Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-11-09

RHODE lsLAND.-A, singular state Of
public affairs now, exists in Rhode Is.
laul. The State has never yet formed a
constitution Of its own, but has always
been governed by charter granted by
King Charles 2d Of England to a few
Colonisis. This charter requires such
property qualification in voters as to ex,
cnds the mass from any voice in thsir
government. This has long been the
subject ofmIch grievance and cumplant.
and the people have at length determined
to rsmedy tho evil. They htoly chose
delegates who mot in convention and form
ed new constitution, which is now be
fore The people for their cOnsideratiOn,and
adoption if approved. Although these
proceedings are reVolutionzng the State
government, No physical force has yet
been ipierpOsod by ths existing aulhori.
ties. The following just remuks on the
subject are from The Baltimore Sun.
"Euopg ISLAND AFFA1Rs,-Haoe nc
any hing 10 do wiA tIcm?-lt has been
aiIimsd, that the people Of the other
States in Ibis UnlOn have nothing 10 do
with the attempt now making in Rhode
Island, 10 change the form Of government
(Ihat S,a,e. We deny this. The peo-
ole of that Sate-lhe males Of the age
d Of ,wenlv.Ona wears and upwards, are Gil.
iz4ns Of the Uuled Saies, native and
natnral'ze the number of the latter be
ing believed to no very small; yet moi
, more than about ong-third possess the
elective franchise; a fact resulting from
the Other fact, that The S,ats Is governed
by charter Obtained from A Brilish king
The unenfranchised twO.thirds, being Il
n,inrity Of citizens, have right to rule /;
aud Knowing that they are by the national
constitution promised Il guaranty for Il
republican form of governments Hte about
10 form one. and have already published
the. constitution prepared by conyen-
ion Of thoir delegates, aud which will
probably bo adopted by majprily Of the
people and yet we are toli that no one
ovt of Rhode Island has anything 10 do
with this matter, save indeed to put down
by The bayonet, if need should seem to
arise, those who would attempt to eslab.
sh repub!ican form of government in
that State, moi in COhtlict with the consli-
tuition ofthc Uuited States; and set up
The will of the majority at the basis of
that government. What had we to do
with Greece and Poland struggling for
their liberty? what with Canada, South
America, Texas2 aud what have we to do
with the struggles Of Ireland for the res.
loralon Of her righ,sP' To all these we
have to a greater or less extent given our
sympathy, nut 10 speak Of still more
> algihle species Of aid: and yet we are
told ,htl we have no business 10 trouble
ourselves with the concerns Of tho Rhode
Islanders, who are making a constitutional
effort to obtain the rights guaranteed to
,hem by the great charter Of The Union.--
One thing is Certan--he press every
where has q right to lend them its inllu.
enco, and the Giiizans Of tho States any
and every where, have right 70 send
Them tho aid Of money, if it should be
needed; bnt that any OF them can ever
he induced to enter that State in a hos
tile manner, because oflho eiTorts thero
making 10 establish a republican form of
government, we shall blieve it when it
is dpne--not before. Those editors who
tlIk nf bayones in cnnnexi0n with this
matter, DISCOVER their folly or their knave.
ry, or both. The thing sought is guaran.
iced 10 those seeking il, aud the na'Ion
is bound 10 sustain them in its possession
when obtained; and certainly those edit.
ora nnl Of the State, who will not aid,
ought not to Discourage thsm--whn will
/ not give them their sympathy, ought not
endeavnr To bring their ef,rts rnto con.
temp; fnr according 10 their own express
sed opinion, they have nothing to do
wuh the mattel"
#Che Co ,siituiion Of the United States
provides that ''the United States shall
guaranty to every State in this UhiOu, a
republican firm Of government"