New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-05-13
rhe Rhode Island Question.

Inc hnooe Ist0nd Vussuo"'
Gov Dorr and hi. supporter. basa tn awful
me-. OF their proceedings on the assumption w.
n majority + ne People have IN inal'cha'''
right ~ chang. their form of Government, or g.
rabli-h an entirely new one. at >uch TIE ana ''
whatever manner they may choose. >lpP'-'
admit ,hi. tie question instantly presents 10
Who ar, III. People possessing th's nSh' Il d.
p@r.ons are intended, then ih-ir Constitution 49,
not been adopted. for not 0He-ssrl4'A 81 ia' eif
,ire population Of Rhode Island haze voted i"r h'
mr. IN any tangible manner ratified II. AA. Duh
.ay. the Governor. we mean BY the frap-c ~
adult male ct.1 en- Ncs. -ir; 80 We urdcfiah" =
5u, by ,riat rtght do y0. trar His linz Who
authorized ,ou 10 .ay who are and Who are III
ea,itl.d g. a voice in the primor!ial or-anitai.
of a commonwealth Hos ar you emQ'~ei'd
n, decide TIN, a citizen NAV vote aHi az alien NAV
not 1-that an Intelligent native. % years o.''
.hal no, vote. while ignorant in'r grant o' H.
being naturalired. may do 80 that dri"N'"
and ,i,;or. husband may vote while h' cSe"-
Mar, al vol inforne. vie NAV BOT Inst .
.ioyle woman. who ha, weiehty Interests ID ara
ray. heavy taxes to tie STATE. may not vote oa '''
adoption II new form 4 Government "hl.e d
loafer. who stepped in Ia, year ard will step GU
tomorrow. may do 80. though he care not -iia"
what shall be the result W. might multiply
these anomalic. to infnty. bu, il is needless. Al
ms, see tia, tn Suffrage party are condei'..'"
by their own principles. Ii these arr sound 'I''y
ou.ht 10 have summoned cvery inhab'iant OF me
Stale TO the ballot.b1xe.-certainiy every one cd
enough to be held smena5ie TO the isws-no mat
r.r whether male ar female. adult or m'nor ciu-
zen or alien, black or whitc-and obta'ted a ni"-
iori,y Of the whole for their new Constitution
Thea II might have been fairly claimed t. be at-
lied by the People; but whether any provision ~
effect d..rrapchi.in. women. minors. alien, or AM
can. would have been valid ,ave -gainst the nd
y,d.al. voting for H. would be the next question.
The doctrine that majority ct tie Inhabitants,
or Of the adult males. Of community, may icSa-
Is change its government without the sanction "'
the Government eNi,ting.w oud upturn every Save
STATE in tie Unun-a consequence re do not add-te
a. a buebcar but 10 show It, Tremendous Se"''"
bearings. Ii Nj Doirs government l. Recognized
ai Washington. 4 government dc fac'o OF re'''ted
Africans in South Carolina or Mississippi must be-
by the same rule. My, morc-a decided MAORI
~ Of the free rsHe rotor, of Virginia now e.rn-
e.ty seek rcnova: ION OF their State Constitution
which. being founded on = mixed basis OF Proqcri,
and Persons. or Voters and Taxes, give tie as
ccndancv to the Eastern Counties though a iar-e
maiority of theyotcrs protest and agtate asainsti
The right Of majority to form and alter Gov
erument.. the right of individuals 10 vote. must
have some limitations, If a President or M oriiy
in Congress. should be sho-en, aud the beaten party
by adding up their popular votes, were able to
show a majority, would they thence be authorized
poaccably TO Gus, the President and Congress so
cho.enl 4 Government in which Law and ire'-
cription aro nothing but aggregate physical ma
jortie. OF to-day every thing has certainly no eN-
isiencc in any State bu, Rhode Island.
We appeal to both parties i, Rhode Island tor
moderate coun.cls and conciliatory meosures.-
Hayinr at last agreed with regard to essentials
why should they shed each other, blood on a
punctio1 The non-Frcehoder- have long and
ps,ly demanded an extension OF the Right oi
Suffrage; the Laulhoders have at length wisely
conceded it. Why FIGHT now Why should NOT
the Suffrage men take what j. offered them a. an
in.tament. since it secures 10 seven-eishth' "'
them the fullest Political Rights, and thereby the
power to make such further notifications a. they
choose in legul manner Loag will the day be
rued by every lover Of Freedom aud OF ''''cra-
mcnt Of Laws wherein the first drop Of blood l.
shed in thi, most deplorabe quarrel.