Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-07
Signed by Elisha Dillingham; aud about

H ed by the action Of The Assembly on the
Smih6cld memorial. Any extension Of the
right OF suffrage was most proper for The peo.
pie acting by their delegates ~ Convention.
Such Convention the General Assembly
had every reason to believe would be formed
under the resolutions which they had adop-
ted.
Il Al the last May session Of this General
Assembly. Mr.. Mowry Of Smilhfeld, submit
ted a resolution that the resolution for a con-
vention to form u constitution for the State,
be amended SO US 10 elect the members in
proportion to The number of delegates the
towns would scverally be entitled to accord
ing 10 The last census, not exceeding six 10
| one town.
H Mr.. Atwell then said (if he has been re-
ported correctly that in connection with the
resolution he would call for the petition ot
Elisha Dillingham; aud others for extending
suffrage, presented Ut the last session, as he
thought when settling as to how many dele
gates should be elected we should inquire
as to who should elect those delegates.
II Mr.. Ames advocated the passage of Mr..
Il Mowry's resolution.
\ The resolution Of Mr. Mowry was adopted
| by the House by vote Of AZ TO 20.
II The next day Mr.. Atwell presented n bill
meeting the views of a large portion Of our
citizens. ], provided for new npporiion-
| mcnt of representatives and an extension OF
suffrage IN choosing delegates for the con.
| vention 10 frame u constitution.
Il Mr.. Atwcll (accordlng to The published re-
por) said she was not then prepared to say
e could go the length Of the friends OF the
bill proposed. lie wished the bill read and
referred to the committee on the Judiciary to
report IN June" Aud the bill was SO dis
| posed Of.
H AT the last June session, according to the
| published account) "Mr. Atwcll made mi.
noriiy report from the committee on the Ju.
| dietary, to whom was referred the act sent to
the House as aforesaid. The substance Of
the report was that every white male citizen
| OF the United States over tweniy-one years
of age who has resided in this State two
| years and IN the town or city where he rs 10
vote for six months next preceding the town
meeting, and who has paid tax on real estate
or personal property for one year previous to
The time Of voting, shall be allowed TO vote
for the choice Of delegates to the convention
appointed by the General Assembly TO meet
IN November next for the purpose of forming
/ II constitution, except persons insane, under
guardianship and convicts."
/ There was much debate in the House
growing out Of the report. Some denying
the power OF the House 10 pass such an act.
Others admitting the power Of the House, but
denying its propriety. The report was de-
Tended as 10 the power Of the Assembly and
tbs proprety OF such On net. On the qucs-
tion ~ voted against the act proposed by
Mr. Atwell, and ten in its favor.
Mr.. Spencer who voted against the net,
said "the proper course for those who wish
for an extension of suffrage, is TO 60 to the
convention appointed for the purpose Of con
slderng that subject, with others, and if they
found no redress there, then the proper
course ill be 10 come here"
This course so plain and proper was not
adopted. On the contrary measures were
taken To extend suffrage by The act OF those
vino by law were not entitled to suffrage, by
a movement revolutionary IN its character,
aud without any such necessity or oppression
as must exist to justify revolutions.
The refusal of The General Assembly to
extend the righ, of elec,lng delegates to the
Iconveniion, to persons who were TO, qnal-
fed electors by the fundamental laws Of the
State, has been alleged as Justification for
the convention which formed what they have
been pleased 10 term "the Peoples Conslilu.
ton"
Measures, however, were taken before the
June session, by the friends of the suffrage
movement, 10 organize a convention by their
own authority.
In May last at large meeting in Newpor,
under the auspices Of the suffrage assocla-
tlon. measures were taken for calling COLI
venilon of tho people without any regard to
the fundamental laws of this State, which,
for nearly two hundred years, lave required
the possession OF freehold TO cniitlc per.
son to be admitted to the exercise of politi.
cal power and TO be a member of the body
polite and corporate. A portion of the pco.
Pile responded TO the call of this Unauthorized
body and met in the several towns to choose
delegates to convention TO form q constitu-
tion for this State TO be holden a, Providence,
October 4th, lS4l. This was in anticipation
OF the lawful convention which was to meet
on The lSt Monday Of November last.
The unauthorised convention assembled in
Providence at the time appointed. They
were the delegates OF u minority Of the peo.
Pile in whatever sense the word people may
be understood. a small portion Of the free.
holders joined in this irregular election, and
although all persons were admitted to vote
who chose, not more than about seven thou.
sand two hundred voters gave any appear
ance of sanction to this convention. The
number OF white male citizens OF the United
States resident in this State over 2I years of
age, exceed twenty two thousand. Such was
the authority upon which this convention
assembled and proceeded to act. 1t has been
generally supposed that this convention pro.
ceeded simply without law, and not agains:
law. But as they assumed the authority
which under the laws Of the State was to be
exercised by another convention, chosen by
the freemen for that purpose, they acted in
opposition 10 the law under which The lawful
convention was called, in violation of The
right which belonged 10 the legally qualified
electors. to make constitution Tor this State,
and their dongs were not only Wihom iato,
bm against iac.
This unlawful convention, elected by a
minority Of the people, proceeded to the
solemn work Of forming u constitution to be
proposed to the people OF this State aud also
exercised one of the most important powers
OF sovereignty OF their own authority they
decided what portion should not vote upon
the adoption or rejection of the constitution.
At meetings holden under their authority,
their constitution was submitted 10 those