Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-06-02
THE RHODE ISLAND ouEsrIoN.

TIE RHODE ISLAND QUESTION.
The Baltimore American gives the following
summary OF the facts connected with the recen,
political movements in Rhode Island.-They pre.
sent satisfactory view Of the true character q,
the controversy.
1t appears that the existing government OF
Rhode Island possessed and still possesses the
power VI providing for its own alteration in the
usual manner-that is by calling Convention.
Hence there was no occasion for tumultuous vio-
lcnce. 1t appears further that this power was ex-
| ercised upon the petition Of ssfve or six hundred
male Inhabitants" and that Convention was
called; that the constitution submitted by this
Convention was liberal to the utmost extent tina,
was desired; ihat it was voted upon by all tu
whom, BY it's provisions, the right Of suffrage
would be extended in case Of its adoption; that
the party calling itself the "Suffrage Par,y'' op.
posed this liberal constitution which granted all
they asked for, and that by their votes and the
votes of those who desired no change ut all, i,
was rejected by majority of GIG.
Ii Is further shown that after Convention had
been called by the legal authority to amend the
constitutions; the mal-cOntents, instead Of wait
ing for the action of the Convention, did proceed
| IN tumultuous manner by a mass meeting to
call separate Convention, without any legal au
thorlty; that delegates sent 10 this Convention
4
The whole number OF male citizens, over twenty
one years OF aye, after making allowance for for
e'gnefs and paupers, was over $4,000; that the
constitution reported by this Convention was sub.
initted TO vote In an unusual manner-that is t.
say, alter all who wished had voted without any
legal restraint as to age, residence, property, oil
colour, during the three days allotted for the pur
pose, the names of others not present. were recei.
we'd Tor three days more-thus giving an opportu.
nity Tor all kinds of fraud that with nine thou
sand votes given In personally and five thousand
names handed In, the reported constitution receiv-
cd an aggregate of fourteen thousand votes accor-
ding to the shelving Of the parties conducting the
elections. Yet when the legally proposed con-
! stituticn was voted on, with every effort by the
Suffrage Party to reject it, the aggregate vote
Sainst u was about s,6C0-and this aggregate in
Guided the votes Of those who desired no change,
amounting probably to one thousand.
It's lastly to be noted that the question in
Rhode Island has not been and is not party
question in the ordinary sense. Wings end De-
mocrais unite together in supporting the consiiu-
TED government; and members Of both parties are
unhappily engaged in attempting reasonably to
overthrow 1t. There appears to be no excuse, no
pretext having the shadow of reason, to eXculpate
The Insurgents from the deep condemnation which
their ili-iudged measures must draw down upon
them. They could have had legally and fairly
every reform that was asked for; il was prCilured
they rejected the very offering which they had
clamored for, and. beguiied by designing men,
who have sought to make false issues and abuse
the name of Liberty, they have been drawn into
open nsurection. Their success would be the
| iorernnner of universal anarchy sooner later
throughout the Union; for it would assure the
desperate and disappointed politicians OF every
State that existing governments were things of
straw which might be destroyed at any time when
ever bold faction might choose 10 assail them;
and the guarantee which lao now throws around
property, the security which it affords to person,
would be shadowy nothing impotent-worlh-
less.
In order the more plainly to show how little
difference there is between the articles of the
peoples Constitution" and tina, legally made
by the legally constituted Convention, which ex-
tend the Right of Suffrage we subjoin the follow
ing extracts: