learned their trade, COM
nenced business each with an equal
r sum Of money, one Of them by getting a
shop Of his own qualities himself for vot-
ing, the other chooses to apply his money
to other purposes. Has the latter q
right to complain Of him who has thought
proper 10 make himself freeman, or Of
the government because il does not mako
him one also?
The gentleman who wrote this Ad-
dress takes up good deal of time in en-
deavoring to prove that the right Of suE-
frage is natural right, that cannot be
taken away and goes on for long
while with that kind Of reasoning, giving
US the whole contents Of his closet, lamps
and all. He says that it is a natural
right that is, right TO. vote in society
where only such right can exist or be
exercised is, according 10 him, natural
right existing before and independently
of society. should like to know if this
right TO vote is not derived from that So
ciety of which person is member: l
will not waste any time upon!this visionary
idea of natural right. What odds does
il make whether it is right derived from
society or not, since it is to be used con-
sistently with the good Of that society or
not at all3 After filling 80 pages of this
book in this way, we come to precious
conle ssion, viz. ''that the question now
before us is not what right Of suffrage the
government ought to grant, as a gift, but
what restriction required by this greatest
good, suffrage may be claimed as right
by the people Of this State. Is it con-
sistent with this general good that tho
present landed qualification should be
any longer continued as the exclusive
condition Of exercising the privilege of
an elector." Now, MIR Speaker, this IL
the question, and it is fairly stated, and
was so stated by the committee who re-
ported on the subject in 1929. That is
the question TO which at last, after vast
ting thirty two pages, the writer Of the
pamphlet arrives, and begins here with
what he ought to have begun in the out
set. Now, having stated the question in
his manner one would have supposed
hat this relormer would have'applied his
and have shown that the measure
which he proposed was that which ought
10 be adopted, and that the present quail
fcation was an unnecessary evil and
might safely be dispensed with. But has
he done this ? Let a man take this book
and 60 through the whole sixty pages
and find in it, if he can, a single argu-
nent, fact or proof in favor of The propo-
'ition, or against the present system. 1t
aks about law, physic and divinity, pub
ic schools, republcanism,& SC. to the end
If the book. l will notice one argument
made use of, us it is a captivating oDe
With certain class, that is that the pres
mt system Of government in this Stale
imposes taxation without representation.
f the objection is good one females
'ught not to be taxed without being al
owed to vote. At the time of the Rev
'lution, one Of the great causes Of COM
,laint with us was this Of being taxed
Without being represented. But should
ike to know what sort Of connection there
$ between the act Of government taxing,
Instant colonies not represented at all,
Ind the taxation imposed by the repre-.
entatives Of State upon the citizens OF
he State itself Abut the doth page tho
,entcman cries out about democracy and
insists upon it that this is not free re-
ublicaa government. Why is it not p
Does that gentleman mean to open the
loors and call upon oil mankind to como
n and vote 7 The question is what is the
proper restriction. To be continued.