Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-04-04

further than this they have no more right
to interfere than any other nation in
christend"m. They, as to all the other
internal affairs Of this State, ore u foreign
government. These members might a.
well have appealed TO Russia or Turkey
\ Sir, differ somewhat from my friends
as to the proper course to be pursued in
relation to this memorial. ! would stand
on our reserved rights as State.
would calmly, firmly, and briefly inform
Congress that they had no authority in
the matter, aud defy their Interference,
and then would deal with these mem.
bers of the Legislature who have signed
this memorial. Sir, the gentleman from
Cumberland has made long harangue
about what he heard in Massachusetts
and Connecticut. Sir, | have no doubt
he has heard all that he states and u
good deal more. That is the way in
which all these doctrines originated. =
They are not Of Rhode Island growth. -.
Sir, will not suffer myself to speak Of
the conduct Of these men in such terms
as It deserves-l can not do it in this
house. Whether their act is not such as
would warrant the indictment of grand
Jury for perjury, am not lawyer enough
to say. But This dc say, that 10 moral
point Of view il does not in this respect
fall short Of iAe most deliberate and will
iul perjury. These men, some of them,
voted for the call of convention to frame
this Constitution. They voted for the
Constitution itself. They suffered them
selves TO be elected under it as members
Of this Legislature, and they lifted up
thei. hands and called God to witness
that they would be true and faithful TO it.
! How long asked Mr.. Fcnner Brown.
How long how long why, Until you
! had got out of sight Of your fellow mem
bers, at least. Not while you were sit
ting here in your seats, receiving your
pay as members of this House, petition
to foreign government TO overthrow and
annihilate that which you had taken the
oath Of God upon you to maintain.
\ Sir, these gentlemen rant great
deal about democracy and rcPublicanism
They deEy that Rhode Island under the
charter was republican form Of govern
ment Sir; it was republican enough to
carry us through the war Of the revolu-
iion-to satisfy the patriotism and love
of freedom of the men Of rs. And who
now comes TO question and cri,cise lis
/ Republican character who presnmes to
sit in Judgment on the institutions Of our
fathers and make them the subject Of his
! ridicu!e and condemnation 7 Why, sir, a
little man whose only pretensions to dis
4, "a, 81 b, ho ,f
of the most distinguished men Of The last
century, distinction, the weight OF
which has for n long time worn him
down in carrying il about "A little man
from New Hampshire, sir, whose Con-
s,iiution would disfranchse the member
from Cumberland, aud nine tenths of his
Party, if they were in that State. There
are provisions in her Constitution which
make it requisite, in order TO hold n seat
in her House of Representatives, ia
possess one hundred pounds in heI
Senate, two hundred pounds and TO be
eligible to the place of Governor, five
hundred pounds, one half IN real estate,-
and to hold cny Office, man must be oI
he Protestant religion. Such IA Consti,
} tuition as this would have been secuted
out cf Rhode Island, any time since
Roger Williams padded across Seekonk
river, two hundred years ago. Why
sir, if these persons who signed this me.
r mortal had lived IN the State from which
this gallant asserter of democratic rights
comes, they woald say half ofthem have
been dislranchised and this man pre-
; tends 10 reform and make constitutions
for us. Why, sir, ! always have found
when man was christened after some
; great man, unless he was Of eXtraordina-
ry ability, II always made Il fool OF him
Sir, | differ from some Of NY fellow
members as to the course TO be pursued
: with regard To these members who have
! signed this memorial | think, sir, lhi,
! House is bound to exercise It's Eighes
power OF condemnation upon these mem
| bers-,o expel them from their seats IN
, this House which they have disgraced
4 am ready for this course, sir, my con
r siituents are ready for 1t. l am read.
: for it, sir, because | believe it to be
) solemn duty, duty which owe to the
= constitution and people Of this State ant
J the honor Of this House. | have sworI
, to support that constitution nj all times. -
e did not swear to uphold it until ! 60
G my money in my pocket, and then pc,i
: ton for its overthrow. But, sir, m,
t friends do not see fit to 60 with me in th'
n full extent of my wishes, and therefore
/, mus; content myself with going as ia
C towards it as they arc willing to accom-
: pany me.
IS Mr.. Rallou Of Cumberland lollowc
> Mr. Crans,on. lie disclaimed any in
g icn,ion Of violating his oath of Office.
& He conscicntiously believed he did rigl
n in signing the memorial. lie consider
. ed tha, Congress had right to inqur
= into the matter, and believed that III
IN present government Of this State W;
to founded in usurpaton, and that the fac
H. = stated in the memorial were truc-an
,e said that he was ready to be expelled,
C. the House was ready to do it, sc. sc,