The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-10-16

with tho Address to the people from the
Convention of February 22d, because II
has something to say concerning the nat
urai rights of man. One would suppose
that the lapse of fifty eight years was
hardly sufficient to erase from the mind
of any American citizen, worthy Of the
name,. the great principles embodied in
the Declaration Of his country's lnde-
pendence. That instrument speaks Of
"Life, Liberty, and the pursuit Of Happi-
ness" as unalienable rights. Did tho
author Of that instrument intend to con-
vey by the language he used, meaning
Of vast import, and full Of truth to the ap-
prehension, and to the hearts Of his fsl-
low patriots (; or was he sporting with
form of words destitute Of significance,
and intended to amuse and deceive tho
American people Why has this pass
age which have cited from the Decla-
ration of independence been repeated in
the constitutions Of so many Of the States:
If it be not true, it ought to be and the
member from Newport will find very few
| trust among US to unite with him in his
attack upon this first and vital principle
OF free government. But what is the
explanation Of the doctrine Of the Decla-
ration which has been deemed 80 excep-
tionable? The Convention have ventur-
ed to believe and assert that when man
comes forth, upon the attainment Of his
majority and claims to parti ciPate in po-
liticaal rights, the burden Of proving tho
necessity Of suspendhg, or abridging his
riglns rests upon those who hold the
power Of the State and, as this suspen-
sion, or abridgment will be determined
by general rule, or law, that such rule
or law should be 80 framed as to exclude
no one, whose exclusion is not required
by the creates good of the whole Popula-
ton, including that Of the individual ex-
cluGed. All idea Of a favor or grant
from the State to the individual claiming
to vote, is thus disalowed and the fact
that every one claims TO vote is not and
cannot be permitted TO vote, and that in
all States some restriction is established
no more proves that the participation in
political power is not natural right, than
the fact that there are ten thousand rules
TO regulate the requirement, possession
'or transfer OF property, and that laws have
existed and now exist, directly or indi-
rectly to restrain even the acquisition of
property by certain persons, proves that
the right to property is not natural right.
The member from Newport contends
strenususly and justly that it is. He
says Up. 3, Of his Report) that the Char
ter "amply and completely asserted and
secured" to the people OF this State and
their posterty, oil their "natural, civil
and political rights and privileges )" and
Up. 4) "the right to acquire, 10 enjoy, and
to dispose OF property Is one of our abso-
lutte rights but We can only acquire, or
transfer it by conforming to the requisites
prescribed by law" But notwithstand-
ing all the Legislation on the subject, the
right is lone" OF the absolute, or natural
rights; and we contend that the partici-
patton in political power is, in the same
sense another. All suspension or limi-
tation of it, as relating to sex, color,
age, must be tried, and justified or con-
demned by the rule Of the greatest good
OF the whole. Almost every one, Of what
ever party or politics, is ready to admit
tha, all intelligent and honest men, il they
could be designated by any sure and safe
rule should be admitted to the polls,
whether they possess property or not
The use OF property qualification, where
It exists, is TO give evidence Of this intel
ligence and honesty. Those who inherit
property may be supposed, in the major
ny Of instances, to have received a prop
er education with it the great majority
OF those who acquire property, must do
so honestly /; and the habits necessary
Tor its acquisition sharpen the faculties
and increase the intellie ence OF those who
acquire it. The only justifable ground
Of any property qualification, (certuinlv
Tor native born citizens) in a republican
government, is the presumption it may
raise in favor Of honesty and intelligence
in the mass of those who possess it, though
of course there are many individuals es-
sentialy defective in these important re-
quisiles, who may by inhe riiance or ac-
QUESTION be possessed OF the amount Vf
property required for voters. A censor
ship (as 1t existed in one of the ancient
republics TO ascertain who are the honest
and capable men, Of course implies such
an inquisltion into private character M
will never bo tolerated among us A
more papable and coarser test is, there
fore, resorted to in many OF the States,
in shape Of property, or taxation, which
is the representative Of property, ard a.
mounts to the same thing. in our state
Of society, such test. III some shape or
other, IT. requisite but If the presurnp-
ticn Of honesty nnd intelligence can bs
raised in favor Of the cln,msnis 10 vote
without compelling them to own real es-
tate, as we confidently assert IL can be,
then is the longer continuance OF an .x-
clusiyelv landed qunllh, alton Tor yoiers