The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-09-06

its rotten borough system, and have ordaiI
ed that new and Aourishng towns may b
allowed their just share Of representa-
in Parliament. These ore the doings o
a people governed by race Of monarchs
Mr. D'WoLE-I am glad to see that j
appears to be agreed that it is necesusr)
TO repair the constitution Of this State
| am in favor of repairing an old ship If II
is worthy OF it, in which case it would be
better than to undertake 10 build new
one. But sir, this old ship Of charter
has got to be so unseaworthy that j
should doubt whether il 10 worth repair
ing should be willing 10 leave the
convention free either 10 make q new
constiiution or amend the old one. We
have all been convinced that the old char
ter is unfair and unjust for the people to
live under, and therefore it is proposed tc
amend it (; and the only question now be-
fore the house appears to be, whether the
house will agree 10 have it amended, OF
to have new one made. Now sir, / am
willing 10 leave the convention entirely
uninstrueted on this point. If they meet
| hope they will meet together entirely
uninstructed. They are to form some
provisions to correct the doings of this
House, to set some bounds which the
General Assembly shall not overlesp. II
was very properly said by the gentleman
who last spoke, and by the gentleman
from Providence, that the charter had al
ways been altered by the Legislature,
whenever il was found necessary in order
to carry any measures throug h which il
was thought proper to adopt. The prop
osition TO amend the charter reminds me
of the anecdote Of the boy who lighted
home Mr. Pope. 1t seems thol Pope was
in the hnbit Of using the exclamation
/" God mend me-" whenever any accident
happened to him. While the boy was
lighting him along, he hit his foot against
a stone, and Immediately exclaimed "God
mend me God mend me-" The boy re-
marked that he could better make two
new ones than mend one such old one
Pope was SO pleased with the boys re-
mark that he gave him guinen, and told
the story hii.,self. think it is easier to
make two new constitutions than mend
this old charter. l prefer, however, if ]
must sink or swim in the old hulk, that it
should be mended. hope If is to be
mended, that it will be built up anew
from the keel. If il is found worth mend
ing, let i, have thorough mending.-
We found in making our Constitution oI
The United States, some things in the old
one of the country from which we had
sc epnrated, that were valuable, and we re.
tanned them. BY the English constitu-
tion the treasury is placed in the hands ol
the people, and l thought it was so re-
tanned in ours. But il seems from some
ate movements that she President 10 com
mnnder of the treasury, as well as Of the
army and navy. am sorry to make this
observation here, but we are talking about
making aud breaking constitutions, and II
came in naturally.
The charter has received good many
hard thumps. Tho declaration Of '76
! gave it a cunfounded shock it cut her
adrilt from the king Of Great Britain. !
hope, sir, we can make constitution
which will administer more Of the princi-
ples of equal rights to the people Of II.
Island than they now enjoy. We
are now under worse rotten borough
system than the old one in England they
are ahead OF us there in the improvement
Of their system Of government. We talk
of our republican government l deny
that we have a republican government in
this State. A republican government
does not mean perfecpJemocracy. I'm
limited free suffrage is attended with grea,
evils. Look at the disorders Of the New
York elections there 10 nothing Of a re-
publican government in such proceed
ings. The friends Of q constitution ask
for nothing of this kind. ] think we had
better leave the convention uuinstructed.
Mr. HAILr-The subject before the
House is one Of deep interest 10 the peo-
pie Of this State. hope We shall meet
il with all candor and fairness and that
we shall endeavor to reconcile the con-
hicting views which we may entertain as
represe nt ativcs of this State, and 50 far
as practicable the Prejudices, which are
often founded on misunderstanding and
misl representation. IL we overcome
these, we do much 10 overcome the OBJ
stacles which arc in the way Of salts.
factory adjustment Of the question involv-
ed in this subject. l am happy TO find
that il seems to be admitted on all hands,
that something is necessary to be done in
reference to our system Of government
The gentleman from Newport seems to
have a particular objection to the phrase
ol,gy of the amendment, because be
thinks it is calculated to reflect upon the
character Of our ancestors. / will 60 us
far as that gentleman, or any 'ther person
in Rhode Island, in paying respect 10 the
memory, virtues and character Of our an
cestors. But, sir, much Of the difference
Of opinion that now exists in this State
on the subject Of a Constitution, does mo-
grow out Of a substantial difierenc'
Of sentiment, but out Of difference sbou
the names OF things. And It seems Il