Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-08-08
To be concluded.)
From the Providence Journ'
FREE SUFFRAGE.

The Locofocos say that free suffrage
has nothing to do with the Congre ssional
election, and consequently that il is un-
fair to oppose MIR Dorr because he has
stated that a property qualification was
so monstrous a tyranny as that against
which our fathers Of the Revolution CON
tended. We think differently unless
we are much mistaken, the landholders
OF Rhode Island think differently, and
will be unwilling to send free suffrage
man to Congress, or to any other pub
JIG station. A property qualification is
the very basis and foundation Of the
government of this State; he who oppo-
ses that, opposes the whole fabric of our
Institutions he will be unable TO defend
us or our customs, and will join with the
representatives of free suffrage States,
on the floor Of Congress, in ridiculing
the laws which we have inherited from
our ancestors, and which we mean to
transmit, unimpared to our children.
Nor is this all free suffrage is essen
TALLY and peculiarly locoioco doctrine,
and al,houg gh in Rhode Island, they have
never before ventured TO broach it, yet
the Office holders in Providence and
Newport have long been wishing and
secretly plotting to fasten free suffrage
upon this State, and so bring the farmers
aud landholdcrs under the control
OF men who pay no taxes and who do not
own foot of soil.
For the first time, have they now
dared to nominate free suffrage man
for Office they tried the experiment or
a Congressional election, because the
bearing of free suffrage upon that is less
direct and immediate /; let them sue
ceed in this, and il will next be attempt
cd in the State elections. They vii
next, gradually and one by one, nslnu
ate free sufliage men into the Genera
Assembly, put one or two at time int
tho Senate, elect few whenever they
can to the House Of Representatives, AM
finally when they have got the full pow
or and feel suro of 'heir ma jority for any
measure, they will pass free suffrage
law, and the Farmers of this State vii
learn with unavailing surprise and m
dignation, that their privileges are gone
their rights are swept away, and tina
the amount Of their taxes will be fxet
by men who pay none themselves.
We warn the landholding interest o
this State, NC warn the farmers Of Rhod'
Island, to whatever party they may be
long, whatever other measures they ma,
advocate, to unite in one common any
undivided effort 10 put stop to TIN
alarming innovation. AT the next elec
ton, il may be too late. Once let ire,
suffrage man be elected from this State
and n blow is struck ut the landed quail
6ca,ion, from which it may never re
cover.
The following are the sentiments o
Mr.. Dnrr, as expressed by himself, upo
the subject of free suffrage
"Wc have seen that our existing free
bold qualification for voters Is 'Dconsis
tent with a Just regard TO natural rights
that il is opposed to the principles oi
Ecpublican Government, to The rca
intentions OF the founders oi this Staic,-
10 the Declaration of American lndc
reudence, to the spirn al the Cons''tu
ton of the United Statcs-to the prac
tee oi all the other States, but one =
that IL is inconsistent with iscli, ard uI'
far ~ its operation. Still lullcf, nd
mhling, lor aigumtnl's sake, land uc