, 1842-06-04

but to illustrate the bearing Of a great
truth-a truth which has shaken the
globe itself, and which hope will con-
tinue to govern the world as long as it
continues its revolutions upon its axis.
say again, there was no constitutional
form of government in Rhode Island by
which that community could be consid-
,eredto be properly a member of this
Union, until the constitutional form of
government was framed and established.
and brought into being On the 81 May,
1912.
Sir, what is the state of this matter?
The old thirteen States ofthis confedcre-
racv consisted of what were, prior TO
l776, the thirteen colonies of Great Bri-
tain. of which Rhode Island and Provi-
dence Plantation was one. \ revolt
took place among the colonies; that revolt
assumed the form and bore the aspect
of a war; as such, it was prosecuted 10
its final, its successful, lis glorious ter
mination. This war was so begun,
prosecuted, and ended, with the express
view on the part Of the coloniStS of alb
solving themselves, in the language of
the Declaration Of independence, from
all allegiance to the throne Of Great Bril-
tain. The war was SucccSsfll; Amcri-
can independence was purchased by
American blood. All political n
ion with Great Britain ceased TO exist,
and 1t was made an essential part Of that
instrument by which the States were de-
,clared free, that they were 10 be conSid-
erred also sovereign and independents
To this declaration the State OF Rhode
Island stands pledged, because that dec
i~laration was necessarily submitted 10,
and oonfirned 10y, the Legislature olthat
State.
Yes. sir, the Legislature of Rhode
Island confirmed that declaration by 4
solemn resolve, forever aJSolviug them
selves from all connection with, or rcla-
ton 10, British authority. Well, sir,
after the State had thus annuIlcd the
charter of Charles II. of Great Britain,
by this revolution and this declaration,
where did they obtain their right TO have
Government Independent OF the people
in whom, by the new constitution Of
these United States, the sovereignty
was vested? The charter did not pro
vide for lis own amendment or for its
own modification; it was an ernaIatiom
from the throne Of Great Britain, and
could only be modified, changed, or III
any way affected, by the throne itself, or
by an act Of the British Parliamcnt.-I
And ii is the most extraordinary politi-
cal anomaly that has characterized thsI
extraordinary age, that sixty years after
the annulling ofthc charter by the Reyo-
luton, the President Of the American
Republic is called on TO give life and Vi
tality to it again. That charter was pre-
Dictated upon the allegiance Of that com
munitv TO the British crown; and it eXis-
ted with the restriction that the laws,
rules. and regulations Of the Governor
and Company should not contravcne the
laws and statutes Of Great Britain; and
that one fifth Of the precious metals 10
be found in the soil was the property Of
the British Government, and 10 be paid
into the British treasury. Well, what
became of their allegiance to the British
Government when they lifted the sword
of revolution? 1t was destroyed; the
relation was severed, the charter was
dissolved. How was this dissolution cE-
fectcd?-by authority Of the British
Crown? No, sir; by the people them
selves. And can the British charter be
restored by American Legislation? Ne,
sir; because it was founded upon the cX-
istence of British supremacy. Can the
State itself give vitality 10 TIE charter?
Ianswer, no; because it would be ~incon-
sistent with American Independence
And here let me be permitted to say that,
inasmuch as it cannot be binding upon
the State, it cannot upon any part OF the
State. If the whole cannot revive 1t,
neither can Il majority, and much less
Can 4 minority.
1t would be impossible for the people
of Rhode Island, if they were unanim-
Gus, to- man, to revive it. They are
bound to treat it as a dead letter; and this
obligation binds the Legislature as firmly
as 1t binds the people. ii the charter
still lives, it is because it is indcstrueti-
bic, and must live forever: and if it does
not exists, as | contend, there results this
appalling consequence-that the whole
Government of the State of Rhode Is
land, from the Revolution up TO the 3D.
of May, 1912, has been a sheer, a down.
right, a blasphemous u~surpation. Yes,
sir, a usurpation; for after the Revolution
was accomplished, the charter was dead.
The declaration Of American lndepend-
ence took place, and the Revolution fol-
lowed; every thing that was British
every vestige of British Power and au-
thority persisted. 1t was entirely cut off
from the face Of this continent. How,
H.. L. IL. c-.- &C GaE...-..t -