The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-10-24
xHK ooNsTITUrIoNALIsT.

THE ooNS NSTITUTI oNALIST
Mn. EpIroR:-AIlow ma to inquire into the
reason Of your apparent uPuthy, OF late, in rela-
tiop TO the objects contemplated by the true and
stsqdfasf fiicsds Of EouAL RIoHrs AND PRI-
y.LHeEs inihs State Of Rhode Island IL ,hsr.
any thing irsnsactng o, the presen, period, which
j. in any way calculated to operate ss damper. suf
6cen. to srres, the efforts Of Const,u.onals,s. in
their struggle for Improvement ! Ought we to
ssisr eur spirits 10 fail, for monent in the pro.
secation Of plans tending to advance the good
and bring TO perfection sulsng us those s,er'
ling principles for which our fathers fought and
bled ! on the altar Of freedom in the ever me
uorabls era Of '76 The heart Of every pa,rio,
should respond TO these inquiries on indignan,
NO,-and ask. in return, on what ground il IL
expected that men. born TO the noble heritage OF
FaxEMEN. should calmly submit TO the humilis-
ting condition of wearing the chains forged for
shem by class Of their JeiloiO- men, EQUAL In
all respects. excepting the single circumstance Of
being considered among themselves, - lGrLr-
oALLY endowed with pre-emnent qualifications
20 enact their several paris on the grand stage Of
Republican Gevsyament. by The simple fact Of
possessing (no matter how obtainsd) deed, Civ
ing a title 10 LAND Of the fuH vaiue Of ONE
HuNpRED AND THIRTY yovR DOLLARS
ID." we'll and truly paid" Sc. /! And again
ask whether the bare possession Of deed. Of this
kind. should confer upon person such talisman'c
power as instantly, by mere touch Of its potion
q tha hoLJ.r hn-
ordinary his talents may be. into man Of decided
ly superior capacity for performing all the funct-
ions sppsr,aining TO his situation. a. On integral
part Of the great social compact.
And moreovsr-wh whether all those who are not
touched BY this mystic wand shall be forever sK-
cluded from participating in the affairs of govern
men,, by the arbitrary sdict ofa party. seIf-in'-
tu,ed and sustained by the influence aforsdescrib-
ed. 1t 10 very cur,ous mode Of reasoning a.
gninst the views Of tho Constitutional (or !. has
been anoneously called the free sufirsgs) cause.
made use Of BY some sag aeions characters Of my
acquaintauss. viz that there are vs,srs enough in
this State. already. and Of course taking it for
granted that the fewer voters there are amoag us,
the less excitement, bribery, corruption. &c..
(quite convenient terms, by the way. at this junet
turs,) will be produced ss elections. Consequent
ly the deduction 10 according 10 their view Of
shings, tina. we shall have . better Government
with the least number Of voters. Feeling secure
ly hsdgsd under this sal6sh consideration, they
are perfectly son,sa.sd il appearances can be ia
ken a. a criterion, to srops on in the good old
svay ehalksd ont BY their Great Grandfathsrs !;
changes that are constantly taking place not having
any apparent effect toward producing conviction on
thsir minds, that in pursuing this course, they are
doing immense injustice 10 large and respectable
>lass of ei;ssns Of the came community. and ha-
wing the sane Interests In sommon with shsu,-
sslvss
Thus il appears 10 them matter Of little con-
sequence. whether . waier;ty Of ths people are
deprived fthsir SACRED RIGHTS or not. provi-
ded WE, the LANpHoLpxRs, who have got the
power ints our hands, can hold on to the existing
government and mansgs affairs 10 our own liking
This 10 branch Of" LYNcH's Law" in full
play. The Same principle. a. matter Of course,
may be supposed to hold equally good, in case A,
should think proper to ssize upon the property ol
b, and convsr, j, 10 his swn uss, on the plea thai
he il actually eopfsrrng benefit upon the lattar
by using the property % taken. in manner mucf
more satisfactory TO hh friends. and by this nean'
fores,allins spy misuse which B. might possibly
have taken II into his head 10 convert the sams
were ii lefi 10 his hands.
think no one will dispute the fact that ever,
citizen Of the United States. who conducts himsel
with proprisiy toward his fellow citizens. fselin,
an interest in the welfare and permanent preserva
tion Of our government, and liberal institutions, il
entitled by inherianee TO the full enjoyment O
certain rights and privileges, which are 10 all in
tents and purposes. guaranteed to him by the per
formsnes Of the duties sppsrtauing to his situa
ton. ss citizen Of the republic. Among thes,
rights, that of voting At elections Of government
officers 10 certainly not Of the least, in point
importance and whether the property which Z
man has invested in active business consists o
Money, Houses, Lands, Merchandise, Stocks, Of
any other thing OF things. Whatsoever, it makes nc
difference q, oil 10 relation TO his rights, politca
and social a. recognized BY the grea, MAGMA
CHARrEn" Of Amsrica,-th CoNsTIruTIos
or rHs UHIrED SrArrs. Therefore, to with.
hold from one class Of ths community the free sx.
ereiss Of their " IHALIEHABLs RIoHrs," q,
prseticed in the IErSrArE or RHoDE Isl.
AND, by discriminating between Real and Per-
sensl property. to the unconditional rejection Of
she lsstss, - quali6satisn for voter. b sxsr-
sisins arbitrary power to such an alarming extent.
a. 10 require the utmost vigilance Of the people in