The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-12-30

Of Representatives, on that part Of The G0rtrn-
or's Message reiaiirc to Rhode Island Affairs.
The undersigned, the minority of the committee
10 whom was referred So much Of his Eycellency
the Governors message rs relates TO the recent
troubles in The State of r. Island while they enter
tain the highest respect for The station which his
Excellency occupies as the Governor of this State,
and high consideration for his personal and gem
llemanly qualities; and while they admire the
irankness with which he has expressed his honest
and long settled opinions in reference TO the real
merits of the Rhode Island controversy, cal-
not but deeply regret that those opinions are so
deadly at war with what we conceive TO lie the
first principles of Republican government. In The
opinion of the Undersigned, there are involved in
the Rhode Island controversy grave questions of
American and constitutional law, the rg hts OF
government, ind the rights Of man rs man, and MS
constituent portion of the State. We, therefore,
accord with his Excelency in the apparent init
nation contained in his message of the high pro-
priety, that The executive and legislative officers of
Inc other States of the Union. nnd we might add
| the people Oftlie whole, should make The affairs Of
Rhode Island n matter Of serious reflection ard
grave comment. We too "shuddcr to think that
the spirit of party has so soon and with so little
cause involved us in such scenes where "sons
have been nrrayed against fathers, brothers against
brothers, and trains Of artillery have been point
eG with deadly intent" And sc, the undersigned
regret, that his EXceency's supposed knowledge
of the facts in, olvcC in the controversy between The
charter and free suffrage parties in Rhode Island,
that that clear apprehension of those principles
which form the basis of all free or lawful govern
mental institutions, and which The governor OF a
free State is supposed 10 possess, that warm SYM
paihy with those principles, and that love for the
| inherent lights Of human nature which are so he
coming the Ncrmonler, did not prompt his EAccl-
lency TO shift the burden Of his rcbuke from the
party, which, in the opinion Of The undersigned
was clearly in the right, upon the head Of Tint
which was clearly in The wrong; for the underSign-
ed cannot suppose his Exceency 10 have been le-
Ultimately "Concerncd in the affairs Of that state"
Just far cnough to render u State apology Tor OPP
preston proper, but not far enough 10 save m OK
preston of opinion and sympathy in favor Of slgug
Cling liberty from The charge of impairment inter-
ference.
In the farewell address of the father of his
country is said, ",he basis of our political sys-
tens is the right of the people 10 make and alter
their form OF government. This is but n plain
commentary upon the magma choria of our po-
ethical faiths "tlMt all men nrc created equal,
"tnt they are endowed by their creator with GER
"iain nnlienabe rights; that among these are life,
"libcrly and the pursuit Of happiness; that to Sc
"cure these rights governments are Instituted a.
"mong men, deriving their Just powers from, the
"conscnt Of The governed; that whenever nny form
"Of government becomes destructive Of these ends
sit is the right Of the people TO alter or 10 abolish
sit, and TO institute new government, laying lis
"iOundailon on such principles and organizing lis
"powcrs in such form us TO them shall seem most
"Iikcly 10 effect their safety and happiness"
I".".i NV ''"'o ~ w go Nv" VIZ
o"'o W WV '"''o ."e' wa. =" 's"'', 90,
n,c,, w, ", =, ia $50. a r,c ,Ln,,
'''' -" ~ a., - Wv a., a.,
oe"'o"' ",u =, ~ u .. H. 'o,n
p.up'' "'' w, i"".u ~ ",' rv,a Wv c,;,,,
in tho neonIc bu, Tim, these ore the cilt Of God
Tho charter goyornmen, If Rhode Stand has 10
hi. Lopr utterly denied these fundamental prnci.
nlos or Amc,;cnn institutions and If oll ,o,crn.
mon, c,nndeL nm n,incnlcs If counli,y I, denies
!, bv ndbcring M ,hc lns;s or liz oI,bori,y. 10
rovol charter granting "or especol grace. certain
knoyleLge and mere motion. chose things Ms king.
lv concossions md nriyilercs which every repubii
con claims "a his inherent ri.h, II denies Them.
hy mos, cnu,ious eyrlpsion nr any rccocni,ion of
,Iom in tho lnndholie,s' proposcd constitution -
I, Jor;os hcn bv ,he fatal exrpsinn Of ,wn third.
If ,ho noonlc or Tho Sn,c Gom nny parliciua,ion
u, ,ho royr,,n,on, which hmm. man ,he, and hv
Janr;, in, ,har, Of ,nny in nor,,n, civil r;,L,s il
Jepp;ss ,Gem hy ;n.;.,io, ,ba, tho necnle NAV moi
rsG,rn, ,he ,o;errncn, undc, whose inv nnJ inter-
d;o, ,h.v I;sc ,yLor, ,cnvc If Tim, Government,
Ere, o.Lod md Granted ne n when how and where.
IN or whether a, Mi, ,hc same ,nny he rcroned
rbs charter 40, crnmen, Of Rhode Island. thus
c,rm;ns sn strange and mons,rons m anomaly in
,bo ,,ao,y 81 c,cs rs;,n,;nns seems ,o ,bc nm.
dors;nnod !, mn,,.r FIR rrnrrnI rcgre, Inn, hi. Tx.
celencv, M, ne NO ,rus, stimulated rs any "spr-
!, ~ ~, y, hn, ,oo l,ln corsdcrr, lin n,i..
"L;ar ,l,' nro,ni,,,,on If sn,S on;non.
I.'.' - aI,oI $3.50 ,,,.,, col u, ,lo cnns.
" ,".,., ins ,on,nrnI =, s,ovd nm 40 ,he nnolo.
'" w, nv nh ,nri, ahn.o md ,,rnpnaus ,isrur.
e" -. ~. Il.
Inc nhue.s,snea "erco WIN nS hA.'"'n'! "'ni
The effect OF me american .tNo'u'on WIS '" "''n"
as me law OF government, 'nG '"yo' cn','I ~ Wy
| n hIcl tup CORPORATION Ol NNOUc islnNu anu lTONl-