Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-06-17


No father has no man Of correct views
OF social duty vii exulI, iO this wicked
proposition to send Iawess marauders
there TO butcher our children. whose
duty may require them to defend the
laws and Institutions of their native
State!
This narrative OF facts plainly shows
that The issue presented in The resolution
is not the true one, The regular Gov
eminent and those who support it are
not conlendlng against an extension Of
suffrage. They are for it, have propos.
ed II, and voted for it, in a constitutional
and legal mode.
What is really commended for. bv the
party calling themselves the Suffrage
party, is not presented IN these resoIu'
lions. They contend Tor right to over
turn and abolish an eTiSting Government,
without any authority Of law; by illegal
and Irresponsible assembIages Of men;
by pretended numerical majority, with.
out proof that such majority exists, or
whether those who voted are citizens Of
Rhode Island or Of other States or Ma
ilons. and with no means 10 show whe
ther the account is fairly or lraudulently
made out. Such principle cannot be
recognised in Government oI laws
1t removes the foundation of conStllu-
tionaI freedom Once concede the un-
restrained right Of a numerical malor'
~ 10 OVertUrn organic laws, and what
becomes Of the existing Constitution OF.
this Government, which requires the as.
sent of three .(ourlhs Of The States to al
ter i9 1t is obvious that to establish
the dortrlne COntended for. and obsli
nately persisted in =, ny the Suffrage par.
ty, and their fen friends here, would be
10 subject all our constitutions 10 the ca
PRECIOUS designs Of adventures, and
would put an end to regulated rcpnb'r
can liberty in every State in this Tree
land!
These views would. TO my mind, be
conclusive against the proceeding Of an
actual numerical ma ority acting without
law; hut, IN the case Of Rhode Island
II is nv dpIihe rate Judgment, there is
now not one-fnurlh Ol the number Of
adults male citizens in favor Of the doc.
lrnes aud proceedings Of the Sufra 60
party.
There is another objection urged by
The S'na,or from OHIO 10 the constitu-
llonal charter Of Rhode Island and thai
IS that il prPscrIbes no limit to the pow.
er oi the General Assembly. To my
mind, this is not so manlfesIly absurd as
the Senator seems 10 regard u. | won d
ask in what age Of the world has tyran
nica Legislation been restrained by pro
visions upon parchment? II | were to
decide between long term Of service
with such wrdleh restraints, and n shcrt
one with none, as friend to responsible
Legislation, | would take the last. The
term OF service under our constitution
is six months The representative re
turns 10 his constituents twice 10 each
year for re election. the best guaranty
in my opinion which freedom among
such people ever devised for its secu
rlly.
We have also bill Of rights declaring
those great principles Of liberty which
are not to be violated by legislation. -
This has stood al The head of our stat
utes, co nmandng and receiving Ieglsla
tive obedience and sanction for many
gene eraIlons as the paramount law. Can
not he Senator comprehend that tn
, imme mortal recognition Of such re
straining provisions clothes them wit
such constitutional power, and that tn
power is strengthened by the d,gniI
Of hmeP Such have been the practca
. effects Of all these. that haZlrd moth
y ing in saving here have been no peopj
: on earth who have governed State vii
= less, if as lutte, restraint upon The pei
sona Ireedl m Of the cilZens
y ! desire to say few words upon al
q other position taken by the Senator rroI
Ohio He declares that the old chartt
!, and government of Rhode Island
:, dead, and has been for more than SKI
years; that it is rotten, aud he affects
q he disturbed with its ofrnsiveness =
a When in that strain Of remark, and "
o with professions of persf nal regard, h
4 lurRpd TO The Senators from that Stat
r and asked US bv whdt authority ne we,
# here. and how our Stale came into III
q Union? adding that every act Of OF
I State Government, since the Declare
il ilon Of American Independence, wa
!, "damnnble binyphemouS uSW"pdiion"- -
,r Sir, | am somewhat at a loss tor lar
/, guage proper II be used in The Spnal
If and suited TO repel such impula'ionS u
8 IN the State which in patl here repr
"a sent. This is the first time such an a
-s tack has been made upon a State Of III
i, Union. regard il as unworthy Of II
= representative of State IN The Amer
Cnn Spnatp-worlhV only The cause