The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-15
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.
HONEST Policy.

sing circumstances in relation to the exercise OF the
rights of citizenship than Rhode-Isand. Il
Here voter must be landed proprietor, and as
the State is principally agricultural, the power of
the state is in the hands of the cultvaors of the soil
property qualification for the right to VOTE neces-
sarily excludes those who have none, not suffic-
ent from the polls and consequently from any par
tcipaton in making the laws to which they are,
Notwithstanding, obliged to submit. These dlsqual-
fed and disfranchised persons, are nevertheless
subject to numerous taxes, direct, and indirect
which taxes here, as well elsewhere increase IN
amount in proportion, the means OF the tax pay
ers diminish That is the poor pay out OF all pro-
portion to the rich and without knowing 1t.
BY the old English law, from which we derive
our notions political equity, no one can be fd'o
fuHy taxed without being represented. Yet the
wholesome principle of that law, has been so COM
pletey evaded, that every workingman in England
pays, without being represented, one third OF his
daily earnings in taxes; invisible to him. to be sure
but not the less effectunl in keeping him miseraby
DOOR, Now if the rich men of Eng land paid one
twentieth part of their income, it would soon can
eel their debt of 6 500, O,OOO,OOO. The same process
is now in progress in Our country; and If coniin-
ued will lead to the same disastrous results or worse
! was induced to say, in the beginning; that the
property qualification of Rhode-Island was embar-
RAISING; because was unwilling to use a harsher
term. The reasons which have heard since from
a respectable source, are favorable, and Palating
to the practice although they are far from being
conclusive, and satisfactory.
These reasons were that the manufacturing ira
ding and laborng part of the population of towns,
and cities, were so completely under the control
of banking and manufacturing capital, that the vote
of these persons in fact the vote of their employ
ers and in their interest alone. Whereas, said my
informant, the of the country propretors, is in
dependent and expressive of their true interest. If
said he, the operative, and other workingmcn of the
town. were allowed to freely, and according to
their own true interest, there could be objection
to ther voting without any property qualifications
Now have great respect for the inhabitants OF
the country it is here we find the purest morals as
we'll the purcst air. 1t is from thence that we are
obliged to recruit our Cities with fresh subjects for
every branch of the arts, and Sciences to make up
for the degradation which the city air, and habits
bring on the second, or third generations salts
, tcal writer has sad that, if the inhabitants of
e great city were walled in, and had no communica
ton with the country, but to receive their food from
it, they would dwndle down to moral and physica
n pigmies, and finally become extinct. l am not Ger
tam that it would not be wise to conhde the whole
: Government to their keeping Certainly it woulc
be so, if the concentrating influence of the over
, grown capital and the debasing luxury of the city
r could not reach them. They would soon learn
- r Al
5 happiness of the greatest numbers, and that knowl
edge being possessed by the greatest numbers, wout
# prevent any but such laws from being enacted
S More equality would be the result of such system
some labor would be required from every one; bu
less from all and more equality of moral, and phys
: cal condition would be the consequence.
/, would then appeal to moral, and spritua
o guides to say, whether, there would not be les
scope for the evil passions and of course, less temp
: taton to commit crimes Great cities have bee
properly called the great sores of society, we he
c gin to feel them as such and the nature of ou
: Government, gives us tranquilisng assuranc
g that a safe remedy can be applied to the evil.
S If to restrict the right of voting to the nhabant
is of the country, would prevent the much dreade
d growth of our cities, although citizen myself,
should be willing to try the experiment. But tn
interest and influence of the cities would
Is sent to such a trial. must therefore take thing
as they are and cndeavor reconcile, the dfficu
ties, which seem to drive the honest republ
can of the country from true republican principle
Of l cannot suppose that the landholders of Rhode
n. Island, wish to retain the principle of propert
qualification, for the love of power, the desire
is abuse it for their own profit. They must know
is that the voting qualification is held by so larg
ID number of their class, that they constitute
ID very decided, and vgilant Democracy among then
,e selves; and that the least wealthy the mos, mt
or aud LII nl sill