Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-05-10
CarneL and so on.

themselves lue pCoP NOh' O"'iO"'
They assumed the authority to ap-
point town meetings and to say who
should be qualified to Hte upon their
constitution, without sreieLSnce at
all TO the existing laws g quail
ifcations for voting. meetings
were to be kept open { days,
and persons were to h berry to
send in their votes for t lays al-
ter. Thus every possib ace was
given for fraud. They ha char
ged with getting the vote Dreign-
ers, mere temporary reside md mi
nors, and also with putting otes in
the names of persons who d long
been absent.-The first thre&Says they
procured about 5000 votes, and, by
exertions during the other three days,
they procured enough to make up the
numbt of $4,000.
The convention met again, and
counted their votes, and declared the
Peoples Constitution to be adopted.
In the mean time lawful conven-
ton, called by the Legislature, upon
the petition OF arumber of the citizens,
and composed of delegates elected by
the people, met and framed a constitu-
rion, which its opponents have nick
named the "LandEolders' Constitu-
ton" This constitution extended
suffrage to all native cilizens, as freely
as the other, only requiring two years
residence; bur, nevertheless, the "peo.
pies party violently opposed it, and
brought up all their forces to vote
against it, and it was rejected. A
large majority ofthe legal freeman vo-
ted for it, and its rejection was owing
to the votes of the non-freeholders,
who had been authorized by the Leg
islature TO come in and vote upon it.
Secondly, even if there was no OBJ
| lection to the manner in which the
''People's Constitution was made,
there is serious question Of fact to be
settled, whether there is a majority ir
its favor or not. By taking the vote
in their own way, without any guards
whatever against fraud, they counte &
nearly $4,000 votes. But when they
mustered all their forces to vote, in le-
gal Town meetings, against the Land
holders Constitution, where every il.
legal vote was sure to be rejected, they
could obtain only 5000, and a large
portion of these voted against it, be-
cause they were attached to the old
charter and against any new constitu-
ton whatever. This falling off in the
number of votes gives ground for the
belief that there was improper manage
ment in the first vote. Messrs. Atwel
and Carpenter, leading men of the
I Democratic party, have already avow.
ed themselves against this constitution
on the ground that they do not believe
that majority of the people are in it
favor.
Our Democratic friends abroad
have been made TO believe that thi.
Peoples Constitution was a measure
Of the Democratic party, whereas /;
very large portion Of them are deci
dedly opposed to it. The question o
extension of suffrage is entirely indie
pendent of this. A large majority o
the people both freeholders are un
doubtedly in favor of extension of suf
frage, but they wish to have it done
in lawful and peaceable way.
But the question stated in the be-
ginning is OF vital importance TO the
safety and happiness not only Of Rhode
Island, but of the whole American PEG.
) ple.-lf any man or set of men can
without any authority whatever, make
constitution, and call upon the PEG.
pie to vote for it, and can, n reover
assume the right WITHOUT any regard tc
the existing laws an psages, to say
who may vote for it, and when, and
how, the people Of every State may be
called upon to vote for new constitu.
lions every month, or as often as any
visionary chooses to make one, there
can be no such thing as permanence
or stability in government or laws. L
would be carrying liberty to the ex-
IRENE oflicentiousness, and would give
real grounds for the alarm which SC
many now pretend to feel for the secu.
rlty OF their rights under Democratic
! Government.