The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-18


doctrine and sealed il with their blood The people Of
This country have done the their Constitution and
gill OF Rights The people of have declared
people all free are founded on their an
hoiity, and instituted for their benefit and that thew
have al all times undenabe indceasble right IN
alter their form oil government in such manner as thew
may think expedent" In the declaration OF rights In
| tennessee the people of that State say =" That ali
ower is inherent in the people, and all gov ernments
founded their authority and instituted for
peace, safety and happiness for the advancement OF
those ends they have, all times, inalienable and
lceasble right TO alter, reform or abolish the govern
ment in such manner they may think proper. That
government being instituted for the common benefit the
doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and
oppression is absurd savh and destructive to the good
and happiness of mankind And Chief Justice Wilson,
ofhe supreme Court, OF the right of the majo-
ry Of the whole people to change their government at
will there is no doubt 1t is this one great principle
the vital principle" which duses animation and vgor
through all the Others" He says the principle mean
is this, that the supreme sovereign power OF society
resides in the citizens at large and that therefore, they
always retain the right of abolshng altering or amend
ing their Constitution at whatever time and in whatever
manner they shall deem expelient" In govern
ment the supreme absolute uncomfortable power
mains in the people As Constitutions are superior TO
our legislature the people superior to our Con-
stutions. The consequence Is that the people may
change the Constitution whenever and however they
please This is right, of which no positive in
the words that the people are superior to the
constitution one or two men in the centre Of the
Jay says At the Revolution the sovereignty devoved
on the people they are truly the sovsregns Of the
countryI The citizens OF America equal fellow
citizens, and as joint tenants in the soveignty" Mr.
,awle distinguished commentator tho Constitution
of the United States in speaking of the mode Of amend
ing constitution, remarks =" The people retain
the people cannot perhaps divest themselves Of the
power make such alterations" "The laws of legis
laure may be repealed by another legislature and the
lower repeal them be withheld by the power
that enacted them So the people may the same prnc
pie at any time alter abolish the constitution they have
formed" If particular mode of eecting such altera
ions have been agreed upon is most convenient TO adj
ere to it; but 1t is most exclusively binding" Then in
fuFn in halA.
according to the enactment Of the Legislature and the
other the principle that the right of the people
Ct Michigan to hold convention and form constitution
Tor their own government without reference
ton of the Legislature And by of Congress pass
'din 1874 bearing this subject this view sanctioned
provided such convention represented majority Of the
people. And here is what is said in reference to it
And whereas, authority power is designated in
said act Of Congress by which such convention of dele
gates shall be called convened but in the Sd section of
said act the right of the people of Michigan to elect said
delegates without previous action of their consu
ted authorities clearly recognized and manifest and
whereas as this convention originated WITH and speaks
me vols Of great majority of the people of Michigan
Add whereas is provided and enacted in the said act
hat as soon the assent therein required shall be given
the President of the United States shall announce the
by proclamation; and thereupon and without any
further proceedings the part of Congress- the admission
said State into the Union as one of the United states of
Amercaon equal footing with the original States in all
respects whatever shall be considered complete "Now
mark the response of Old Hickory in this affair when ap
piled to in the matter loud cheers the words Old Hick
oryD This latter convention not held elected by
virtue OF act of Territorial State Legislature
in pursuance of resolutions adopted in primary assem-
ble held in the respective counties The act of Con.
convention shall be ordered the time when the
ncr in which it shall be chosen. Had these latter pro.
ceedings come to me during the of Congress
should therefore have felt it duty being satisfied
that they emanatcd from convention of the delegates
elected in point of fact by the people of the State the
purpose required to have issued proclamation thereon
as provided by law And the delegates of this latter
vcnon here spoken Of chosen in their primary
semblies precisely the same manner that they have
WA uivc1
by Gen. Jackson, called, it was, in pursuance
OF any act of the Legislature the first was
but regardless of it. 1t the peoples will and that
by General Jackson and by Congress considered
icen authority. (Cheers) The people of Rhode Island
Michigan did and told that they not pro.
ceeded legally. What do gentlemen mean when they use
charter which We Charles by the grace of God
&c Qaoars oflaughter) Why it's rather strange that
these gentlemen should to the President of the United
States for assistance Why not go to the whence
the charter emanatcdthe of Charles Shouts
oilaughter) The queston comes up will the Exec
u,ve arbtrate by the sword in this business trust not
Hcre loaer in the crowd cried out, On him. he'll do
anything confess have too good an opinion of John
Tyler for that strange ysterous as his gvings out
of one that he cannot consistently send the troops of the
United States to free State to put down the will of the
people But, should he do So it will then be time for
to buckle on our armor Till then will be improper for
us to interfere And not until that contingency arrives
with demonstration of steal force. Will John Tyler
hen do this, "a yoieeIYesD He cannot unless he re-
into the of consolidation and ack cockadc federal
ISM Mr. Tyler is too well aware that the government is
sep together by moraiinhuence alone lie well knows
that this not government of physical power,
The and monarchics Of the old world kept up
by the bay ones Of SHRED soldiers 1t is Of
moral power OF public opinion; mutual concessions and
compromises the bands that hold the confederacy
gether VIII he destroy those bands by force
in this matter II he does the act will bring swift de-
structon upon himself tear asunder this federal Union
and scatter the four winds Heave en- the shattered
fragments Let one blow be struck-let one musket be
nv for he vrhO de-.
mocracy of the Union will rush to join the democratic
people of Rhode Island, and standing shoulder to
shoulder with them will give back blow for blow in the
defence OF liberty and popular rights Here three ire
mendous cheers were given) Every mountain would
every pass Leonidas; Cheers and the signal for the
onset would be Liberty and Rhode Island !" and the
r,llying cry :" Rhole Island and liberty (Terrifc
cheering)
Here there were more loud calls for =" Forrest"
g Forrest" Forrest" Ned Forest "Speech
from Ned be Jesus p
The Chairman then rose and stated, that the fol-
lowing letter had been received from Mr.. Forrest,
which he begged 10 read TO the audience
NEw YoRK, May IL, lsa2.
siaL have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter inviting to address, in the Park this
ming the meeting which is to take into consideration the
course of the Executive of the United States relative
shall not be enabled to with the request my
gagement at the theatre tonight will prevent Under
sure than to seize the opportunity thus offered to express
how deeply sympathize with the Constitutional party"
in Rhode island ana to MAINTAIN, with all
their just and equitable demands.
In the second and third sections of the Ratification of the
Constitution of the United States by the Convention of the
State Of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations are the
following declarations: THAT all power is naturally
vested n and consequently derived from the people and
that the powers Of Government may be reasoned by
the people whenever shall become necessary their
happiness And yet for all this large majority of the
people of Rhode Island called forsooth rebels
traitors and insurgents and threatened with an arm
ed force because they dare pacfcally their
equal, natural, and inalienable rights
ItrtStt ha
tended. without regard to political party and while the
people there assembled rown Indignantly upon any I'M
constitutional interference the part of the chief mags
trate OF the Union such manifestation may be made
that shall fill with encouragement hope the friends of
equal and exact justice in the State of Rhode Island
Yours, with the highest respect.
EDWIN FORREST
Clement Guion Esq, Secretary.
MR. +. " II. WRIGHT of Hoboken spoke in sub.
stance, as follows -"Fellow Citizens-The occasion of