Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-06-02

eu doctrine oil the senator oi his unchQn'
gsable aud glorious principle (aS he Gull:
( ~ that the majority must rule
|, That principle Is 10 better preserved
in OHIO than IN Rhode Island II means
nothing more anywhere than that the
affairs of free State shall be conduct
cd by "A majority of the legally qualified
voters of such State. And, IN truth,
nothing is meant by the fascinating
word peopie, when spoken here or else
where IN political sense, than the le-
eally qualified voters or ircemen Of The
country. When more is pretended
than this by the use of the term, il
affords good ground to believe that
deception IS intendcd upon the very peo-
pie whom the speaker Processes 10 lore
10 scrre.
/ Is not this correct, and is not the
question Of who shall be the qualified
voters in every State settled. as one not
of positive right or principle but Of pro-
prleiy aud eXpediency II not, why,
let inc ask, is onc-ha!f the persons IN
almost every free State Che females
excluded by single dash OF the pen
Not because they want intelligence or
attachment TO free institutions, but be-
cause the exercise of such duties by
them does not comport with other peo-
ple's views mot their's) Of what is deli
cafe and proper. Why does the law
require certain residence in a State
but as an evidence of attachment 10 the
particular State where the privilege is
allowed 10 be exercised | dare say
Ohio requires this.
The same view of propriety and ex-
pedicncy excludes all male citizens un-
der twenty-one years of age, although
the law of the same State may allow
such to exercise other privileges, re-
quiring equal capacity--such, for IN
stance, as disposipg Of estates by will
at much earlier age. Others are cx-
cluded on account OF color, because the
exclusion is believed 70 promote social
happiness. Al these restrictions show
that no such positive principles of legal
or moral right is involved in dctcrmin-
ing the qualification of voters as is urg-
ed in the argument Of the Senator from
Ohio.
This question of determining the
qualification OF voters belongs to the
States, and is beyond the jurisdiction of
the National Government. 1t has al
ways been so exercised by all the States,
and each one for itself, and according
TO its own views.
Rhode Island may have required
higher evidence OF attachment than
some other States (though all require
some) To- cntitle a man to the privilege
of Il freeman or voter within her lurls-
diction, and there are sound and suiii-
cicnt reasons for this. The situation
Of the State demanded il. The terrific
ry of the State does not exceed forty
miles square. 1t is SURROUNDED, or
nearly so, by the popuIous territory of
other States. This gives an opportunl-
ty or interference IN her affairs by cit
iZens Of other States residing upon the
border towns, unless she adopts stron-
ger guards than may be necessary with
States of larger territory. And, more
over, being in the vicinity OF large and
populous cities, this high evidence Of
attachment and allegiance is required to
prevent being controlled ~ her affairs
by ddreninrgrS and dem0gOgues, with
which such cities unfortunately abound.
And let me say that this recent at
tempt to overthrow the Constitution and
Government Of Rhode Island origina-
ted in one of those cities, (the largest
in the country Publications were
made there, and sent to and circulated
IN Rhode Island, setting forth that there
was not Republican Government
there at tho time when this same Mr.,
Dorr had been rejected by the irscmen
as the candidate for Congress. 4 for
NAL petition was then drawn and print
ed in New York, and sent to members
of the House of Representatives, max
ing anappeal TO Congress 10 pass laws
for the government oi our state. The
ground then taken TO induce Congress
to Interfere was, that we were not re-
publicans. Ii is now carried a little
further, for the same purpose, by the
Senator from Ohio. His doctrine is,
that we have had no Government at all
in Rhode Island The original idea
and the proceeding is the spawn of a
foreign Influenza shameless intcrie-
renee.
/ will ask the Senate if these circum-
stances which surround the State have
not justified, nay demanded from the
Government Of Rhode Island, that the
elective franchise IN that State should
be guarded by those higher evidences
orattachment to her institutions to which
! have referred The State would
have been untrue to herself, 10 her high
character and that of her citizens, To
have neglected so important safeguard
TO their rights.
This higher evidence Of attachment,
ms have called the additional qualIica-
ton required in Rhode Island, is the
possession of n small amount Zone hun
drcd and Thirty y-four dollars WORTH of
real property within its limits. And,
sir, let me here say that there are many
very good reasons in favor of such u
qualification in such STATE. have a
personal knowledge that there is no
great hardships in this requirement, for
| have not inherited any property and
by the SAVINGS of industry in INV minori-