The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-12-02
From the same.
WHAT DO YOU WANT!

WHAT DO YOU WANT!
! To the friends Of popular rights, and advo-
Gates Of free government the question is ffs'
quently put, "whs, do you want !"-and what
system OF suffrage will suit you. This is fol
lowed up with the inquiry whether we demand
system Of suffrage like that Of Massachusetts,,
Nav York, or some other State. To all these
inquiries, one simple reply is sufficient. Before
erecting an edifce, the proper way is, to lay the
foundation. There is undoubtedly difference
of opinion even among tho advocates Of change
in cur system, rs 10 the extent to which the
light OF suffrage shsuld be carried. But the
settlement Of this question is an after consider
alton. with which we have nothing TO do at
present. To obtain a constitution as the basis
Of government, is tho great primary, and lead
ing object, to fix principles beyond the reach
Of Legislative influence, and TO secure rights as
that instrument may guarantee. beyond the
power Of the General Assembly either 10 cur.
tail, extend, or abrogate, at their pleasure, once
in SIX months, as they have now the power to
do, No man can deny that this is just, right.
and necessary, to public and individual safety
and happiness.
| In the formation and adoption Of a constitu-
ton, we contend every free citizen Of the State
has The right to participate; that right being
the right Of nature, which cannot be taken from
any one, and which he cannot even part with
voluntarily; it being indefeasible and every
FREQ gsrernmsnt "deriring its just powers," in
the language Of the declaration Of indepen-
dcnee, :" from The gOperned" Necessity how
ever compels, that the minority should, for tho
Time being. submit quietly to the will Of the
tha, majority may adopt, to that form the mi
nority, as long as they continue such, are
bound to yield; and, as good citizens, will
yield their obsdience. We therefore contend
for constitution, TO be formed by conven-
iisn selected by the whols people of Rhode Is
land, without respect TO the exclusive privileges
conferred on a part by Charles The Second !;
and adopted by majority. With whatever
qualifications that majority may require as a
condiiisn Of the right OF suffrage, we shall be
cry Que else be who rcpudiates the present ar
btary. unjust and continually huctusting sys-
TEN, which guarautces nothing but oppression,
and seeks nothing but TO perpetuate the exsr-
else Of an usurped power aud authority Of the
few over the many. Let any truly American
mind, which has been imbued with the spirit OF
republican liberty, ponder seriously on the ma
ture Of this demand, aside from all purely sell
fish motives, and If il does not adml, the demand
to be Just and reasonable, those who make ii
will reliuquish H.
Such are our views OF a Convention but we
trust that, whenever the democratic party may
again come into over, they will take the mat
ter up in General Assembly, and pave the way
to this desirable result, by extending the rieh,
Of suffrage. as the means Of curing the evil com
planned of, by shorter method. As to oar
own opinion, individually, il is. that every free
citizen, Of proper age and residence, should eI-
ercise the right Of suffrage, provided he be un-
attainted Of crime. Nothing short of this, will,
in our opinion, satisfy the principles of genuine
democracy. We long time ago came TO this
con Inclusion; and we nov adopt it as the motto
OF our flag, aud with it, ate prepared to stand OF
fall. Come what will, we shall not bo found
pattering with the rights of the people. We
will declare and maintain "thc truth, the whole
truth. and nothing bu, the truth"