The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-12-02
THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION.

Hsu Of any remarks Of our own. we present
them TO our readers, and hope that they will
9;ve them an attentive perusal and reflect upon
their contents.
From the Providence Herald.
FREEMEN.
Jphafs in name l''-has long been COM
mon question, n sort Of adsgs, TO show that
correct judgmen, of men and things cannot al
ways be formed from the name given them
The name "FREEMAS," as used in Rhode Is
laad, is very fair illustration Of this saying In
reality the term free man distinguishes a free
citizen from slave or alien. Such was its
meaning in ancient Rome and Greece, aud such
has usually been its meaning IN most other
States and Empires. In the southern parts OF
our country, such is now the case. There they
have bur two classes the freeman and the slave
and aristocratic as the people Of the south arc
supposed by their northern fellow citizens, they
have never vet offered such an insult TO white
citizens of the United States, as 10 separate
them into two classes, designating the one as
freemea, and leaving the other in an ambiguous
condition, as slaves, aliens, or men without po-
lnieal rights.
In other States in which certain qualifca-
tions are required as condition for the exercise
of the right of suffrage, the general appra'on
for those who possess those qualifications, is, G.
lectors while every other citizen Of the requisite
age, is considered a freeman; and under the
constitutional provisions Of those States which
no legislative power can change, the freeman
becomes an elector or voter the moment those
qualifications have been obtained indeprnd-
emily Of the assent Of any man. or body Of men.
In Rhode Island the case is different. BY
curious anomaly. tho same word is techni-
cally made to mean two differ ent things by a
mere change of accent; and the peculiar char
acter Of our laws which regulate the elective
franchise. In Rhode Island, the freeman is
the free citizen Of the United, Staies-but the
freeman, is he who is roted free by those who
have already had the privilege and honor con
ierred on them. TO all intents and purposes,
every freeman. citizen Of The u. S., is an alien
in Rhode Island. whatever his other qualiica.
paslially acquainted with our Laws, knows hs
must be Of a certain age. be a citizen OF the
United States, have resided a certain length Of
time iB the State, and possess certain amount
OF real estate, TO become freeman, and TO
claim .he privilege TO vote at elections. Hav-
ing arrived at all these, he presents himself at
the polls with his yoie in hand. But he is at
once rspulsed, and his surprise and morif-
cation he finds himself an alien. All these
qualifications may be subslan,iated and &C.
kno"ledsed beyond doubt, and yet one other
act remains TO be periormed-an act in which h
he can take no part to qualify hmsslf-a con
dition most deroga,ory io.ali free institutions,
and the deepest insult that eau be offered 10 a
free mdn--lle must bo propounded. In other
words, he must submit his hnmbls request TO
be {" made free" and it is at the option OF the
corporate body 10 whom that request is made,
by majority Of their votes, to determine wherh.
erh he shall be " made fi(e'', or 10 remain AN ali
rnto the State. ii they say yea, he is free, and
invested with the privileges which belong Of
right TO every free man without ask.sg for them.
II they say ray, and which they have the pow
to do, no act Of his can remove the Damn, though
he may be native OF the State, a constant res
dent in it for halfa century, and have u free
hold on its soil worth half million Snch is
the Insulting and degrading law Of Rhode Is
Band, 10 make Freshmen Of iree-men, according
io the authority given by the ROYAL CHARTER,
and still praoiced on in every case. And TO
This shameful abuse have large majority OF
free citizens Of the United States resident in
the State tamely submitted since the rsvolu.
lion.
Bnt this system of oppression does no, stor
here. II is carried through all the affairs o.
State, legislative, Judicial. and municipal.
Our legislative bodies. Judicial authorities
aud state officers. &c. &C., must all have beer
made free by rote. Our jnres must consist O.
men Who have thus degraded themselves To bs
made Free then. to cap the climax, nc
person who has not passed that ORDEAL ana
been made free" eau. prosecute his claim fol
justice in court Of law, unless the legal pro
cess be backed by SONS one Of the privileged
order. Thus 1t is, that freemen, who hase MOI
been roied free, whs,ever may be their o,he
qualifications, are excluded from the polls. from
the legislative, Judicial and municipal bodies
and from the jury box and are even barred
out Of court with their demands FOR Justice, un
hess some one who has beea made free ma,
sondeseend to lend his name to the unforunat,
alien!
Pe.sA inten,s aad purposes therefore the fsee
mcn in Rhode Island who have not been - mad
free by vote. are excluded from all partici
patton in matters essential to their peace an
safety as American citizens. This class con-
pr'ses THREE rIrTns Of all who are twen,y-on
years fage, and upwards, and who. in ever