Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-21
rwESrY-sEvESru CONGRESS-
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
IN SENATE.


eoos,der,,io~. the resolution heretofore submitted
by him relative 10 the affairs OF Rhode Island.
MIR HUNTINGTON asked for the yeas and
nays which we're ordered, and were-yens is, nays
-, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Allen. Benton. Buchanan, Full
ton King, IMr Ktse said, when he voted, he un,
detsiood the mover would modify his teso'unon,i
Linn, McRoberts, Sewer, Smith OF CSnnee9eu.,
Sturgeon, Tappan, Wilcox, Williams woodbury.
and Wright-l5. NJ, n
ard. Berr,eu. Calhoun, Choate, Clayton, Conrad,
Cans. Crttcnden, Evans, Graham, H.nderson'
H1nt;nston Mansum, Mcrrek, Miller, Moreheed,
Simmons. Smith OF Ind, Tallmadse anu WOOD
ridge-23.
So the Senate refused to take up the resou-
MIR ALLEN then rose, and said that, before he
sat down, he would submit two other resolutions.
and he thought IL to be his duty TO state his reasons
tor doing so. He then read the resolutions. ne
first was in substance that II was the right OF 'he
people Of Rhode Island TO establish Tor tnemse"ss
n Republican form of State Government, ana y.
nnv particular to alter or modify v, PROVIDED us
form he left Republican. The SECOND, resoI.eo
that il was not right for the Federal uo'et""oW w
;n,erf,,e in any manner with the people, WIN
-. m provent or discourage them from, so dong,
but that on the coarary, was the duty OF the
Federal Government TO guaranty 10 'hem inc Nc
publican form of Government, when so eSIao"s.eu'
altered or modified. He then entered into ms
tory Of the controversy in relation TO Rhode isano,
and in the course Of his remarks said that the Sena
tors from that State had no more right 10 ther sea's
here than they had in the British Parliament
MIR SIMMONS rose in replv-
MIR KING said that he must confess that he
voted to take up the resolution, that the senator
from Ohio might modify il. and that might go 10 inc
President OF the United States without discussion
Hc now saw that n discussion OF on exciting char
act.r was likely to arise that he trusted that when
the Senator from Rhode Island tMr Simuonsl shall
have closed his remarks, that the consideration 81
the subject would be postponed, in the nope mat
LII IL, fhp mai
tho satisfaction of all interested
Mr CALHOUN said that 1t had been his most
anxious desire prevent agitation on TINS question:
30 LONG IS there was any prospect of setting the
difcuit,es in Rhode island but IL obvious that
discussion could no longer be avoided IL was now
due to all sides that the discussion should go on
but with moderation, decorum and dignity; and he
was anxious that this question should be decided
.unon. Let the Senator from Rhode Island proceed,
il he desired TO do So and then order the resolutions
to be printed, and set aside day for their eonsi
Iteration.
that the time had como for the discussion oil TINS
question in the manner indicated.
MIR TALLMADGE said that the discussion had
been forced on them by the Senator from ONO;
who. being precluded from delivering his views on
the former resolution offered by him. and which had
been laid upon the table, had awaited himself OF the
courtesy generally extended TO members oil the
body, 10 effect that object
MIR ALLEN remarked that, as one branch oil
the Government had acted in this matter he thought
that il high time for another body TO act. lie
willing to bear the consequences OF civil war.
MIR PRESTON. You would make civil war.
MIR SIMMONS replied 10 the remarks oil the
Senator from Ohio; and asked whether the Consti-
tuition OF the United States required that the Con
s,itution OF State should be written, or whether
the form Of Government should be republican IN
faetl Whence emnnaied the requirement, ne Woui1
ask that the Constitution should lie IN writing!
not surely from the country from which they derived
their liberal principles. lie said, and he DELIBERATELY
believed, that the State which the Senator ealIed
little had as elevated notions OF political freedom
as any other State under heaven, and that they
adhered 10 their old form OF Government because
they had no, been diverted from II by the mere |
talk of demagoeues They adhered 10 tne SUP
s,auco, irrespective OF mere form. With respect TO
the Constitution OF Rhode Island, the Senator had
thought ct to characterize it as dead and all its acts
under the Constitution Of the United States as a
bnsphemous assumption. |
MIR ALLEN. said charter.
