The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-19

discourage them from doing but that, on the con-
trary, it was the duty of the Federal Government 70
guaranty to them the Republican form of Govern
ment, when SO established altered, modified. he
then entered into history Of the controversy in re-
ation to Rhode Island, and in the course of bis re-
marks said that the Senators from that State had no
right their seats here than they had In the
British Parliament.
Mr.. KING said that he must confess that he voted
| to take up the resolution, that the Senator from
Ohio might modify it, and that it might 60 to the
President Of the United States without discussion He
now saw that discussion of an exciting character was
likely arise and he trusted that when the Senator
from Rhode Island Mr.. Simmons) shall have closed
| his remarks that the consideration Of the subject
would be postponed in the hope that, after little de-
lay the matter would be settled to tie satisfaction OF
| all interested.
| Mr.. CALHOUN said that it had been his most
anxious desire to prevent agitation this question: so
long as there was any prospect of settling the Difficult
ties in Rhode Island but it obvious that discus
| sion could no longer be avoided 1t due 10
| all sides that the discussion should 90 on, but with
moderation, decorum and dignity; and he was anx-
ous that this question should be decided upon. Let the
Senator from Rhode Island proceed if he desired to do
So and then order the resolutions to be printed, and
set aside day for their consideration.
| Mr.. PRESTON concurred with his colleague that
the time had for the discussion of this question
| in the manner indicated.
| Mr.. TALLMADGE said that the discussion had
been forced on them by the Senator from Ohio, who,
being precluded from delivering his views the for
mer resolution offered by him, and which had been
laid upon the table, had availed himself of the cour
tesy generally extended to members of the body, to
effect that object.
Government had acted in this matter, he thought
that it was high time for another body to act He
was willing to bear the consequences OF civil war
| MIR. PRESTON You would make civil war.
| MIR. SIMMONS replied to the remarks of the Sen
ator from Ohio; and asked whether the Constitution
of the United States required that the Constitution of
State should be written, or whether the form OF
Government should be Republican in fact Whence
emanated the requirement. he would ask, that the |
Constitution should be in writing Not surely from
the country from which they derived their liberal
principles. He said, aud he deliberately believed,
that the State which the Senator called little, had
elevated notions of political freedom as any other
State under heaven, and that they adhered to their
| old form of Government because they had not been
diverted from it by the talk of demagogues
They adhered to the substance irrespective of mere
form. With respect to the Constitution of Rhode
Island, the Senator had thought fit to characterize it
as dead and all its acts under the Constitution of the
United States as blasphemous assumption.
| Mr.. ALLEN. / said charter
| Mr.. SIMMONS. That is our Constitution call it
what you please The usages society under it had
made itso There were no people on earth who better
knew their laws their rights than the people Of
Rhode Island The Constitution Of that State, the
marks of the SENATOR to the contrary did contain pro-
vision for altering it. The Legislature of that State
had repeatedly prescribed the mode for doing so. |
But the Senator asked what right had Rhode Island
to enter into the Union after the Confederation Did
the Charter give that right Most assuredly, and
came into the Union the other States. Had other
States at that time written Constitutions other than
those derived from the mother country Certainly
not and even in his (Mr. Simmons's) day, Connect-
cut had changed its form of Government. The peo-
pie of Rhode Island knew what they were about
when they adopted this Constitutions and the records
would show that they understood the elementary prin
ciples of free government. If there were any peo-
pie who had occasion to be proud it was the gallant
| State Of Rhode Island. Where else would religious
federation be found but in that charter which
was the first, before the State of Maryland
granite to any of the Colonies, guarantyng that ines
Unable blessing and upon which much denuncia-
ton had been bestowed the Senator from Ohio 1t
held forth in its own language that there should be
no interference in religious matters by the Govern
ment from which it was derived 1t was this cher |
ished principle that bound it to the people of that
State The Senator from Ohio bad assumed that the
State was in the hard; of the minory but this was
| not so. There never was time when the qualified |
voters of the State not outnumber those who were
not The people of Rhode Island had fixed their |
own rules and let him say that these rules were best
calculated to subserve the interests of all classes there
They required evidence of their attachment to
particular district called Rhode Island. And did not
Ohio require evidence to distinguish the voters of
that State from those of other States ehenl roceed-
ed to show that there was no effort desire the part
of portion of the people OF Rhode Island to ex
clude the other from having voice IN selecting OIL
GERS to administer its affairs All that was insisted on
was that alterations in their form of Government |
should be by law and through law; and he trusted
that this the doctrine which the States and the
Government would insist upon. The opposite doc
rine, that may revolutonize State In the absence OF
law and order, was perfect absurdty II there were
no mode by which the Constitution of Governmen
could be changed except by revolution then they
all in hopeless condition. He trusted that it was
the last time that it would be said the Sc
majors from that State were not entitled to
their seats. They loved its institutions, and the
people of that State always ready, and st and
foremost in the fight when their common rights were IN
danger, and they would be equally alert in maintain
ing every cherished principle of liberty whenever and
by whoever assaied.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN inquired whether he under
stood the Senator from Ohio saying that he had,
face to face, told the President of the United States
that he dared not march an army into Rhode
Island?
Mr.. ALLEN replied that he told the President of
the consequences of such movement and that il an
army should be marched there for the purpose OF
spillng American blood at the point of the bayonet,
to prevent men from voting, it would produce feel
ing throughout the country terrible in its consequent
ces, and which ought to be avoided.
Mr. CRITTENDEN observed that he had pro-
pounded the question for the sake of the Senator as
well for that of the President of the United
States, that the remark might be properly un-
derstood. The gentleman did say, and he was
so understood on his (Mr. Crittenden's) side of
the chamber that he had told the President face to
face, that he dared not march an army into Rhode
Island
Mr. ALLEN said that if the Senator wanted any
additional information he could call on the President
and inquire. He would give no further reply.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN The explanation was not in
accordance with what you did say.
The CHAIR here called to ORDER and
Mr. SIMMONS rose to make few additional re-
marks In conclusion, he said that the people of
Rhode Island had right to demand the protection Of
the Government troops, because they surrendered !
the right to defend themselves when they came into
the Union. |