Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-01-07
Number ~.

TO vote either for or against, claiming that
they have already adopted constitution
and organized government under it, bat
put down by the Algerines and negroes,
combined, prohibit foreigners to vote, tho
naturalized! And this, the coon papers
tell us, in all parts of the country, is IT.
6eral constitution! "AU distinctions found
ed on color soiH be discarded" says the
Tribune, who pery consistently waves the
name OF HENRY CLAY at its mast head
who claimed negroes as property IN MS
Mendenhall speech at Richmond, Indiana.
But the most extraordinary act Of sell
complacency is where the Tribune very
modesily insinuates to its Algerine breth-
rem of Rhode Island, that, after they have
made the experiment on extending "free
suffrage" TO the negroes, he hopes that
they will come to the conclusion that there
is not so much danger Of permitting for.
eigners 10 vote as they now apprehend!
Try the experiment of free suffrage ON ne
eroeS, and, if it works well, then these
federal coons will discuss the propriety OF
extending free suffrage to naturalized Tor
eigners, also! Was there ever such bold
and daring insults offered to common sense
since the declaration of Independence
spread its hallowed light upon mankindf
Is there man in the whole Union, who
happened to be born on the other side OF
the Atlantic, where our fathers and grand
fathers came from, who, after this, would
degrade himself by voting with party
holding such monstrous and infamous doc
trines as these? What say the numerous
and intelligent Welchmen Of this city, who
have been in the habit, heretofore of vo-
ting the federal coon ticket? Will they
submit to be placed in lower scale of
human existence than the negro, or act
with party that profIers the right of sufE
rage to the liberated slave, and wthholds
it from their own kindred blood because
they happened to be born in the same cline
as the forefathers Of this same anti-repub-
lican and piratical party on the rights Of
the white man? =
These, We suppose, are the degrading.
terms to which whiggery is 10 submit, in
its new coalition with abolilionism as po-
htical party. II is even going further than
The aboltionists themselves, in Ohio, have
professed to 60 heretofore. But as the
coon organs have voluntarily proposed
union of their forces, we suppose the abo-
litionists are determined to get all out of
them they can in the contract. Will the
whig party Of Ohio be satisfied to sustain
such doctrines and such coalitions in the
contract for abolition votes? We shall see.
One word as to tire RberaRty of the con-
stitution offered by the Algerines of Rhode
Island to the people Of that degraded State.
We copy from the Providence Express.
which says that it gives some of the rea-
sons why the suffrage party will not con-
sent to the Algerine constitution. Read
and blush for Whggery! 1t says:
"Although we are decidedly opposed to
the old charter, we have no hesitation in
saying that we had much rather live under
it some years longer than to have the con-
stitution now before the public saddled up.
on US. Our reasons are numerous. We
will mention few of the most decisive of
them, in our view against it.
"This instrument establishes q system
of representation in the Senate so unequal
that less than one quarter of the inhabit.
ants of the State will elect considerable
majority of the Senators. Besides, a Sc
nate consisting Of thirty.0ne members will
be unnecessarily expensive for this small
State.
The old Senate is apopular branch Of
moderate expense.
The proposed constitution pretends to
make the House of Representatives pop
ular branch, as an Offset TO the extreme
inequality above mentioned, but thought
makes it more according to the population
than the Senate is. still it is not sufficiently
so for an adequate offset. Some towns AFRO
still ex,rayagantly ouer and others are ex-
travagantly under represented.
"The combined inequality of represent
alton in both branches las figures win
show puts the power Of ruling the whole
State into the hands of about one.th;rd Of
the qualified voters in the State. This is
certainly no improvement upon the old
charter system. But the most objection
able feature, perhaps, of this new instru-
ment is an article on amendments. This
is so contriped that no change for the bet.
ter can ever be made without the vote in
each House of majority Of all the menu
bers of each tWice elected to each--twice
obtained in each; and in addition to these
majorities vote Of ttree:tfths of all the,
qualified voters in the State, voting on Ii i
proposed amendments.
This article will, in our opinion, renden
any further change in this inequality of
Representation next to impossible; for howl
can majority of both Honses be twice
obtained in favor Of giving up portion Of
their own power aud their own interest ih
that power" y