Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-11-18

place on Mr.. DORIS motion 10 add two
more sections to the Bill Of Rights, which
were TO the effec, that all men are creo.
ted free and equal, and that the people
Ilare the Foundation Of the Government.
Mr. Dorr read from the decisions Ol
the Convention Of 1870. (These ani-
cles were from the Constitution framed
by the Suffrage Convention.)
| Mr.. Mann said that he should like Ia
have time to consider these articles. A
great many principles were involved in
them, which he could not fully compre-
hend in single reading.
Mr.. Dorr said ihnt another reading
would enable the gentleman to under
stand md make up his mind upon them.
They were provisions that are incorpora-
ted into most constitutions, and he did
not know what objection there could be-
to their introduction here.
MIR. Mann replied briefly, saying that
many articles Of much Importance haG
been printed. lie had no objection to
acting upon them now, il he could be
excused from voting.
MIR. +. II. Potter said, such provis.
ions as these had got into a great many
constitutions, c because when any one Of
lered them, no one liked 10 oppose them
for fear Of having his democracy i'm
pcached. As,o all power being inherent
m The people, no one doubted il, and our
saying so would not make it any ,ruer.- -
AS to sail men being free and equal" if
II meant that in a state of nature, no one
had a natlral right to govern another or
that all ought to be governed by equal
laws, he acknowledged its truth, but
otherwise, it was a practical lie. He
objected to these words being introdu-
ced, because almost any meaning might
be pu, upon them, and if the sanction of
this Convention could be got to them.
they would be used as q foundatio for
certain people to argue from them in fa-
vor OF certain Inc asures he deemed revo-
luiionary. They were abstract, indef-
mite, aud Of no practical use whatever :;
and they were not in the constitution OF
1894. They did not think them neces-
sary then.
Mr.. Halle snid that If such sections
were TO be introduced, the committee had
wholly misunderstood their duty. These
were rights which men possessed before
they entered into any social compact
they were derived from the Creator alone
not given or confirmed by man. Bu,
when man entered into society, he gave
up some Of these natural rights. He
surrendered the right to portion of his
property, and in certain cases to his lib
eriy, ard even to his life. There was n
great distinction between natural and
political rights, and it was from overlook
ing such distinctions, that these asser-
tons were put into constitutions. These
rig hts and principles to he declared were
political only, not oil which men may pos
ses before they enter into n social and
political compact.
lie had another objection to these sec.
lions, they were not true in any poli,icnl
or social sense. lie did not wish TO have
any such provisions incorporated into our
constitution.
MIR. Ch'ds asked the gentleman from
Providence TO explain what he meant b, |
The right OF the people TO alter or amend
their government
Mr. Dorr explained Whereas in our
own government there was no provision
for amendment, he held that the whole
people had right TO meet aud form such
II government as they chose.
Mr.. l}rayion said that his objections 10
the introduction of these sections was,
that every government in whose constitu-
lion they had been introduced had given
The lie to them in their practice.
Mr.. Dorr said that the chief objection
10 these principles was, that they were
a6siract. The same objection he said
might be urg"d against all enunciations
m rights and duty, even against those of Il
the Christian religion. lie considered
hat the majority Of the people had
right TO form government which would
be binding on The minority, and Upon ibe
" hole people, until n majority should be
Obtained by the rule then prescribed to
repeal 1t.
lie went into the history Of this Staie1
% show that these principles had always
been acknowledged and acted upon by
our fathers.
Mr. Luther said that after all debate
he question must return to the points first
stated Il
Mr.. f. Il. Potter moved IN amend
nent to the amendment Of Mr.. Dnrr. -
Il was that the word women should be in
serted in the first section, so that il should
cad "all men and women nrc created
Zee and equal" lie said that every
hing in that section was equally true Of
omen as Of men, and five were TO make
general declaration of rights we ought
o make this among them. He insisted
'pon the amendment though he should
'Ole az ainst the sections. H
The amendment was adopted, only a
single voice being heard against it. H
MIR. UpdIke gave a brief sketch Of The
proceedings of tho Convention which
ailiicd the Constitution Of The United
s. aics. The declarations made there,
which the gentleman from Providence
md read, were not conditions on which
was adopted but only recon,me nda
IONS. H