Litchfield enquirer., 1844-05-09

war with Mexico, under circumstances, as our gov
ernment Itself has declared, incompatible with the
national honor, would be scarcely less disastrous in
its consequences to the internal peace and TRANQUIL
tity of-the would disturb. II II did NOT
utterly snbver, the very foundation of our govern
ment, by destroying that bhlauceof power9aad har-
mony Of interest between the different sections of
the country, which it was the design of the fra
mers OF the Constitution, by their mutual collces-
slons, to establish and preserve; and nothing could
have more disastrous tendency to ,weaken the at
tachnen OF the people Of the United States to the
government established by Our fathers "to secure
the blessings of liberty to themselves and theirpos
terity," than TO witness the perversion of it's DOW
ers to the unholy purpose Of extending and secur-
ing by the guarantees Of the Constitution the curse
of perpetual slavery over an immense and fertile
territory, free by the laws Of its parent State and
fitted by nature for the abode of nation of free
men. '''
Being fully persuaded that there is no power un.
der the Constitution, in the President and Senate,
or in Congress, to annex foreign nation and its
territory TO the Union of these States to make the
people of the United States party to its obliga-
tons its treaties and its wars; to compel them TO
share in the moral guilt Of its voluntary institution
| Of slavery, and to incur the odium of the whole
civilized world by extending to it the guarantee of
the CONSTITUTION; or to stipulate for its admission
with the privilege ola slave representation t par
tcipate with MS In the government of the Union
and in the rich inheritance acquired for us bygtbe
yalor and sacrifices of our ancestors; trust that
| the General Assembly will deem it their duty on
this occasion to renew their solemn protest. in the
| name of the people of this State, in such terms as
! will manifest their determination to abide by the
Constitution, and as member Of the Union, to hold
those who shall be instrumental in its violation for
the accomplishment Of a measure fraught with so
much evil, responsible before God and the country
for the consequences that may ensue. *E.j' -
. A proposition for the amendment of the sixth ar
cle of the Constitution of this State by the omis-
sion of all the qualifications of electors now reuu-
red, except those of celor age, residence and char
acer, published with the laws of the last ses.
sion. 1t does not appear on the face of the Reso-
luton, or by any accompanying official attestation,
to have been passed by majority of the House of
Representatives, as required by the Constitution.
How far this irregularity may be susceptible of
correction, or may affect your action on the propo-
sed amendment, are questions to which your atten-
| ton will necessarily he called. And should YOU
find yourselves at liberty to act on the resolution,
the question of the propriey of the principle of ex-
clusion founded on color alone, which the amend
! ment proposes to reaffirm and continue will also
| be brought under consideration
| 1t IS beautiful feature of most Of our American
Constitutions, that they contain within themselves
a perfect provision for their own amendment SO
( guarded as to secure the people against sudden
and i'll considered changes in their fundamental
laws, and at the same time prescribing an easy and
simple mode in which their right to reorganize
their government or modify its powers, when ne
cessary for their safety or happiness. may be peace
fully and lawfully exercised. The provisions of
our own constitution are admirably adapted to Sc
cure these desirable objects The power of amend
ment thus reserved, being legal ard not the rev
outionary right, be exercised in no other mode
than that which the people have themselves pre-
scribed Every attempt, in any other manner to
change the fundamental laws of government
without lis consent IS revolutionary in its charac-
ter, and can be justified only by extreme necessity
The contrary doctrines lately promulea and
attempted TO be maintained by fierce in neghbcr-
ing State, so utterly subversive of social ORDER
and so destructive in lis tendency, to all the best
interests of society," that it is much to be regretted
they should have received anv cCnntenance heyond
the confines of the State in which they originated
If the will Of self declared majority of the people
of State, convened without the authority of law,
can at pleasure annul the constit ion, and rut ain
end to the government under which thev live, rem
derng its action thenceforth illegal, its sincre-
rate and ustiyipg the force fer its subverson
then indeed we all enjoy the blessings of a tree
government ny teebler tenure than has been gem
orally supposed. - Il 2 81 isrlEi
Thegovarnment of Rhode Island was the same that
carried her Il riously tEr ugh the war Ct tie Revo-
luton; the thai her patriotic sos then pc ursd
cut their blood to sustain; the under which
she entered the cotderacy Of her sister tates, and
assumed her equal rank a member Of the Union.
1t was administered with, ut oppression, fnd with
wachtul zeal Tor the protection of the per-
spnal rights Of all her citizens Even the political
franchises, which it was the protesSed object of
those who Waged war against the existing govern
ment TO extend, were already conceded by conyen-
ton chosen with the consent of the government,
and acting under the sanction CT the law.
Happily the atroeious attempt to subvert by force
the government of CUR sister State rand to involve
her peaceable citizens in the horrors Of acivil war
met and repealed with firmness ard success by
the constituted authorities of the State. And it is
to be hoped that this signal triumph of law and CIR
der over the treason which threatened their sub
version, will inspire fresh confidence in the stabil
ity of our republican institutions and in thesecuri-
ty to regulate liberty which they impart.
Although it is believed that the doctrine of in-
strucons, elsew here understood, has never been
regarded by the people of this State consistent
with the constitutional responsibility Of thcirrep
resentatives, it has nevertheless, different occa-
sons been deemed expedent by the General AS
sembly to express their sentiments on important
questions of national policy, tor the information of
our Senators and Representatives in Congress
Under ordinary circumstances, II is probably safer
for the community to leavei the representative to
bility, according to the dictates Of his own Judge
ment, enlightened by chez wisdonisand experience
of his associates in council, thnto attempt to guide
him in his course with less perfect lights, and per.
haps in ignorance ofmuch that should influence his
decision. " So
An example Illustrative Of thistru il believed
to be furnished by the resolution passed by the
General Assembly at their last session. In which
the Tariff of 1912 is declared to be unyvse in its
details, objectionable in its provisions and of doubt
iul efficacy as revenue measure" Should You
CONCUR with me in the opinionI have expressed in
regard tosthe beneficent QpeEatisn Of this law,