Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-06-02


ierized as landholders, a vast majority
believe more than two TO one) voted
for il. In view of these plain facts, !
would ask the Senator from Ohio what
becomes Of his complaints that the land
holders prevent the extension OF suffrage
IN Rhode Island I II any native citizen
of the United States be deprived OF The
right Of suffrage in Rhode Island, to
whose agency and means is il to be at
tribuled ! l answer, TO those pretended
friends OF the extension of sutlrage who
defeated it,; and not TO lnndholders, for
they generally voted for the extension.
And ] will here ask, Is not this very
natural What class OF men can be
supposed to feel the deepest sollclude for
the meIfare and hoppiasss of the citizens
al Rhode Island IL IL those who have
the greatest stake there ; who are bone
Of their bone and flesh Of their flesh; and
and here who undertake T. Instruct them.
Sir, the Senator from Ohio, in order 10
gam credit for sincerity and impariiailiy,
declared, at the outset, that he neither
had nor felt any interest ~ the matter
And but for ioiegn interference, which
nniies with the designs Of leaders IN
Rhode Island upon lurking calculation
of political advantage, this would long
since have been ad ustcd to the satisiac-
ton Of all, (except those who engaged IN
it Tor purposes of sellishness,) and they
would now have been at peace and IN
their won,ej social relations and enjoy
inents. The Senate will not give their
countenance and sanction TO this unnatu-
raj and unhallowed attempt 10 Overlurn
and control the Government Of State OF
this Unicn.
Senator'S will recollect that, nolwith-
standing the Senator from Ohio declared
that he neither had nor felt any interest
in the matter he was presenting and pur-
suing, yet, as he went on, he triumphant
ly hourished before the Senate a hand
bill, calling upon the inhabitants of city
Of another Stutc 10 meet, and send armed
men To cut down the citizens Of ours -
1 thank Gnd the man who exullIngly
presented this to an American Senate Is
one who has 40 children
should have been ashamed Of the
father who could have done this thing -
No father has no man OF correct views
oi social duty will exuli, IN this wicked
pro2osition TO send lawless marauders
there to butcher our children, whose du-
" may require them TO defend the laws
and institutions of their native State
This narrative oil facts plainly shows
that the issue presented in the resolution
is no, the true one. The regular Gov
ernmenl and those who support it are not
conteuding against all extension Of sui.
iragc. They are for 1t, have proposed
il, aud voted for It, ia a constit itu,lonal and
legal mode.
What is really contendcd for, by the
party calling themselves the Suffrage
party, is not presented in these resoIu-
iions They contend for right TO over
turn aud abolish an erisiing Government,
without any authority Of law by illegal
and sponsible assemblages Of men
by pretended numerical majority, with
out proof that such majority exists, or
whether those who voted are citizens oi
Rhode Island or Of other States or Ma
lions, and with no means 10 show whether
the account is fairly or lraudulenily made
out. Such principle cannot be recog-
Dsed IN Government Of laws. Ii re-
moves the foundation Of constitutional
freedom. Once cOncedc the uurestraln-
cd right OF numerical majority to over
turn organic laws, and what becomes OF
the existing Constitution Of this Govern
mcnt, which requires the assent OF three
four,hs OF the States to alter IT 1t Is
obvious that TO establish the doctine con-
tended for, and obsIinately persisted IN,
by the Suffrage party, and heT te'c
friends here, would be TO subject all Our
constitutions to the cap'lcious designs OF
adventures, and would put an end 10
regulated republican liberty in every
State in this free land
These views would, TO my mind, be
conclusive against the proceeding OF an
actual numerical majority netting without
law /; but, in the case Of Rhode Island, !,
it is my deliberate Judgment, there Is
now not one fourth Of The number Of
adult male citizens IN favor Of The doc
irines and proceedings Of the Suffrage
party.
There is another objection urged by
the Senator from Ohio to the consttu-
tonal charter of Rhode Island, and that
is that il prescribcs no limits 10 the power
Of The General Assembly. To his mind,
this is mol so maniiestly absurd as the
Senator seems to regard it, would ask
IN what age of the world has tyrannical
legislation been restrained by provisions
upon parchment II were to decide
between a long term OF service with such
written restraints, and short one with
none, as friend TO responsible Legislation
] would take the last. The term of SER
vice under our constitution is six months.
The representative returns 10 his consli
tusnts twice in each year for reelection,
the best guaranty IN my opinion which
freedom among such II people ever de-
vised for its security.
We have also bill ofrights declaring
those great principles of liberty which
are not TO be violated by Legislation -
This has stood Ut the head OF our statutes,
commanding and receiving legislative
obedience and sanction for many genera