Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-06-07
From the Bay State Democrat.
TIE RHODE ISLAND QUESTION
A PLAIN STATEMENT.

A PLAIN STATEMENT.
Facts with regard TO the troubles in
Rhode Island which are submitted TO can
did men Of all parties.
The free suffrage Constitution was a.
dopted by greater m ajoTity than has ev-
er been given in any state in the greatest
political excitement The vote in favor
of the Constitution amounted 10 more
than 60 per cent. ofallthe citizens nfthe
United States dwelling inRhode Island OF
The age Of 81 years and upwards and was
nearly 10 per cent of the whole Popnla-
tion. The greatest vote given to Ilarri-
son in proportion 10 the population was in
Kentucky, and was less than 10 per cent.
and the vote by which he was elected was
less than 81 per cent Of the po2ula-
ton of the United States -
But, say the advocates Of the constiIu.
tion formed by those who claim tobe pro-
prietors Of the State under King Charles
charter, why not take the Constitutions
off red out: answer that.
We cannot consent to receive as ia
vor, what We may justly demand as our
right Having formed in convention and
ratified in our primary assemblies a con-
sttution, after the approved and success
ful forms adopted by the other States of
The confederacy, we could mott We would
and we would Motif we could, anDul this
constilutionin order 10 have 1t replaced
by one that is in every way inferior TO il.
And to prove that the objections 10 the
constitution, framed by King Charles
chlrterman, are we'll founded, il is only
necessary to quote some Of itsprovisions;
mona Of which are 10 be found in the peo-
ple's constitution: 1s-5
| Il lmakes distinction between free
holders and other cilizeRs--between ma
tive aud nainralizsd ciiizehs-between
the present freeholders and those who
may hereafter become freeholders, and
between the eldest sons Of the present.
lleeholders and the eldest sons Of future
.Greeholdefs. a
2. 1t gives the legislature jurisdiction
Ia judicial matters which properly belong
to, the courts ofthe lawj such as new -tFi-
ais, ihsoIyent petitions, divorces; sales Of
real estate.Src.
3. II divides the Senate unequallyso
that the electors Of less than ,one1hird of
The population can return majOrity.ofI
the Senate, and gives to 1855 ihhahits
anls in the 9th district, equal power with
3ddistrict. B
4 1t giyes9O less than three-tenlhs
d fthe population ofthe State a majority.
Of three in the House Of Representatives,
consisting of77 members. ltgiyes an e
quail number of representatives., namely,
tw0.each, 10 town with3 10 inhabitants,
aud to a town with 3,7l7 inhabitants, and
2,72S Inhabitants, il gives as many repre-
seltaIves as TO %, t7l.
A IS. ThougRFthe inequality Of the pops
ulation oflhe towns in the State Is very
groat--ihe smallest containing only 385l
iihaJiiaats, and tho largest upwards OF
$4,000, yet they are divided into only
four classes for representation The first
class requires from 1873 to 1850 iahabtt-
ants 10 elect. a representative; tho I'd re-
qljses from 1856 4 10 i742; the Sd, from.
1889 10 1884 and the 4th requires.
2s97. es ~ i ie'sis.
u Contrast this with the Consultation a.
dopted BY the people.
& b.. A msiorily OF the, electors is Fe.
quired % elect d majority If tho Senate.
2. The towns for representation are
divided into 6 6,classsss III the lst class
itrequirss from 81 70 s6l iahabitaIts to
elect representatives.; III the Cd !. from 462
10 1859: Ia NE 81, from 1854 to 1742,
in the fourth, 1882 in the 9th, l697;and
ia the Gil, 1000.
8. All citizensof the United States
having a residence ofons year in the