The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-26
MORE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTR
TUTIONn

4
ics"-bave been DESTROYS Of abrdgng the righ'
of suffrage.
| The great principle Of our beautiful Republic
Is based upon universal suffrage, and we call
upon the People to guard this sacred right from
any and every Infringement Ii has been whis-
pered around for sometime that the next allera-
ton proposed for the Constitution would be a
moneyed qualification to entitle republican TO
a vote We did not believe that the time was
| so near al hand when the organ of these gentle
men would venture openly TO avow its readiness
to storm tins great citadel of liberty but in a
Clay paper of April 22d, 1--WE note the date fully,)
we find an article openly advocating the aboli-
ton Of the right of suffrage. In speaking Of an
Irishman, named Car, who had been sent to
prison in New FORK for illegal voting, the hide
pendent uses the following strange language:
Decidedly, Mr.. Bernard Carr-whose name in
dcates that he is from the Green Isle"-s very
illused man. He has only yielded to the Universal
Passion ofths country-tha Of voting; which, in the
common apprehension, is the summit of civil enjoy
ments Fit unfit to be trusted with it, all sigh for
that privilege; and when they have secured it, think
themselves lords Of the creation at That charm
ing idea of governing other people particularly in
| toxcating to those oho cannot gorern Themselves
the gross the ignorant the corrupt. II seems too, to
give peculiar delight to to deal mischief around
them, by mixing with those things which they don't
understand, and in which, having next to no stake
they hurt every body than themselves"
This article comes with peculiar grace from
the dainty man who could not go on his mis-
sion after being paid for it, because there were
mechanics on board the vessel.
The above extract, is an article that demands
serious attention for more reasons than one
The Independent paper was established by the
enemies of the present administration, and is the
organ of the very men who are at this moment
preventing Congress from relieving the distress
of the country. 1t is the organ of the majority
in Congress. 1t is the organ Of the new lights,
or those who wish to alter the Constitution !;
and although the abrdegment of the right OF
suffrage has not been preached in either House,
it is one of the grand and leading changes de-
manded by these Kentucky new lights.
We are rejoiced that the mprudence Of the
Independent editor has, at this early day, torn
the veil from the worst feature of the proposed
innovation on our glorious Constitution. We
are glad that the curtain has been raised that
the People may see who it is that is so anxious
to change our form of government, and the ex-
tent to which they intend to carry their change.
We glory in the opportunity given us by this
laundering editor, who has spoken before his
cue was given, to put the People on their guard
about the right of suffrage
! No doubt the friends Of the paper will scold
at the qualification of their grand spokesman,
but the thing is out, and those who have plotted
their own stupid advocate.
We call on the People, far and near, to note
this open avowal of black design on their free
dom. The mechanic, the laborer-al who do
not own lands and houses, are to be deprived OF
the right Of suffrage, no matter how intelligent
or useful members Of society they may be.
We call on all parties to stand by the sacred
right guaranteed by the Constitution, and to
meet those open royalists face to face. The
People at large we speak to, and not TO their
delegates who misrepresent them. The People
are crying in agony for relief, and here is the
organ of certain great man boldly advocating
the destruction ofthe right of suffrage.
| w t VIII Ildkt OuS IuOlC eAtidCi lOiA ttiio cur"
prudent article of the New Lights editor:
"I, seems to us that in country where all liberty
is thought to begin and end in voting, Ono matter how
and where the whole business of the Governmn mt is
eIectioneerns it is great pity to limit in this
enjoyment In truth, If there's any reason why they
should vote once it would equally Justify their volpg
fifteen times in every election. My if fairness is al
all the obj ct are strongly inclined to think that
the only pr aclcabe way Of attaining it will be to
| unn ne n each Of Sey wards
of New York. All should have the chance.
Then it would make the Irishmen and Dutch so
happy"
This is not only an intimation of his un-
princped attack on the right of suffrage, but it
is small edition of his ancient disgust for The
poor He now assails the honest Irish and
German immigrants, who, because they fly from
oppression TO our universal asylum for the free,
are to be here hunted downby such dainty souls
as the neat and perfumed editor Of the Indepen-
dent.
No man loves liberty more than the honest
Irishman, be he Catholic OF Protestant, and yet
the New Lights would deprive him of all parti-
cpation in our free laws, simply because he
comes to our shores poor.
We have no better settlers in the Union than
the German farmers, and yet they can have no
vote until they are able to own land free from
| all incumbrance.
Let the People ponder well on these things,
and consider who is right, the New Lights, who
would take away entirely the constitution of Ii
berty, or the President who boldly and fearless
ly does his duty for the good of the whole Peo-
pie.
Approving voices reach us from every quar-
ter "The measures Of the Administration"
will be sustained by a majority of the American