The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1836-01-23

portion Of the community. 10 such we commend
candid attention 10 this particular feature in the
proposed reform, and comparison Of what is pro-
posed with that which now exists. You have now
system. intended undoubtedly, in its origin TO be
confined TO the actual planters and householdeIs Of
the Colony. But, from causes easily investigated
this system has come, in its legitimate applica-
tion, 10 include number, sufficient TO turn the
scale in any important Election, Of those whose
qualification consists merely in some detached par
eel or lot Of land, and which has no connexioh
either with their occupation. substance, or standing
in Society Under the abuses Of this system, n
paper title 10 land answers instead Of the lnnd IL
sell, and the oath Of one who ls hardy enough Ia
swear 10 his qualification is sufficient, for at least
an annual vote. without either. II Is further tue
ofthis boased system Of gusrded, and restricted
suffrage thai il admits tho votes oi persons undcr
guardianship, town-paupers. who happen TO be
eldest oi lieehodeis, und even convicted TEL
ons
The system proposed by the frends Of Reform.
as designated IN the Resolutions OF the Convention
of 1884, would eAtend the liberty of Voting 10
lax paying citlzsns, whether on real or personal
estate subject 10 the restrictions OF years pre-
,ious residence in The State, and three months IN
the town where voting. and with tho additional
guard of registering publicly und strictly the names
Of all voters II ought not to be forgotten that the
same plan places lor. gners und immigrants under
greater restriction than the present system, hias
much as il proposes that they should DO require
to possess u Real Estate for term cfyears, be-
sides being nutura!ized, before they could be quail
fled to volo. Yet his is the plan which designing
men have inveighed against as calculated - to
swarm the polls with thousands Of lIshmen =
Qualified Voters Of tho State-exanne, We pray
YOU, this proposed extension Of the liberty oil No-
Ting and scs II it is not safe and polite as well us
lust. The class proposed 10 bo admitted are your
Observation-Disclosures Of property which pays the ex-
penses Of the State. Some Of them are lease
holders OF farms others industrious mechanics.
large portion OF them are heads Of families lIy-
ing in their " own hired houses; they nre bound
to the land in which they live by every ito, ex-
cept that Of property in the soil Nor ought 10
he forgotten that many OF them decline 10 take the
qualification which lhe present law requires, be-
cause Of their objection 10 the arbitrary nature and
hardship Of the system. Yet while excluded by
the most honorable nscicnscousness themselves
they see the rights Of ireenien, from which They
are debarred, continually invaded, desecraicd, and
sported with by tho underserving. These men
appeal to you-the present possessors oi all The
political power Of the State they tell you that
they are taxed for property actually possessed
that they are willing that The constituted aulhorl-
ties, who estimate their property for the purpose
of exacting contribution towards the burlhens oi
The community, shall be the judges an all cases
Of its sutiiciency. They usk no license OF stcear-
ing themselves, annually or otherwise, into the
possession Of privilege denied TO others And
they leave you TO Judge whether they would be
made worse citizens. or less regardiul Of the laws
by being admitted 10 d share in the choice Of those
by whom The laws are made. Will you answer
the appeals OF such men by saying that you are IA
frad Of Free Suffrage: II you oppose their ad-
mission have they not ghl 10 say that you arc "a
lraid Of them, and that in obedience 10 the sug-
gestion of prejudice or passion, you hold hem-
Y0uy nrighbOrs and Jiienas, 10 be AN UN-
SOUND PART OF THE CoMMUNITY ii you
can see, as you will see Oh candid examination,
that the business Of suffrage can be settled, once
for all, on liberal. yet safe and guarded plan,
you are not only essentially but entirely with US IN
the proposed reform. DNesl ourselves Of the
dread Oi something worse, and II IS easy to shew
that we have no such Constitution as we ought To
have for the Slate. We PROTEST against the
Charter Of Charles ii. unfit for the Constitution
of Government Of Republican People. lr Is
DEFECTIVE AS SUCH. Ii does not reserve the
rights Of the people, and secure them from Legls-
lalive invasion. II does not designate the qnalii-
cation Of Voters. II does not distribute The Le-
gislatiye, Executive, and Judicial Departments Of
The Government. II fixes no ruto OF Representa-
lion, but only an arbitrary apporllonment. II
does not provide Senate as check upon the 9TH
branch Of tho Legislature. II does not Tx the
tenure OF office, and compensation oi Judges. II
does not designate the qualifications OF public OIL
ticers, guard against concentrating oilces which
are Incompatible IN the same person. IL does mol
provide for the contingency Of q failure 10 elect
the most imporlan, officers or the State. 1t does not
pun port to eanate from the people, and il makes
no provision Tor lis own amendment Or revision
hy them. Considered in the light OF Consitu-
,ion il is ABSURD as well as defective. Because
j, purporis tO be gIaal 10 the people and not
declaration by them. Because II is dlshgured
with royal and loyal protesalons tit only Ion dcs-
pols and their subjects. Because II assigns a hx-
cd, and una.erable runiber Of Representatives 10
places, which must in the nature oi things change,
and which have greatly changed their relative
population and consequence. because, If ooserv-
cd, II would compel the voters to leave Their
homes, however distant, and repair to tile town oi
Newport in person. Oh else lose their suiiiages IN
the GENERAL Lection. And finally, because II is
based on the connexoh oi King aud subject--a con-
nexon which has long since ceased TO exist. For
rejecting an instrument thus greatly defective, when
offered To The Constitution oi our Government,
we owe no apology to tho memory of our lore
fathers. On the contrary We NencIuie them ior
the zeal, the industry aud the patriotism with
which they devoted themselves 10 ine work oi OBJ
tainlng the best possible grant Of privileges from
their msuarch, while the, were yet subjects but
wo cannot-n would be unn'anl, oi us ~ TO do,
forgot that ue moi subjects. bullhe citizens oi
what is, or ough, TO DO, hepubI'can State.
We turn from the Charter, thus inadequate and
improper for the purposes oi Constitution, and
attempt to find some other authentic, fixed and
permanent record of our Constitutional rights We
see NOTHING WHICH pIRpoRIs TO M SUCH
nothing intended us u substitute, eAc.pt certain
scattered, mu,ubie, and unsatisfactory Legislative
ensctments. ln making these uuaetn'cn's, the
Charter has been n sou.u instances, sgr>ilcly ad-