Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-11-11
CIRCULAR.
hSTi-SLAyERy OfricE,


manly. We therefore address yon, confident
in your willingness and earnest desire to CO.
operate in every effort that tends TO the nd
vancement Of right aud justice.
Il Our citizens, long complaining Of injustice
or oppression from our present charter system
Of government, have risen up with prolessed
determination to establish n system on the true
democratic basis, call governments derive their
Just powers from the consent of tho governed y
hot allowing that any accidental circLm
stance of wealth, rank ar caste can he capable
Of fdisenfranchising a man. Their Convention
has met and adjourned, and what do we sec as
the result Of their deliberations, An instrn-
mcnt, the prime features Of which are iyranni-
cal and dcspoiic. Had il required property
qualification for electors, there would have
been some shOW of reason in the act. But as
suming, as it does, TO lord il over a portion OF
our citizens, and claiming the right to trampe
them in the dust, moi for any fault Of theirs,
but because, by their complcxion, they are
identified with deeply injured and long ep-
pressed class Of our country men, ah! It's base
ness, foul and black, FREE SUFFRAGE,
FORSOOTIi!! Yes, freedom for the MANY 10
frame laws for and compel the unprotected and
defcncelcss FEW 10 succumb. What magma
nimiiy Governments, it is said, are neediul
manly for the protection of the weak. The
strong do not require its aids. They are self
sustained But our boasted champions of the
poor and the aboring classes, of "cqual rights
I and exact iustice,' come out with the robber
law, "Mieht makes right -"Ilonor among
thieyes" s'Savery"-"W will do as WE
pIcase and compel others to bide our bidding.
Had this sell. seeking Convention struck at the
II Iinaienahle rights of any other class Of our citi
zens, il had been less reprchensblc. The
poorest and most degraded among the ligh
complexioned of our population ale still within
| the pale Of a public sentiment that protects
|, them from gross ouragcs; but the colorcd
| population, against whom bitter prclndic,
| and hatred exists, may not be left thus unpro
II Itected, in the hands Of their enemies.
Il Your Executive Committee have been look
| ing forward with much hope to the PROPOSE
! for an extension Of suffrage, upon just priDc
pies but being disappointed in this hope, ant
| finding that the proposed Constitution is ex
| elusive in its character, contnlng its privilege
to the whites, they call upon the nboli,ionst
| of Rhode island to make combined etlor
against IT,
/ list. Because it will give comfort and Joy (,
| the anguish smittcn slave spirit throughont th,
country, and add yot another support TO thu
tottering system.
Il ID While the other and neigbborns State
are wiping off from their statute books all law
| founded on complexion, and holding up TO tn
! world codes of true justice, and inviting MAJ
/ and not COLOR or CASTE to the polls and To tn,
! highest places of State, we would not brook ih,
H reproach Of being century back in the shade
! of barbarlsm.
H Sd. After Constitution is adopted, . chang
II in il cannot be effected without great difficulty
| Better then, that large class, most of whom
have the sympathics of the body Of the people
! should continue uncnfranchised, than that the
! numbers of The privileged class should be in.
I creased, and their combined strength be bro II
Il against the fcw, in ured and Tsuicd. The
I greater the number of the uneniranchised, a nd
|, the smaller the number of the privileged class
! the better hope there il for the success Of all
| Let the old charter system continue then, rath
or than allow such change.
H 4th. The principle that man may be de
! prived Of the right of saying by what laws h,
! shall be governed, destroys the foundation o
our own liberty, aud leaves the rhite popula
ton also without a icothold for freedom.
| 9th, and last. 1t is at war with repnblicanism
| with the fundamental principles OF the Fedora
| ons,itution, and with all right and equity.
II your Executive Committee are taking meas
! urcs for bringing efficient agents into the State
! and are using such other means as shall con
| found the Vaccinations Of the enemies of oqna
! rights, and speed on the car OF freedom. Anf
II this circular is issued to call upon every abo
! litonist in the State to come to the rescue
\ Our annual meeting is at hand. Let the III
! and 18th of Novem see such gathering %
| the friends of freedom in Rhode Island as la
| never before been witnessed. We are en-
| dcavoring TO secure the attendance of many o
\ the most noble and eloquent defenders of righ
| from various parts of the country. But TnI
| PEOPLE must be here. 1t is on them we rely
II in such struggle. Come one, come all--mcr
! and women--irom farm and workshop, from
|, spindle and loom, from desk and counter, from
/ pulpit aud rostrum, from kitchen and paror.--
/, We want the counsel of the entire ani-savcr,
/ of the State. Let a plan of operations be dc
H liberately maiurcd at this meeting and then
| speedily executed.
Il We call upon YOU in the name Of the crush
ed slave--in behalf Of humanity strpek dumb
| then outraged and despised, TO come up to Tho
meeting aud lend us your influence and co
! operation. Let Us make "A combined effort
let all shoulders at once be put to the work anc
| it is done.
Il We rely npQn yon To whom this circular l.
sent,t call meeting of lho iliends of the slave
4 in your place forthwith, and secure large dele
| galon to the meeting. The larger the better
Every friend Of humanity in the State would
do well to be here, if he can, by any possibility
come. II you shall be 80 circumsanccd tla
| you cannot attend TO this business, please pu
|, This circdlar into the hands of aomc who
can. Yours for immutoble right,
/ PELEG CLARKE, President.
/ WILLIAM ArLIH, Secretary.