Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-10-21

generally adopted written constitutions Of
government, with the right of suffrage more
or less restricted, but in none OF them UNI
yersal, and in several, colonial inequalities
of representation were preserved. When
written constitutions were adopted, they, IN
most instances, provided modes for their
own amendment.
Rhode Island, however satisfied with the
: existing form of government, did not adopt
n written constitution. On our separation
from Great Britain, therefore, the laws OF
the LEGISLATURE of that state became the SUI
preme law, and the power OF government
could not be changed without an act OF the
legislature, or by revolution. Any change
which should be made, however peaceably,
unless by law, would, of course, be revoln-
ton, as it would be putting down the exist
! inc government, without its own consent,
aud substituting another in its place.
In all the old states, inequalities in the
right of suffrage and representation con-
tinued to exist unaltered, till within about
twenty years past, unattended by serious
complaint. and certainly without the thought
of revolution. About that time, in some
few of the states, public opinion demanded
change, and change was accordingly made,
without difficulty or violence. In other
states, where peaceable modes Of altering
the constitution are provided, inequalities,
nearly or unite as great as those complained
of in Rhode Island, have been allowed to
exist to this day. In our own state even, UNI
shackIed by colonial restraints, we vounta-
rily formed and have continued a govern
ment, whose inequalities Of Representation are
probably equal to those, which in Rhode Is
land, were thought TO justify revolution,
and that too, by the sword. But such a
revolution can only be justified when the
evils of government have become oppressive
and ntolerable, and when all hope OF m'ldeI
remedies is lost. Such was not the state oil
things in our sister state, at the time por-
ton of her citizens thought proper to raise
the standard of civil war. We heard no
complaints of misgovernment, nor of the
suffering OF any portion of her people. They
were in full possession of the same free
government they had always enjoyed, and Of
the civil rights which are universal in the
country 1t is true their political privileges
were not equal. Some towns had a greater
proportion of representation than others, and
there were property qualifications for voters
These were the evils, and all the evils COM
planned Of
If il is to be granted, that for the reasons
like these, government may, at any time, be
overturned by violence, we shall never, in
this country, be without fruitful causes of
civil war. There are inequalities in the
right of suffrage and representation in every
state and in none, can greater inequality
of representation be found, than at present
exists, under our national government in
the Senate of the United States. There
two millions and half Of the citizens Of
New York, are no more numerously repre-
scented than hundred thousand citizens of
Rhode Island.
Considerations like these should satisfy us,
that mere theories about government and
political rights, unaccompanied by oppression
and privation of civil rights, can never in
this country, Justify resort TO the sword
Public opinion is the safe, proper, and GER
tain corrective of all evils Of this description
Its operation is gradual but it is surely bet
ter to wait long and patiently for its ultimate
effects, than rashy to engage in savage
warfare with each other. Indeed, in Rhode
Island, public opinion has already produced
its effect, and left those, whose feet were so
swift to shed blood without the slightest ex-
cuse. Before they raised the standard of re-
bellion, the legislature had caused a con-
sttuton to be submitted TO the people.
which it was fully in their power to adopt
1t will hardly be deemed sufficient answer
to this, to say, that it was not such in all re-
spects as portion of the people required
1t went almost the whole extent of their de-
! rnanH. II 10 Iac,r lilo hat channao -,
government should be abrupt, in matters
about which there is nearly an equal division
of opinion. In all wei! regulated commune
ties, such changes are always gradual, and
there cannot be the slightest doubt but that,
in Rhode Island, surrounded by free repub-
! lies, and herself one of their elder sisters,
every thing which could be Justly demanded
would, in due time, have been obtained-
And, under all the circumstances, the attempt
which was made by portion of her people
to plunge the state in civil war, deserves, in
my judgment, the severest apprehension oil
every humane citizen, and every lover of his
country, And cannot find words to express
my sense of the conduct of those, who, un.
concerned in the affairs of that state and re.
remote from the dangers and horrors of the
scene, urged on and stimulated her deIuded
citizens to the enactment of the tragedy
which they were so eager to witness
have thought it my duty to express these
views, because it is subject of immediate
interest to us ALL aud because a suitable ex.
preston of opinion, as TO the character Of
such events, is, perhaps, one of the bes
means of preventing their recurrence, 1t i,
due also to the state of Rhode Island, after
having passed through so severe and unex
amped trial, and after the noble exhibition
) she has made of 6rmness, wisdom, and for
bearance, under circumstances Of such ex