Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-05-13

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we'd for vigorous and concentrated er-
fort to accomplish thorough and perma-
neni Reform in the Political Institutions
olihs State.
8. That a system of Government, un-
der which the Legislative body sxer-
cises Power unde eiined and uncop,rol.
led by fundamental laws, according tn
its own especial grace, certain knowi-
edge and mere notion" and limits and
restricts The rights Of suffrage, aud makes.
and unmakes the people ut its pleasure, is
nli.republican and odious in its char
acter md operations, at war with the
spirit Of the age, and re2ugnnnt 10 the
feelings OF every right minded Rhode
Island man, and ough, 10 be abaicd.
6. That the public good inperatively
requires that the powers of the Legisa-
tive and the Rights OF the citizens SHOULD
be defined and fixed by Written State
Constitution.
7. That the representation Of the towns
in the General Assembly as originally
established by the provisions Of tiIe char
ter OF King Charles III had reference
TO the then existing population Of tho
same, and was, nj that time, not unfauiy
adjusted TO il but lhat,h the great increase
OF population N the towns, The cxistingap-
polntmeut has become exceedingly un-
equal and unjust in its operation; and
iha, new assignment oi Representa-
tves arnorg the towns according to popn-
la,ion, will be an indispensable article
\ IN a Constitution for this State. A ma.
jority of the representatives 10 the Gem
eral Assembly are now slecied by towns
containing less than one Third Of tho
population of The State; and some OF the
towns, from hcice 10 fWcnty times what
they are entitled to under tho Just prin-
ciple Of distribution above Daned-an
inequality not uncommon in the monar-
chies OF Europe, but, with the single ex.
cepiion OF Rhode Island, unknown in tho
United States.
8. That at the foundation Of this
State, and long utter, property in land
was not only the principal property OF tho
citizens, but was so easily attainnbls
that landed qualification for voters
(6rst definitely established in the colony,
by the Legislature in l724,) excluded
only small portion of the people from
political power; but that the circupstan-
ces Of the people have since greatly
|, changed, aud that the existing qualifica-
! ,ions Tor voting has the effect, contrary
to the design OF those who first establish
ed it, Of excluding the great majority OF
900 out of the 25 900 over the age Of
81 years, from all political privileges and
! "a, ha 4'.,r ,,C ha
inent and that although we entertain a
high and becoming respect for Farmers,
| and their just influences in this State,
we are not insensible to the merits OF
: their own younger Sons, Of the Me-
chanlcs, the Merchants, the working
men and others, who own no land, aud
r that we are Of opinion, that the longer
continuance Of n landed qualification for
voters is a great injustice and is contrary
TO the spirit and principles OF Republi-
can Government and that a constitu-
tion for this State will be altogether in
sufficient, unsatisfactory aud impractica-
: Bile, that does not restore 10 the body 0t
| the people of this State the rights and
privileges Of AMERICAN CITIZENS.
4 9. That continuance Of the provi-
sions Of the charter relating to repre-
scntation, and of the act Of the Legis-
lature requiring n freehold es,a to en-
title a citizen 10 vote for public officers,
has the effect not only to vest the con-
troll Of the General Assembly, ~ we
, have before seen, IN less than one third
, of the population bnt, as the voters IN
this third are only third part Of tho
+, whole number of The male adult citizens,
this further effect also the most odIoua
of all, Of placing the control OF the As
semhly and Of the State IN one ninth part
of its adult population, or in other words,
in the hands of less than Three 1hou-
sand Men out of TDceniy- Fire thousand
who are over 81 years Of age.
Il 10. That such n State OF things is q
bold and hardy defiance of all popular
rights, and s total departure from the
principle avowed at the first Session %!
the General Assembly in the year l647
4, who then solemnly declared and voted
, that the Government OF this State should
r be a Democracy.
III II. That the American system Of GO.
vernment il n government of men an''
: no, Of property; and that while It pro-
= vidcs Tor the ample protection and sat"
h enloyment and TRANSMISSION oi property,
e it confrrs upon il no political advantages
e but regards all men rs free and equal,
g and exacts from them no price for the
= exercise Of their birth-right and that,
# therefore, the undoubted rights and phi
y vileges Of the people, as sell asthe true
honor and prosperity Of the State, car
e only be completely obtained and pcrma'
!. nently insured by u written Constitution,
: whose trainers shall be chosen from TiiR
n PEOPLE Of the towns, in proportion te
d population, and which shall he approved
u and ratified by The psopie al large and
j. ,ha, in tho exercise ol this high oct %
d sovereign spery .americdn citizen 'rhos
y actual permanent residence or hme IS !,
y this State, ha, righ 10 participate. -
al And We accordingly pledge ourselve
individually to each other, and collec
,c lively 10 the public, lha, we will use on
of unremii,ing efforts for such n Consiiiu
10 tuition, IN the way ,ha, has been described
III