The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-28
TEMPEST III A TEApoT.

Ihis State Is still governed by the Charter
from Charles ii but the attempt was late
~ made to form a Consli,uiion-ihose ii
favor Of the Charter under all act Of the
Legislature, the others without any law,
and this has brought them into collision.
1t may well be said by the opponents oil
Tree governments that the people are inca.
pablo OF sclf-goycrnment when the citizens
Of any one State in this Union shall suffer
themselves TO be led, either by real or i'm.
aglnary grievances, to put themselves in
opposition 10 the laws. Ii is an error OF
the age that u resort is too often had to
mob law-it is much better We think to
endure the "eyils we know Than to ily to
those We know not" for ten to one, in
the attempt 10 better our condition by H..
! legal means if We do not make lhcIs worse.
i. was hardly to be expected that the land
of Roger Williams, law loving and law
abiding people heretofore should have so
! far forgotten what was due TO themselves
as 10 be led TO such extremes. Both par.
lies have sent populations TO Washington
TO ask aid Of the General Government and
IL is stated that the President will take
sides with the legally constituted auhorI-
lies. The following extract will give our
; readers brief view Of the case as it stands I:
: The Colony Of Rhode Island received its first
charter from Parliament in the year 1913. A
second charter, conccdng ana securing to the
! people the right Of self government was granted
by Charles II in 1868. Under this charter the
number of Representatives from the towns was
fixed without reference 10 their increase Of popu.
lation. OF course, in the lapse OF nearly two
hundred years, there has been an inequality in
the increase OF population in different parts Of the
state, and hence an unequal representation in the
Legislature. Besides this, the right Of suffrage
was only allowed to those persons pos cssing a
freehold In 1921 the discomfort of the people
with this inequality and limitation Of rights led
10 an attempt at change, but it was not effected
for waul Of majority In 1884 the attempt was
gain made, and then failed because the Conren.
ton could not agree upon a new Constitution
The desire 10 extend the RICH, Of suffrage was
not iagoraly entertained by the Conventions Of
either Of these periods. In January, ISL, in
consequence of q popular movement, the General
Assembly again took the subject into cousdora-
tIon, and requested the voters to elect delegates
10 Convention, 10 be held in November last, TO
frame a new constitution. The Assembly Of the
same time expressly limited the voters to that
class Of citizens who enjoyed the privilege under
he Old charter In consequence of this act.
popular movement was cummcEced IN open dis
respect Of the Legislative decision, which resulted
ia tie formation of Convention ia October last.
beng month previous 10 the time fixed for the
authorized legal Convention. The party form.
ing ard sustaining the acts of the October Con-
venlion is called the Suffrage party" This
{ Convention formed constitution extending the
right of suffrage 10 all white male persons of the
aye OF twenty .one years who had resided in the
State one wear and in the town SIX months pre-.
Yious to voting. This instrument was submitted
10 the people, and three days appointed 10 vote
upon It, when that Glass to whom the appeal I
was made and with whom it originated, decided
10 adept II. Meanwhile the legal Convention
called by the Legislature, met in November, and
The Delegates, being unable 10 agree respecting
proper qualifications adjourned to February last,
when they met again, and adopted constitution
extending the rignt Of suffrage 10 every white
male person who had resided TWO years in the
State aud six months in the town prior to the
lime Of an election. The Convention and con-
,ihuiion of the Suffrage party were thus treated
is nnlltlics by the legal Convention, aud the con.
.iituton framed by the latter was accordingly
to the decision Of the voters in the same
manner II the former had never been passed
lpon. The result was, that the constitution Of
he legal Convention was defeated al the polls
The serious question, and that which now ogi
atcs the state, then arose, namely the latter in
'trumenl being rejected, what should constitute
he fundamental law of the land The Suffrage
party claim their constitution, formed by their
October Convention, Is this Fundamental law,
indcr which, OF course, the whole Government
IF the State must be created and directed. Their
opponents, on the other hand, finding the consti.
ltion Of tho legal Convention of February re.
ected, declare that the State falls back under the
I'D charter OF Charles, which is therefore still the
fundamental law In favor OF this arc the Gov.
rnor, great majority Of the Legislature, and al.
% the judges Of the higher courts who, Of course,
ustlin the existing Government and laws.
The Suffrage party, determined to make their
constitution operative, have nominated candidates
or the State Offices, aud design 10 hold formal
ection. The Governor dellares this proceed.
ng treason, forbids citizens 10 accept nomina.
IONS summons the militia, and menaees force in
rider TO put down all attempts 10 recognise prlc.
ically this new instrument. The Suffrage par. {
y, disregarding Legislative enactrnents and Exc
uivc menaces, nominate their candidates, and :
esolve, if need be- TO oppose force 10 force, and
o carry their point They have the advantage of /,
eng majority Of the people. Hence the diff |
llty Of coereing them and of adjusting the dis. Q
ate. Both parties have appealed to the Federal \
government for assistance. Both claim 10 be ~
light. In order TO show the interest excited in I
he question, | may mention that, among the
andidates for the Senate on the old charter tick.
Is are JAMES FENNFR, for many years Governor
t the State, and ELISHA MATrHEwroN, thirty
ears ago Senator in Congress-vetcrans, who
'ould not again enter into the strife of public a
airs unless mpelled by strong sense Of duty !;
tier all, there seems TO be nothing in the quar-
Fl which spirit Of concession might not readily Il
pttls If il is carried much further the world v
lay he reminded of tho wars of the Lilliputlans n
bout tho proprcty Of breaking eggs at the point il
7 The butt u
Since putting the above in type we have n
ecu letter from President Tyler TO the I
,o,o.,,,r rs II bojn J,io,l IN wbich ha