Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-05-27
CON G. r f S S.

CON GRESS.
WAsHrSeToN, May II.
In the Senate Mr. Allen moved that the Senate
take up for consideration his resolution the RHODE
I.land controversy The Senate reused-Yeas Is,
Nays23
Mr. Allen Their offered two resolutions, which
he accompanied by speech, defending at length the
proceedings of the Suffrage party, and going so far
as to say that Rhode Island had not republican
government until the formation of the Peoples Con
sttuton, and consequently had not been entitled to
a place in the United States. He declared that he did
not consider hat the members from Rhode Island
| had any righto in the Senate; he had warn
ed the President not to mterfee with Rho!e Island,
and he adlronished him that if he sent army
there he would put himself not in the position of
Charles the Second, but of Charles the first.
| Mr. Allen then presented his resolutions, when he
was called TO order by Mr.. Preston. He said he had
among different members, Mr.. Simmons of Rhode
Island, expressing desire to speak, he proceeded
by the consent of all sides of the Senate, TO an eo-
qlent defence of the State which he had represented
The Madsonlan reports his speech thus:--
Nj Simmons asked whether the Constitution of
| the United States required hat the Constitution of
State should lie written, or whether the form OF
Government should be Republl lean in fact Whence
| Constitution should be in writing! Not surely from |
the country from which they derived their liberal
principles. He said, and he deliberately believed, |
that The State which the senator called little, had as
elevated notions of political freedom any other
State under heaven, and that they adhered TO their
old form of Government because they had not been
diverted from 1t by the mere talk of demagogues.
They adhered to the SUI stance, irrespective of mere
form. With respect to the Constitution Of Rhode
Island the Senator had thought fit TO characterize it
dead, and all its acts under the Constitution OF the
Il Stnt.u sol I1a 40
Mr. Allen. 1 said charter.
Mr.. Simmons. That is our Constitution; call it
what you please. The usages of society under 1t
had made It so. There people on earth who
better knew their laws or their rights than the pco
pie of Rhode Island. The Constitution of that State
the renarksot the Senator to the contrary notwh-
standing d!d contain provision for alterngi But
the Senator asked what right had Rhode Island to
, enter into the Union after the Confederation. Did
the Charter give that reht! Most assuredly, audit
, came into the Union as the other States. Had other
! States al that po written Constitutions other than
those derived from the mother country! Certainly
not aud even in his (Mr Summon 81 day, Connect
cut had changed its form OF Government. The peo-
pie of Ri, de Island knew what they were about
when they adopted this Constitution and the records
4 would show that they understood the elementary
t principles of free government If there were any
people yh2 had 9Esaso9 70 10 RRT nsTa 66 wps ' r
lipous liberation be found but in that charter which
was The first, before the State of Maryland, granted
D t. any of the Colonies, gunranyns That nestnane
y ,
hoen bestoweI by the Senator from OhiO II held
r. forth in its language that there should be no IN
!, reference in religious matters by the Government
u from which it derived. 1t was this cherished
principle that bound II TO the people OF that State
- The Senator from Ohio had assumed that the State
N was in the hands OF the minority; but this was not
tr So There never was a time when the qualified vo-
tiers Of the State did not outnumber those who were
not The people of Rhode Island had fixed their own
: rules and let him say that these rules were best cal
* culated to subserve the interests of all classes there
,-als
20 particular dist-cr, called Rhode Island. And di
h, not Ohio require some evidence to distinguish the
" voters of t,a state from those OF other States lie
lg then Proceeded to show that there no effort or
IS desire on the part of one portion Of the people oil
1T Rhode Island to exclude the other from having a
| voice in selecting officers TO administer It's affairs
All that wa insisted was, that alterations IN their
form of Grerament should be by lay and through
tn law and he trusted that this was the doctrine which
ad the States:nd the Government would insist upon
IN The olosie doctrine that may revolutlonlzr Safe
MI in The abs nee OF law and order perfect absur-
-, div II here were mode by which the Constitu-
y; ton of Government could be changed except by
!" revolution, then were they all IN hopeless conoltloh
er He trusted that was the inst time that II would DC
h. sal tho Senator's from that State were not entitled to
NO the- seat. They loved its institutions and the peo
1 pie of that State always ready, and first and
foremost in the fight when their cannon rights were
a in danger, and they would be equally alert in main
nd tanng every cherished principle of liberty wheneve
1t, and by whoever assalled.
IN Mr.. Simmons's speech was listened 10 with atcn
le ton, and excited warm appreciation.
On Mr. Crltenden of KY rose, he said not to contIn
W ue hisdscusslon, but TO ask the Senator from oh
on a quest on, which was, whether he had sad TO III
A President that he did dare 10 send troops TO tn
40 State of Rhode Island. He wished to know hoy
the President received such threat from the Senator
us Mr. Allen wi he'd to change the phraseoIo.y lit
ie tie, and said now that he had told the Presden
er what would be the consequence OF interference
I'd He would make no further explanation.
/, Mr.. Crittcnden sad the gentleman was welcome t
l., frDm
guage
IN Mr.. Allen made some further explanation, and sa
ad that the Senator might TO the Presden for an a.
til count of he conversation. Mr.. Crenden repl =.
nd I'D not sh to 90 to ile President am glad {
the Pres dents sake that the Senator declares he
p no, say what we have heard him say. The le
n writers add hat Mr.. Allen was gong on with ms 7
I'M fractions, when Mr.. Sewer, who sits near M
ed Don't explain another damned word, upon WIN WIN
: Mr.. A. sal 81 shall give no more explanations
al The Senate then went into Executive session.
GU In the House Mr.. Cost John on moved suspsI
nj son of the rules, for the purpose OF noyln, um
nd Congress adjourn on the 18th proNimo Inc iio"'
he refused 10 suspend. n;.5 II
lio consdera ion Of the Naval Appropriation blli
an Committee of the Whole Without any Vote !.
nd committee passed over this bill and the ollls fSla
err, to the tonnage duty Spanish vessels any u
as lsting TO commercial intercourse WIN '!s
ok were explained and laid aside to be reported ~ III
for An interesting debate followed on the bl ior IN
ey viii h the committee rove
all The House having passed the bills to which tn
Mt committee had agreed adjourned
lrs In the Senate on Wednesday, Mr. Aliens motio
to PRINT his resolutions in relation to the Rhode is
m. land aifars, was laid onehe TITLE by vote OF -
Z IS Monday next was assigned for taxing up III
h Appropriation bill
ok The bill to refund to General Jackson me hne 9
re eiooo imposed on him for impIsonlng ;nose, VIZ
no interest, WI taken up Mr.. Conrad addressed III
n = Senate 'oson TO il.
~ In thau4V bu,e of Representatives.. after unmport
ant business the consideration of the Appropriation
e. bill was resumed.
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