The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-19
..n, rs IN RHODE ISLAND.

TROUBLES in RHODE ISLAM
l time past there has been much excite
For SOM u Island in regard TO the Constitution
nsnt in hnvu The State. The history OF The trans
n CN'''r ',s FIR is given in letter to the Boston
'"I,s. as follows ,oa farms, written
ROOOe .'r-our people preferrng the charter
Cod'l'u'''r Charles II, and the laws and usages
F'n'eu " from time 10 time, over since the set
when ' ar,be State grown up under that charter
temen' Io,vs which was first enacted in 1868
One u L,, avery man, to be entitled to a vote,
rlIT b, The owner of certain amount OF real es
'b'' y: snob are called freehoders-and, with their
ne .,ns comprise the frecmen OF the State.
d'" wv. rober probably 10000. One ofthc earli>
IN" fine proprietors of Rhode Island was this
III "' Lin ont the limit of the elective franchise
NV. established this as the fundamental prine'p'e
Whose propretors only, who were concerned
Nv" .o,rare of the colony, should be allowed
~' ;. =. government. This principle has been
n'.n,,odqod and proctised upon to this day,
n ~'. f,cl,nen of Rhode Island, then, are the
,'orRbode Island. 1t is they who enacted
H. laws under Whlch we "o" 'i'e, '"'"s'" '"''
~. ~ REPRESENTATIVES,, the General Assembly.
.,,og, that the power which enacts laws can
w., ,nr or repeal. The (reemon OF this State
,.,1c, are the only power which can change
i .aioo hws With this view, at the session of
h. General Assembly, in January 1S4l n petition
., ne.enred, signed by 600 persons, requesting
l. m,eOion of suffrage, &c. This petition was
r,vered on the part Of the Assembly, by the pas
40. Of resolutions requesting the reemen TO choose
l. August last, Delegates to attend a Convention,
|, no held in Providence, in November, IS4l, to
s,mo new Constitution of this State. The Del>
,,,,es were elected by the frcemen. The Con-
,,Otion met-framed a Constitution which gave
The mos, liberal suffrage Establishing, in fact, the
Ieehold qualification, except as regards foreigners
which Constitution was voted dozen, by the very
men who have clamored Cor free suffrage.
In the mean time, at suffrage meeting held in
Newpor, last May, measures were taken for calling
|, Convention oflhe people unfortunately without
eerence 10 the fundamental laws Of the State
which convention was held in Providence last Oc>
Ober, made their Constitution, and it was voted
DGem5or-and, in January last, a Proclamation
guei by the officer OF the Convention dec laring it
Ote the supreme law ofthis State. Within the
M lhrco months, this party have passed violent
rgduOns, held infammatory meetings. and are
bow resolved to carry into operation their Const'
|hon "at all hazards In other words we are on
f&yergo of domestic insu' recti0n:
|hihe Tribune we find the following letter, (which
bsens sad state of things;
Extract ola letter, dated "PRoviD ENC f, A pril 7.
Aspspects the state of parties here, it looks
5Y dark. There is guard Of thirty men placed
\ The Arsenal, and the military companies have
4 EN- overhanled by the Governor: thc question was
Fl land;" Whey wanted it qualified so as TO pIedg
3Pem 10 support all laws but the late act, against
FganAzms Free suffrage governmen,;l but lie
WOULD not vary it. OF the Infantry, IL voted TO do
n "ihe Artillery Ia; Marine Artillery, not known,
HoOsocket Co. none.
"'oon "hipp'e has gone to Washington TO ask
FdO'ihe Governmoni; DR.. Brown on the other
Fe'a The same cars. The Free Suffrngcrs are
|de awake; one lrlshman has procured 600 mus
Fs which he is distributing freely TO his coun-
|me0;1nd says he can get enough more land men
|arY them. I saw 13 men yesterday with one
piece and II others to day. They heve great
|e'ings in the several Wards this evening There
Hoe fighting if the LnndhoIders attempt 10 put
I obnoxious law in force.
VI hear to-day that Phillip Allen has agreed To
FOd Tor Governor on tho Free Suffrage ticket and
Punk The ticket will be completed and published
eE soon. hear the candidates will publish n
fN declining the nomination, but if elected by
E! vote, they will stand, and meet the consc-
0ees The people will shield them from the
Y reason Law, and then we shall come to blood
&"Nlhere is any attempt to enforce it. never
'" so mnch excitement on any subject as there
aUG present and in all the north part Of the
BETTER TINES.
Is really amusing to witness the immense ef
!" "a0e by The loco prints to satisfy the people
WHAT INC wings are constantly insisting that The
arc "aFd' But do they in their imagnations