Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-03-17


selves by saying, "Ah, but did not sign it,"
81 did MT put my namo to IT," ~ came away"
Should such be the case ] hardly know which
to despise most, the base trnitor to his country
or the sneaking coward who dseeivcs and be.
trays his friends.
The trainers and supporters ofthe so called
"People's Constitution" have often and re.
peatedy declared that their whole object was
TO extend the right of suffrage, and TO define
and limit the powers Of the Legislature. Now
if this were their real and true object, why all
this noise and uprour' why are such great ex-
ertions made, against tho adoption of the Con.
sltulion presented to them BY the competent
authorios' The legal Constitution grants all
they have ever asked for, all they have ever
desired. 1t is, in all important parti,ulars,ihs
same as the one framed by themselves except
that il does not violate in any Of its provisions
the Constitution Of the United States, or throw
the balance Of political power into the hands
of foreigners, or the power Of any town in
the State into the hands ofsuch persons MS may
at any time be located at any Naval Station
within the State and also ir the people should
al any future time think this power more safe.
! " vested in others than themselves, the pro.
vision for amending it is open to them and they
can give it 10 whom they please. The adop-
ton Of the present Constitution will give all
Rhode Islanders vote on the question. I
therefore again ask why al! The semgIiy eiioris
TO prevent its adoption by the people? why re-
ect what YOU have SO long and loudly de-
mandcd'
The answer is simply this. Ifthe Consriiu.
lion now before the people should be- adop-
ted, then these immaculate patriots, iLcse
bcneiactors Of mankind, could not turn round
TO the multitude of voters who will be admit.
ted by it, aud say: $40, we are the Gods who
brought YOU out Of the land Of Egypt and out
of the house of bondage we found you slaves
and scriS, and we made YOU all free men we
delivered you from ihrall, oppression and ~
ranny; by our superior wisdom the plan
conceived our far reaching vision perceived
and pointed ont the way our voices have been
raised in your behalf throughout the land and
all over the State; our pens have recorded
,onr wrongs md sutierings, aud vindicai'd
your rights without us YOU must have re-.
nained in worse than Egyptian bondage our
right arms have gained for you this great, this
/ glorious victory Now for all this we deserve
some reward, some recompcnse, and v on ought
IN gratitude for our services, to do all Won cnn
! tn
demands; we do not wish To make hard terms
with you, nor ask oncrous eAactions Of YOU,
GAS all we did was for love Of the dear people,
not selt,) and all we require is, that you swenr
eternal iraliy to US, use the power we have
thus generously pn, into your hands, always ~
we shall direct just be slaves 10 us rather than
the Landhoidcrs, who have heretofore kept
you in bondage, aud we will hold the debt on
owe us, great as il is, fully paid and bonoraby
cancelled"
! But if ,he legal Constitution be adopted, (as
| IL undoubtedly will be, notwithstanding tho
| opposition Of those who have clamorcd So loud.
polls, unbound, unplcdgcd, literally and in
truth Free .Men. They will be free 10 suppor,
whom they please, and reject whom they
please, and for whatever Offices they please,
'nd in this these pretended worshippers Of The
dear oplc see such dangers to all their hopes
and aspirations, that they stand aghast with
horror, and cry out in agony, like Macbeth to
Banquo's ghost
"Tahe any shape but that"
Give us the old Charter, give any thing. riy,
us nothing, but "Takc any shape bu, that
II DESTROYS all our fond hopes, cruslcs all our
br clIt and glorious plans, over which we have
iondIy doatcd, into the dust; cxingusIcs iha
sun from our political armament. In vain
have we ioI'ed, IN vain have we prostituled our
talent, our influence, our character, our honor,
and our integrity. What, when SO near the
goal, at which we aimed, to be found out, to
be understood, to he thrust back with looks of
whitening scorn, to have our name a bye-word,
a synonym for baseness and treachery, to
meet tho curled lip Of scorn and tho pointed
finger Of dcrision at every corner the ihousht
is agony. In heavens mme, "Take any shape
but that"
! Now under the circumstances which have
been presented, what is the duty OF q, ery hon,
est man, every patriot in the State II surely
must be apparent TO every one, that il is 10 use
all fair and honorable means, tn secure The
adoption Of the Constitution now q ,s,ni, d tn
the people, for their approval or rejection, aud
thus To settle finally aud forever, the important
question, that Rhode Island shall remain lat
she always has beru, u government of laws,
not of force, or faction, an asy lun for freedom,
aud nursery of free aud patriotic men.
| u, TO put down faction, to quoll insurleciion,
TO quiet strife, and restore peace aud ord' r, be-
ia" imperative duty Of every good citizen, them
indeed, is the path plain before Us. II to 90
all this, and also to hold up the leaders ib suol,
diabocal schemcs,to the contempt and infhmy
they do 50 richly merit, as terror to all c,il
doors, as warning to lawicss and uuprincipl, d
dcmagogues, ia all future time, Of their fate in
patriotic Rhode leland, be- not oily our iuiy,
but our hlph dpsire and firm uItuosr. tLtn