Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-01-27

the People, in the sovereign authority ol
the State, and this sovereign Authority
was held by the freemen.
II The prerogatives OF the King did moi
vest in every man, woman and child, IN
the State, as gentlemen have declared.
The freemen Of this State made the De-
claration of Independence, and adopted
the Constitution Of the United States,
thereby delegating TO the People OF the
United States, a portion Of that sover-
eighty which did not belong to them, il
the doctrines advanced by gentlemen OF
the floor Of this House were true, but
which they held only in common with
the whole people.
Il He declared that he felt himself COM
PEELED by his oath Of office, to stand in
his place to maintain the rights Of his
constituents and return to them unimpair.
ed, the trust they had committed to his
hands, and if he was obliged to leave
that place, it must be by force, and though
it might not be requisite to use great
amount of force to remove him from his
place, yet It must be force. Aud 30 he
believed most gentlemen in thus House
believed, and ifthe Suffrage Party should
succeed in their opposition to the exist
ing Government, by force, the State OF
Rhode Island was disgraced, and if we
succeed by opposing force to force, the
State was disgraced.
He had troubled the House longer
than he intended to have done, on this
subject, but he could not help it his
heart was full upon the matter, and his
head was full he meant to do his duty +,
let the consequences be what they may.
The question was then taken on the
motion OF Mr.. Atwell to refer his bill
with the communications from the Gov
ernor, TO select committee, with power
to send for persons and papers, and re-
port upon the truth Of the votes, as re-
ported by tho Peoples Convention, and
the vote stood as follows -
Feas-Messrs. AtwelI, w. S. Burgess,
Brayton, J. II. Clarke, Gavilt, keech,
Ross, w. SPrague, A. Sprague, Slocum,
Thurston-ll.
Nays-NIessrs. Speaker, Atwood, Ar
mold, Bosworth, Babcock, Browning,
Baker, a. Brown, G. Brown, Burton,
l}arber,G. Burgess, Cranston, S. Clarke,
ID. Clarke, Chase, A. Church, N.
Church, Cook, Cole, Dixon, Dawley,
Duriee, Drown, Greene, Hoxie, John
Hazard, Jeremiah Hazard, Howe, King,
Kenyon, Luwton, Low, John Manches-
er, WIN. Manchester, Mathewson, Now
ry, Newton, Perry, Pearce, Randolph,
Reynolds, Robinson, Randall, Spencer,
Sands, Sherman, Smith, Tefit, Taggart,
Watson, Westcoti, Whipple, Weaver,
Wilkinson, Wood, Walling-57.
SO the motion was lost.
AT the request of Mr.. ATWELL, his
bill was laid OH the table till next week.
MIR. BARBER, of Hopkinton, offer
ed the following resolutions, which were
read and laid on the table. Mr.. AT
WELL saying they never SHOULD pass
the House without his solemn protest.
Whereas, portion Of the people Of
this State, without any legal authority,
have undertaken to establish CoDsiitu-
ton OF Government for the people of this
State /; aud have declared such Consll-
tuition to be the Supreme LAW and have
communicated such Constitution uni"
this General Assembly, for our obcdl-
ence And whereas, many of the good
people of this State are in danger Of be-
ing mlsl by doctrines and preienccs
,ubversive OF all orderly government
We, the General Assembly of the
State Of Rhode Island aud Providence
Plantations, do therefore set forth and
declare the following Fundamental truths;
as essential to tho peace and prosperity
OF the State.
In the words of Washington
"lhe basis OF our political system ia
the right of the people to make and alter
their Constitutions of Government but
the Constitution which ut any time ex-
lists till changed by an erplicil and au-
theniic act Of the ,chole people, is sacred
y obligatory upon all. !"
"Ihe very idea Of the power and the
right to establish government, pre-sup-
poses the duty OF every individual 10 obey
the established government"
No operson or persons, except such as
are authorised by the Constitution, or
fundamental laws of State, have right
to exercise any portion OF the legislative
power
To originate and propose to the people
Constitutions, which are to be the su-
preme law, is an exercise Of very i'm
portant portion Of Legislative power.
Constitutions Of government, that they
may be binding upon all, as the "au-
'henlic act OF the ,rhole people," must be
framed and adopted, in conformity with
some law, by which those who frame and
propose the Constitution, are authorise
to act, and by which those who adopt the
Constitution are to be regulated IN their
action.
Constitutions, or fundamental laws,
framed by persons having no legal au-
ihority, and acted upon by any portion of
the people, wi,hou, any law to regulate
their action, can never be recognised as
the "erpiicit and authentic act Of the whoie
people" Being in violation of the So
cial compact, they bind not the minority,
but are unconstitutional and void.
The people Of this State adopted the
form OF government under which we now
live.
The people Of this State, by their rep.