Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-02-17

81 y w p o D Wa
MORNING. FEB. ".
Constitutional Convention.

Assembly to form a Constitution, met in
Providence on Monday afternoon, pursuant
to the adjournment from the 18th of No
vember.
Il Between 40 and so members were present
and answered to their names.
Mr.. Dor offered a resolution of adjourn
ment, as follows:
H Whereas, since the adjournment Of this
II Convention, Constitution Of Government for
this State, proposed to The People thereof, by
a Convention Of the same, at Providence on
/ The 18th day of November last, has been
ratified aud adopted by a large majority of
The citizens OF the State.
H And whereas said Constitution 80 adopted
/ by the People in their original aud sovereign
capacity, of right ought Ia be and Is the para.
mount Law aud Constitution OF the State.
\ Therefore
Resolved, That this Convention will pro-
ceed no farther in the attempt TO form Con
sttu,ion, and that when il adjourns this
1T will adjourn without day.
Mr.. Atwoll offered a similar resolution, as
follows:
Whereas, q major portion Of the good peo-
pie OF this State, as well as majority OF the
immediate constituents OF this Convention,
have, in their original primary capacity, form
ed a certain fundamental law and constitu-
ton for their self-government, and have by
their free votes adopted the same as the con-
sttuliona form of government for this State;
and whereas, the SAID constitutional form of
government so formed and adopted as afore-
said, has by the representatives and agents Of
such the free people of this State been de-
| cared TO be the fundamental law and constl-
tuition for the government Of the same; and
h whereas, the constitution of these United
Il States has guaranteed TO each State IN this
Union a republican form Of government and
whereas, it is the duty OF the representatives
Of tho people IN republican government
not only to obey the wishes and demands OF
their immediate constituents, but also TO lsten n
TO and respect the requirements OF the whole
people who may live under such a govern
mcnt There fore,
Il RESOLVED, That this Convention, having IN
view as well the general welfare OF the State
as the duties imposed upon them as repre-
sentativcs Of frcemen, do hereby declare
that the good people Of this State having
chosen for themselves and by themselves TO
adopt constitutional form Of government,
this Convention is now adjourned without
day.
These resolutions were laid on the tables
and Mr.. Atwell gave notice that ho should
call up his on Tuesday morning.
The Constitution was then read. The
first two sections were debated and adopted
after some slight amendments.
The subjects of Suffrage, the House Of
Represe Dlativcs, and the Senate, were then
referred to u select Committee Of three from
each county (; and after u recess of IN hour
| they were announced by the Chair, as fol
lows:
From Newport County-Mcssrs. Chlds,
Lawton and Manchester.
Providence County-Messrs. J. II. Clarke,
Mann, J. Jenckes.
Washington Couniy-Messrs. Robinson, J.
B. NJ. Potter, Davis.
Kent County Messrs. Rhodes, Wilbur,
james.
Bristol County-Messrs. Halle, Bullock,
Humphrey.
The Convention then adjourned till ten
o'clock Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning. resolution Of MIR.
Atwell was taken up, aud Mr.. Dorr occupied
nearly the whole morning in support Of it,
After he had ncluded, tho Convention was
called upon its passage, and It was rejected
by a vote Of 81 to ll-Messrs. A,well, Bar.
ker, Curtis, Dorr, Dunn, Johnson, Lupham,
Slocum, Smith, Wilbur and Williams, voting
in the affirmative.
After voting, by % to 10, to print 100 Co
pies of the Peoples Constitution for the
use Of the Convention, the Convention then
adjourned to 3 o'clock +. NJ.
Afternoon The third article Of the
Constitution was read and adopted.
Article fourth was then read. On
motion of Mr.. Mathewson, a section was
added requiring the assent Of two-thirds
of tho members elected to each branch
Of the Legislature to any appropriation
Of tho public monies.
The section prohibiting lotteries had
no, been adopted. 1t was proposed to
amend it 80 us no, to affect any existing
grants.
Mr.. Updike thought this proper oc-
casion to restrict lotteries except for GER
tain purposes. lie was in favor Of fu-
lure gran, for the purpose Of uniting the
money thus acquired with Mr.. Browns
donation for lunatic asylum. The rev.
enue might also be applied to the sup
port Of the deaf and dumb.
lie moved that the section be gent TO
a committee 10 report an amendment 10
the above effect When those oblests
were accomplished, lotteries should
cease.
Nessrs. Updike, King and T.. Potter,
were appointed such committee.
The thirteenth section relative to in
curing State Debts, was referred TO Mr..
T.. Potter.
Article seventh was adopted
| The eleventh article wus taken up.