Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-18
RHODE ISLAND-CIVlL WAR THREAT
FINED.

Little Rhode Island, we are sorry to say, is in
great trouble in fact, war is threatened and we
are afraid the parties in the will he foolish
enough TO spill more or less of their had blood be-
fore the business is settled. Our readers have
been advised Of some of the proceedings; bat we
will briefly recapuate the leading points in the
controversy, us correctly as can gather them.
Rhode Island never has had Constitution. -
She has been governed under The original grant
from Great Britain, and the right of suffrage has
been restricted to reeholders and their Oldest
sons. This restriction of the right of suffrage
has long been an eyes sore, particularly 10 those
who were excluded by it and repeated attempts
have been made to extend the right of suffrage.
i large majority oithe people, embracing all par
tes,now are aud have fol sometime been in
favor of an extension of this right, 10 greater or
less degree, but they do not agree where TO stop.
All, or nearly ali, want = constitution instead of
the old charter-but they disagree as to what the
new constitution shall be. BY one convention le-
gally called and consisting OF men legally elected
$50 they claim IA constitution was formed by
which the right Of suffrage is to he extended TO
all, ii we are not mistaken, within two years, in
the supporters of This constitute one party ncIu-
ding the present government of the state Anoth.
err convention called by volunteers, consisting of
delegates elected, lit is said by the first pnrty.)
without law and by minority of the people (jipe-
men, we suspect, excluding those who were not
voters under the old charer,) formed another con
sritution, for free and immediate suffrage, excu-
ding colored people and the friends of this con
stilute the other party. The first constitution was
rejected by about 600 majority of the (charter)
voters the second was also rejected by the char
ter voters, but carried by majority of the people,
counting those who we've not entitled TO vote I'M
der the charter. The second constitution free
and immediate suffrage, excluding colored men, !
has been proclaimed ms the law Of the land by an
| officer of the convention which framed it, and e.
leclions are 10 be made under it for The formation
! of a new government On the other hand the
/ present government deny The legality of this new
constitution; The Legislature has made il treason
TO support it and The Governor has issued proc
lumuon warning the people 10 desst, and has or
dered the militia TO he in readiness for duty at 80
minutes notice The friends of the new con
stltntion are going on, nevertheless they denounce
( the legislature as tyrauical and are armng for
the fight. A. was TO be expected the militia of
The state are divided in opinion on this subject
Thus matters stand now. Both parties have sent
agents 10 Washington, claiming the Intervention
Of, the Federal Government.
Affairs wear threatening aspect; and yet we
cannot see the necessity of spng one drop of
blood The legality of the new constitution can
he tested by better ordeal than The bloody one of
the sword the U. 5. Supreme Court should try
the question, and if then the majority of the peo-
pie are not satisfied, il will be time enough 10 fight,
if they are bent upon it.
"A demonstration that newspapers afford the
cheapest reading possibly TO be Obtained. We
| have before us two extra numbers of the IN W
New World, containing Buwer's new novel
t."Zanoni enlire-prce IL ~ cents. The same
work, in book form, costs 81 here and $3.50 in
England. The publisher Of the New World will
answer orders for "Zanoni' through the mail,
newspaper postage only being charged. Eighteen
thousand copies have been sold already.
Newspapers. "The Magnet" to be devoted to
animal magnetism, by Rev. lie Roy Sunderland,
ny city. The editor thinks magnetism and
phrenology go together, and will yet become =
science We doubt IT, you may NOT, perhaps-so
take the Magnet and read for yourself
"The Dollar Weekly Bosonau"-of course,
price 81 VIM Bartlett, editor. lie says his de-
sign is 80 gain an honest living" Perhaps he
can succeed by printing papers at that price. We
can't