The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-30
From The N. " .Ipurna Of Commerce.
RHODE ISLAND.
CLOSE OF THE SPECIAL SESSION. :


The news to-day is more pacific The resolutions
reported to the Assembly on Tuesday morning by the
Select Committee on the Governors Message, were
adopted on the afternoon of the day. except the
second OF the series, which authorizes the enlistment
OF volunteers to be employed in the service OIL and
paid by, the State This resolution was laid on the
table. Those which adopted simply authorize
the Governor to take such measures as ne may deem
expedent for the and safe keeping OF the
public property.
These resolutions having been disposed of, Mr.
Jackson, Speaker Of the Assembly, remarked, that
he was as DESTROYS of sustaining the present govern
men as any one, and he was also willing to make as
great concessions to the peace of the State as
any one Acting upon these feelings, he had presented
the bill al the January session. to extend the right of
suffrage. The present excitement on the question Of
Constitution would not subside easily under the
istng government and it was due TO the wishes of
large body of the people to act upon that subject
He had drawn set of resolutions, calling new
Convention to frame Constitution, which ne would
submit to the House. They are as follows:
Resolped BY this General Assembly, (the Senate
cOncurrng with the House Of Representatives there
n) That the freemen of the several tow9s In this
State and the city of Providence, qualified TO vote for
General Officers, and every male native citizen OF the
w. States, OF the age of 81 years, who shall have re-
sided In the State one year. and within the town or
city where he may claim right to vote three months,
and who shall have been taxed on property valued at
least at 800, within year from the time he may
offer to VOTE and shall have paid such in said town
or city, be- and they hereby requested to choose
at town ward meeting to be holden on the
day of June next, delegates to attend a
Convention TO be holden at Providence on the first
Monday OF August 1912 to frame new Constitu-
tion for this State with full powers for this purpose
said delegates to be elected the basis of population,
in the following manner to wit every town OF not
more than $50 inhabitants may elect one delegate; OF
more than $50 and not than 5000 Inhabitants,
wo delegates of more than 5000 and not more than
5000 inhabitants three Delegates; of more than 6OCo
and not than 10 600 inhabitants, four delegates
OF more than 10000 and not than Ia 600 lnhab-
lants, five delegates; of more than IA, 600 and not
more than $4,000 inhabitants, six delegates of more
than $4,000 and not than % 600 inhabitants,
seven delegates; of more than $4,000 inhabitants,
eight delegates
ResoiDed That ma jority of the whole number of
delegates which all the towns entitled to choose,
shall constitute quorum, who may elect President
and Secretaries judge of the qualifications of MEM
bers and establish such rules and proceedings as they
may think necessary and any town or city which may
omit to elect lis delegates at the said meetings in
June, may elect them at any tim previous to the
meeting of said Convention
Resolued That the constitution agreed upon by
said Convention, shall be submitted, for adoption or
rejection to all persons who shall be qualified to vote
under the provisions of such constitution, in open
town ward meetings. to be holden on such day or
days as may be named by said Convention. The said
constitution shall be certified by the President and
who shall forthwith distribute to the several towns and
city clerks in due proportion, five thousand printed
copies thereof and also twenty five thousand ballots,
side of which shall be printed, Constitution
adopted by the Convention holden at Providence on
the first Monday of August last" and on the other
side the word Apprope half of the said ballots,
and the word Reject on the other half
Resolred, That at the town ward meetingsto be
holden aforesaid, every person voting shall have
his name written on the back of his ballot and the
ballots shall be sealed up in open town ward meet
ings by the clerks and with lists Of the of the
voters shall be returned to the General Assembly at
its succeeding session; and said General Assem-
bly, shall cause said ballots to be examined and
counted, and said Constitution being approved by
majority of the persons voting shall go into operation
and effect such time may be appointed by said
Convention.
Resolved, That the delegates attending said Con-
vention be entitled to receive from the Gener.s
Treasury the same pay as members of the General
Assembly.
Resolued, That sum not exceeding five hundred
dollars be appropriated for deaying the expenses of
said Convention, be paid according to the order of
said Convention, certified by its President.
Mr.. AtweIl, one of the few members who favor the
Free Suffrage party expressed his appreciation of the
resolutions except the party qualifications He how
ever moved that they lie the table until the follow
ing day wednesday, which was carried.
On Wednesday, they accordingly taken up
whereupon Mr. Whpple moved that as the regular
session of the new Legislature was near at hand,
the consideration of the resolutions postponed until
the Legislature adjourned sine die