The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-05
From Providence, IL. L.

some oil II laughable. he constltuuonasls, or
revolutionists, or suffrage boys, have organised
their government without difficulty. No blood has
been shed as yet. Annexed we give letter from
one OF the revolutionary boys-
PROVIDENCE, May 3, 1912.
Mr. J. u. BEyNErr-
Our h!te state has been in quite commoton to-
day. The suffrage party" have organised their
General Assembly, and the members have taken
their oaths To tell the TRUTH il decided
failure. They paraded our streets, armed and
equipped, but instead of mastering five thousand
muskcts, as they supposed, they mustered but four
hundred and seventy-iive, which is quite small
difference in my mind They organised in tenn
porary building, which they call the new State
House--quie laughabe.
We have received letter from the Secretary Of
War, saying he had heard report that the Presl
dent had been deceived by our delegates, Messrs.
Whlppe, Brown, and others, and that they had
made false repre- ,entaiions; but he Che Secretary
says II is nots but that they ready TO act II ne
cessary.. Z N lot of loafers paradcd our
street; this day, are seldom TO be met with.
The regular line opening takes place at Newport
tomorrow Weather rather unpleasant than other
wise
The following ia an account of the regular pro-
ceedings of the revolutionary party including the
speech of the new governor. To-day we shall re-
celve something important, and may publish all ex-
ira, if blood be she'd
General Assembly.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, May Sd.
The organization of the two houses having been
completed, on motion OF Mr.. PEARCE, of Newport,
II
Resolved, by the House of Representative That
committee OF two members OF this House with
such addition may be made by the Senate, be
appointed, to wait upon the Governor and inform
him that the General Assembly ready to re-
ceive any communication that the Executive may
have to lay before them.
Pr IF Sr,r If
Providence, were appointed committee for this
purpose on the part Of the House. and Mr.. Brown,
of the lst district, was added by the Senate.
The committee reported that the Governor would
forthwith address the two houses; and the two
houses thereupon united in joint meeting, and were
addressed by the Governor IN the following
MESSAGE.
SEsAroRs RrrnIsESrArWEs-
II is with no ordinary emotions that proceed to dis
charge the duties imposed upon me by the constitution Of
this state in submitting such suggestions for your consi
Iteration as the occasion requires.
This is the first session of Legislature cd
under written constitution of govern mcnt proceeding
from the people of Rhode Island That majority Of the
people should have .sen so long deharrcl from parci-
patton in those rights, which elsewhere well recog
Missed, and that have beon slow in arriving at
point long since attained in other states facts i'll adap-
ted to elevate feelings Of state PRIDE
those veneraed men who here claimed for the first time
the just principles of religious and political freedom
which now the common inheritance Of American cti-
On the other hand the peculiar circumstances in
which the people OF this state have been placed and the
contend, render the establishment of their constitution
subject the deepest satisfaction to the people themselves
and to all who sympahse in the progress OF rational Ii
berty If the people of Rhode Island true TO them
selves the democracy Of Roger Williams has this day
been restored in the place where originated The sacred
fire long extingushed has been rekindled upon
altar The sovereignty of the people has been vndcaI
The distinctions of caste and privilege have been abolish
ed Our institutions rendered conformabe to the
standard of our sister republics While the rights Of
those heretofore denominatcd the feemen of the
have not been impaired the rights of others have been
Lola hy <itrn
1 ing the common welfare of the whole people.
On this peculiar occasion is due to ourselves and to
fellow citizens abroad who entertain lively in
cresa in affairs to pass briefly in review the history
Of proceedings and to submit them to the scrutiny
country and TO which. in the confidence inspired by
righteous cause, We are ever ready to appeal The idea
imposing government on the people Of this state, by
| mere power and without right, is which will b.
promptly discarded by the Constutionalists Of Rhod
Island They maintain the ground that they not only
majority but that they have proceeded rghtfully
alter and reform their government according to web de-
| fined principles in our republican system.
Two questions here arise, to which it is duty
replv-a question OF right and question Of TACT Hac
the People of this State right to adopt Constitution
Government in the mode they have pursued and if so
have they adopted this Constitution BY majority of their
| whole number7
That the sovereignty OF this country resides in the Pco
pic is axiom in the American stem Of government
too late to be called in question BY the theory Of other
governments the sovereign power vested in the head
OF the State shared with him by the Legislature The
sovereignty OF the country fro1 which derive our
origin, and may add, many OF our opinions upon po
cal subjects with present condition. in
the King and Parliament and any attempt the part
the People to change the government OF that country
would be deemed an nsurrectioa. There all reform must
proceed from tho government ITSELF which calls
venon of the people and recognizes suoh remedy
political grievances. In this country the is totally
the reverse When the Revolution severed the ties of al
lcgiance (which bound Colonies to the parent country
the sovereign power passed from its former possessor
not to the General Government which was the creation
OF thu States nor to the State Governments por
ton Of the People but to the whole people Of the States
in whom it has since remained This is the doctrine
of Fathers, and OF the early days Of the Republic
and should be sacredy guarded the only sae founda
ton Of our political fabric The idea that government
in proper sense the source Of power in this coun
Of foreign origin and at war with the letter and spirit
OF our institutions. The moment admit the principle
that change in eminent cal take place without per
mission of the existing authorities revert to the
out theory of tho monarches of Europe and whether w.
the subjects ofthe Gar Of Russia Of the monarch
Great Britain Of landed oligarchy, the difference
us only in degree and We have lost the reality though
| we may retain the forms OF Democratic Republic. /
the people Of Rhode Island wrong in the they
have pursued h3 will nevertheless have conferred on.
benefit upon their countrymcu by the agitation Of THU
question in sspating the notion that the People are the
soverpigus of the country and in consignng the de
| partner. Of rhetorical defamation those solemn dccara
tons OF 7I6 which repeated in SO Of the State
Constitutions and which clearly and confidently
asserted by the eminent urss and of
| country.
BY sovereign power understand TINT ultimate pow
| er, which must be vestei somewhere; and which pre-
scrbcs the form and functions Of government. 1t is oil
superior to the legislative power, which be
properly cxertcl only according to rules laid down for its
action in that expression of the sovereign will called
Constitution This sovereignty is personal attribute
and belongs to the man himself and not to the soil or
| property with which he may be endowed. l. is n power
seldom vsble which ought to be- and can be- but rarely
| exercd The making and altering Of laws, which lie at
the foundations Of society should he work of great
and caution and when done ought be well done that
il nav be eifcctual and permanent. II IL misfortune
in this State that expression of the sovereign will
has until recently made in the adoption Of Cons
tuition and index Of this will constantly before the pub
liz eve the distinction between the powers has be-
obtcrated among and the Legislature has been
regarded only the immediate acting power but a.
the sole power Of the States and all who maintain the
right of the people in their original sovereign capacity
alter the present government and render comfortable
to their just rights have been represented hostile
order and putting in jeopardy the stability Of GO
yernmcnt On the other hand contend that the people
have a right change the government when necessary
to their wefarc that they the judges OF thai
against the kng; and that they have forfeited this
right by any acquescenccj that power to assent in
wolves another TO dissen that even IL past generation
had surrendered a minority their noliticnl riahts