The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-08-23


Of the LEGISLATIVE, ought to be moro
clearly marked out and defined.
REPREssNrATIoN.-Each town ought
to be represented in the Legislature accor-
ding to its population, or its number ol
voters and the State ought TO be dis
tricted for the election of Senators ANY
inequality in the House of Representa-
tives produced by retaining the representa-
tion Of the small towns should be compen
stated to the respective counties in adjust
ing the Senatorial districts.
4. RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.-The right
of suffrage ought to be secured by Con-
stitution and every white male inhabi-
tant Of the State, being citizen ofthe
United, States, and having resided suf-
ficient time, say one year in the State,
and three months in the town where he
clams to vote, should be admitted to the
privilege Of an elector upon producing
certificate from collector OF taxes in the
town where he resides that he has been
assessed to ray taxes during the year
preceding, and has actually paid them on
real or personal property, or both, a
mounting in value to not less than one
hundred and thirtytouw dollars, or, if yon
think this is not enough, to tpo hundred
dollars. No foreigner ought TO rote in this
Stale, unless lie haze first been naluwalised
according to the act Of Congress, be pos
sessed Of a freehold estate according to the
present law, and hare resided as aforesaid.
Such rule as has been suggested
would include majority Of the white
male native citizens of the State among
the voters and no good reason has been
offered why they should not be SO included
in this as well as the other States of the
Union. lfthe frceholders are attached
to the system of voting on land, let them
continue to vote as they do now; but it
is no more than fair and just that others
who have property to an equivalent a
mount, but who cannot conveniently in
vest. it in land, and who support Govern
ment by paying taxes upon this amount,
should have some voice in the election of
their rulers. The privilege of oldest
sons, one would think it was time to dis
continue. Convicts and persons under
guardianship ought Of course to be cxclu-
ded. Mectors might be voted in as they
now are by the towns and cities.
There ought to be strict registration
Of the voters with the clerk in each town;
and list Of them ought to be posted up
in some conspicuous place in each town,
or ward of city, before an election, sub
iect to revision by the town council or
city government none to vote whose
names were not registered certain num-
ber of days before town m meetings.
VoTING OUGHT TO he BY BALLOT that
is each -clector should be permitted to de-
posit in box provided for the purpose, a
folded ticket, written or printed, without
his name written on the back of it, so
that it should not be known, without his
how he voted the moderator
would of course have a list Of the voters
before him and mark the name of each
man as he came up.
5. AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY. BY
this is meant Judiciary not subject to
be removed with every change of politic-
al majorities in the State. There ought
10 be q! least one Independent Court. The
committee believe they express the views
of the Convention in suggesting that the
Judges of the Supreme Court { three
would seem to be sufficient number)
should be- elected to hold their offices d,i-
ring good behauour, with the following
limitations ito be removable upon i'm
peachment and conviction before the Sem
ate of mal-conduct in office ;-or, with
out impeachment by vote Of hoo thirds
in each branch of the Legislature or,
by tro successire mojoriiies IN each House,
IN election by The people haring iacrrened
jetreen The tpo roies. These provisions
would give stability to the Judiciary, and
eave at the same time a sufficient check
in the hands of the people.
The Court Of Common Pleas might be
by appointing one Chief JUS
ice for the whole State, to sit with hoo
Judges for each County, the three MAX
ng County Court the Chief Justice
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