Mr. SIMMONS. That is our Constitution; call
it what you please. The usages Of society under
it had made it so. There were no people on earth
who better knew their laws or their rights than the
people OF Rhode Island. The Constitution OF that
State the remarks Of the Senator TO the contrary,
did contain provision for altering it. The Legs |
lature ofihat State. But the Senator asked what
right had Rhode Island to enter into the Unor after
the Confederation Did the Charter give that
right? Most assuredly, and came into the Union
rs the other States. Had other States at that time
written Constitutions othe; than those derived from
the mother country Certainly not and even IN
his (Mr SimmonSl day, Connecticut had changed |
its form OF Government. The people OF Rhode Is |
land knew what they were about when they adopt !
ed this Constitution, and the records would show |
that they understood the elementary principles OF
Tree government II there were any people VINO
had occasion TO be proud, It was the gallant State
of Rhode Island. Where else would religious tole-
ration be found but in that charter which was the
first, before the State OF Maryland. granted 10 any
OF the Colonies, guarantying that nestimaole bles
sing, and upon which much denunciation had
been bestowed by the Senator from Ohio Ii held
forth Its own language, that there should be no IN
reference in religious matters by the Government
from which it was derived. IL this cherished
principle that bound it to tho people OF the State.
The Senator from Ohio had assumed that the State
was in the hands OF the minority; but this was not
so. There never was a time when the qualified
voters OF the State did not ou,number those who
were not. The people Of Rhode Island had fixed
their own rules and let him say that these rules
best calculated TO subsetve the interests OF ell
classes there. They required some evidence Of tbelr
attachment to a particular district, called Rhode
Island And did not Ohio require some evidence
TO distinguish the voters Of that State from those
Of other SIates7 He then proceeded TO show that
there effort desire on the part Of one por-
ton Of the people Of Rhode Island 10 exclude the
other from having voice in selecting officers 10 ad
minister its fairs, All that was insisted was
that alterations in their form Of Government should
be 10y law and through law and he trusted that this
was the doctrine which the States and The Gown
that may revoluuonize State in he absence Of aw
aud order, was n perfect absurdity. lfthere were
no mode 10y which the Constitution Of a Govern
ment could be changed except by revolution, then
were they all in hopeless condition. lie trusted
that II the last time that II would he said the
Senators from that Stale we're not enilcd 10 their
SEATS They loved its institutions, and tine people
% that State we're were alwoys ready, and FIRST and
foremost in the fight when Their common rights were
IN danger, aud they would he equally nleu m moin-
tainin every cherished principle Of iOery whenever
and by whoever assni'ed.
Mr. CRITTENDEN inquired whether he under
stood NE Senator FROM Ohio rs saying that he bad,
nce 10 face told the President Of the United States
that he dared not march on army into Rhode Is
land1
Mr. ALLEN replied that he told the President or
the consequences Of such q movement, and that Il ,
nm army should be march ed there Tor the purpose Of
spng blood at the point OF the bnyooe,, to prevent
men from voting, Il would produce a feeling |
throughout the country terrible IN It's consequences,
and which ought 10 he avoided.
Mr. CRlrTENDEN observed that he Ind pro.
pounded the question for the sake Of the Senator
we'll MS for that Of tho President Of the U. States
that tho remark might be properly understood. The
gentleman DID cay, and he vas understood on his
tNr Cnuenden's) side Of the chamber, that he had
told the President. face 20 lcc, hat he dared not
march army into Rhode Island.
Mr. ALLEN said thotif the Senator wnnted any
additional information he could call on the President
end inquire. lie would give no further reply.