The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-01


have spoken their sentiments as i UNDER
stand them. do not come here as the
Representative of party, but of the
town and, sir, am proud Of represent
ing such town /; ] am proud Of repre-
senting such people; Notwithstanding all
the low scurrIity and abuse which has
been heaped upon them in the course Of
this debate, because they have taken the
liberty to express their opinions. They
are not of that low class which they have
here been represented to be. i speak Of
them as they are /; arvl for religion, for
morals, for enterprize in business, for cor
rectness in all the relations of life will
turn them out against any of the citizens
in this State. They feel themselves op-
pressed under the present system and
especially, under the present system Of
voting in this State. Ii will be recol-
lected that they are limited in their terri
tory. The qualification Of voters is such,
that they are excluded by the very cir
cumstanccs Of the place where they have
their residence from the exercise of the
privilege Of voting and persons who
are willing to qualify themselves are ex-
cluded from sheer necessity, not because
they have not the means, not because
they have not the money for purchasing
n freehold, but because the land is not
TO be purchased. From the nature Of
their situation they are compelled to leave
their home and to seek employment else
where, not, sir, in other cities and other
Territories, but, sir, upon the broad do
main of the ocean 'their PATH" at least
IF l:s
mountain wave, their home is on the
deep. ."-They bear the American name
to every sea, and yet, alas when they
have returned home they are placed on
llevel with the slave who tolls under the
whip, or subject Of the despotism Of the
autocrat of all the Russians. Are they
to be thus abused for wanting those priv
ileges Of citizenship which under the pres
ent system of government in this State
they cannot attain? The propriety Of
adopting freehold qualification must de-
pend a great deal upon the condition Of
the State or country where it is proposed
to establish it. The only correct qualf-
cation of voter would be his character for
= intelligence and honesty; but this, though
p perfectly correct in theory cannot be u
dop:ed in practice, because as stated by
the gentleman from Providence, it is i'm
practicable to obtain test for this pur-
pose. AT the commencement of the gov
, ernment of this State undoubtedly q free
hold qualification would have been the
hest one, because it would admit Of foil
majority Of all the white male population
: over twenty one years. But it has ceas-
ed TO be SO now, and the government has
dcgenerated from democratic to an aris-
tocratic form. l speak il as fact that
the people are governed in this State by
an aristocracy,-by less than a majority.
This being the fact it is for us to extend
the qualification. And the question next
arises what qualification shall be substi-
tuted? The one which sppears most fea--
sible is to extend the right Of voting to
!. those who pay portion Of the public mon-
.. ley.
The qualification ought so 10 be ex-
tended as to admit a majority Of those who
r bear the burden of government 10 the
right of suffrage. This right is not con
ferred upon freeholders because they pur-
sue the business of agriculture. have
no design to say any thing in desparage-
ment of those who follow this employ
ment. If there is any pursuit more ia
vorable than any other to virtue, it is that
of tho agriculturist. With this pursuit
the earliest attachments of my youth are
connected. But, sir, are tho farmers of
Rhode Island majority Of the white male
citizens over twenty one years? Those
who are excluded from the polls compose
tho majority, they are the merchants, tho
manufacturers, the mechanics, and men
Of other pursuits. Ii is true that many
are qualified 10 exercise political inlu-
ence in this State by purchase of suf6-
cent freehold, and that Is one of my
strongest objections to this system;
for man who purchases reul estate for
tho purpose Of qualifying himself to vote
is a dangerous man. A man should bs
qualified in his ordinary pursuit, and then
there will be no nducement to him to
exercise this privilege in any other way
than for The public good. IL you give
the right TO those who bear The burdens
of government, you give it TO those who
arc best qualified, in my view, TO exercise
| il.
Mr. D'WoLr Il have no idea TINT this
Legislature are TO alter the qualifications
Of voters. l am astonishId gentlemen
will spend their breath in advocating this
measure. But l nm sorry to have tho
number Of members Of the Convention
limited to seventy-two (; and should like
to have the motion adopted, which l
made, to call over tho towns, and deter
niue the number Of delegates each shall
have.
The Speaker minated that the mot ion