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

very cautious in the measures which they
should adopt, and particularly not to At
tempt to obt ain constitution IN any 9th
er mode than through the action Of the
Legislature.
Mr. HAzARD-I have only one word to
say. am glad to hear the gentleman
from North Providence say that he has
not been aad shall not be IN favor Of any
mode Of obtaining a constitution except
through public opinion acting upon the
Legislature. To these means any man
has a right to resort. Imake no remarks
as TO what the gentleman has stated in
reply to me, as he has not controverted
one word that said. The resolutions
adopted in the meetings, at which this
gentleman attended, and indeed the rcso-
luton already recited as drawn up aud
offered for adoption by tho gentleman
himself, he Mr. II. looked upon rs GO
ing the whole length Of universal suffrage.
The gentlemen alluded to the resolution
presented by him a: the meeting in this
house at which MIR Halle was Chairman,
and says that he alone was responsible
and no others unless they approved of it,
| see from the proceedings of that meet
ing which were published, that this reso-
luton was advocated by the mover and
by Messrs. Dan King and Ihomcs W.
Dorr, aud unanimously adopted
Mr. HARRIS said he wished to explain,
rs his name had been alluded to IN the
debate. AT the meeting held in Smith
field, understand that those who partci-
pate in the proceedings of that meeting
would not be in favor OF any constitution
which did not extend the right OF suffrage
to majority Of the population. Further
1 understood the gentleman from North
Providence to say that he should not be
in favor Of any constitution not based on
an extension Of suffrage.
MIR DoRR--There are two modes of
attacking cause, when we hive not con-
fldencc in our own arguments. One is
to assail those who oppose us, with the
charge of being mere theorists. The
other is to charge them with acting from
improper motives. Now the abuses
which wo propose to reform are of such
a nature, that we cannot be said to be
mere theorists in suggesting d remedy -
When we come forward aud do the best
VIC can to relieve oursel, es from the evils
against which there is so just complaint,
when tho abuses Of government are so
palpable as those are which we are en-
deavoring to remove from this State
when an inhabituut of one town possesses
fifteen times as much political power IA
the nhabitnnt OF another town when less
than one third OF the people Of this State
elect majority of the legislature, every
man sees there is a Just and substantial
cause for all the measures which have
been adopted to obtain redress. The re-
sort, therefore, Of our opponents, has been
Of our motives OF action. The gentleman
from Newport, himself n lawyer, alludes
to the fact that there are somo lawyers in
that party to which he now opposes him
self. beg leave to know who constitu-
ted him on the other hand, the patron of
the tarmers' If the agricultural inter
ests of this State ever pleased TO recog-
Mise him as their special protector, wish
them great prosperity in the keeping Of
the FARMER from Newport. One cause
of the opposition of that gentleman, | ap-
prehend is little deeper. He has writ
ten book he has had the honor of sub
hitting his views OH the subject Of SUI
frage to the public in the form of a printed
pamphlet. IL it would be any consoa-
ton to his feelings, | will state to him, rs
my opinion Of that production, that more
artlu and ingenious appeal, not to the
judgement, but to the old fashioned preju-
dices of the farmers Of this State, was
never mado and it has doubtless answer
ed the purpose for which it was intended.
Ii that is any consolation to the gentle
man, he IS welcome to it. MIR HAzARD-I
"Not from that quarter" The gentle
man must take It for what it is worth,
whether he liked or not A great storm
has been raised about what is called the
free suffrage party. Now we have de-
clared time and again, that we do not,
and have not advocated the introduction
OF this kind of suffrage into this State
There have been meetings formerly held
by advocates Of universal suffrage ; but
not at any time by the constitutional par
tv in favor Of this object. The conven-
ton held in Providence on the 22d of Feb
ruary last, appointed committee to
propose resolutions expressive Of their
views on the subjects before them. That
committee most emphaticalIy laid down
their own notions Of suffrage. They con-
tended for no such thing as universal suf- |
irage. The name has been attached to |
this party, for the purpose Of fixing an
odium upon them, and handbils were sent
out into the country at tho last election,
and distributed among the people in the
country towns, telling them, that by
means Of free suffrage, the power wos
about to pass from the hands Of the far
mers (; and great many men made up
their minds that our object was to intro
ducs universal suffrage into tbis State !;
md I haua hnrn I'LL 1usr anil nrar and