, 1842-06-04

'nemselVes-pcrpetuating TO themselves
ana their descendants the privilege, and
excluding all others. The sovereignty
Is mus vested in the agent, and not in
lhe prlnolpal-in the Representatives of
the people, and not in the people them
selves.
Well, sir, under these circumstances,
what did the people of Rhode Island
gam by the Revolution? They thought
'hey were struggling to exchange British
authority for the rights of civil liberty.
iet we see the great body Of the people
-three-tiiths at least of the entire popu-
latlon-being disfranchised-lclt to the
remaining two-liflhs the power of gov
ernlng. But we have seer that the peo-
pie have regeneratcd the government
nave thrown off this ~usurpation, under
which they have 81 long been deprived
OF their rights; and | will here ask, By
what authority, under this charter, (ifit
does exist do Senators from that State
occupy places upon this floor: Does the
charter authorize the State to elect Sena-
tors to the Congress ofthe United States?
Sir, docs the charter authorize a convcn-
tlon OF the people of Rhode Island 10
incorporate that State into the body Of
the American Republic? | presume not,
sir. By what authority, then, did they
act, when they became 4 constituent part
of this tuion. Was it under that char
Ter, granted more than a century before
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it bv virturc of
that charter, under which the majority
OF The inhabitants were diSfranchiScd, that
that State took refuge, like a tempcSt-tost
vessel, and became safely moorcd in the
!larbor of the Republic? Do YOU bring
the charter into the Federal Constitution
with You? No, sir; the people of the
State Of Rhode Island adopted, in SOL
cmn convention assembled, the Federal
Constltution-thc vital. elementary prin-
ciplc Of civil liberty. 1t was ]rccognis-
ed by all parties. Without this, the
Stale could not have become a member
Of the Union, because the Constitution
requires that this shall be done. This
was not the work of a party; it was eff
tectcd by the fathers of the Revolution.
who laid down the fundamental law Of
civil liberty-mcn whose veins were
drained Of their likelihood in procuring
that Independence, and the enjoyment of
that civil liberty, for their descendants.
What did that convention do: They de-
clared "ihat there are certain natural
rights: Of which men, when they form
a social compact, cannot deprive or d.
vest their po>terity: among which arS
the enjoyment Of life and liberty, with
the means Of acquiring, possessing, and
protecting property, and pursuing and
obtaining happiness and safety" that AL
power is naturally vested in, and conse-
qucntly derived from, the people; that
magistrates, therefore, are their trustees
and agents, and at all times amcnablc &c
them;" ''that the powers of government
may be reassumcd by the people when
socycr it shall become necessary 10 their
happiness"
Never WAS there I declaration
stronger OF more comprehensive
ihan tins made bv the SpNreign pcu-
ole Of the State Of Rhode Island.
Wei. sjr, whathavc tlcy subsequent
Iy done? Why. as 500 as they got
,nu9Iy established rs 4 part Of the
Union, the Governor and Company OF
hcProyincc effected The resumption of
sovereignty, because there was not
popular power enough around them to
rc>is'. Tbey resumed the sovereignty,
meling out 10 the people rs much right
and as much wrong as those sove-
reign legislators thought proper 10
mere out. Instead of having their
own dutics prescribed to them. they
assumed the right to prescribe to the
people. their lords and masters, how
much liberty they should enjoy. Sir.