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

The General Assembly of the State Of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
here, in special session duly convened, Oh
the par, and in the behalf OF the people cf
said State, do most solemuly
PROTEST.,
First, Against the righ; of the Congress OF
the United States, or 0t either House there
pf, now To decide or inquire whether The late
charter government OF ,hia State was repue-
llcan in its form, the same having been lhe
form Of government under which ihis Sldte
declared It's freedom aud Independence, sE',
with the other States Of this Union, the free
dom and independence Of The United States,
w1s admitted und entered toto the anon VI
States under the Articles of Confederation
and Perpetual Union, and afterwards under
the Constitution OF the United States /; said
form of government, as republican, having
been recognised and guaranteed to this S,ue
by the United States, in and by the consttu-
ton thereof.
Second, Against the right of tho Congress
OF the United States, or Of either House
thereof, TO decide or inquire into the question
whether the said pretended constitution for
this State, called the peoples constitution,
traitorousy attempted to DO set up in this
State as aforesaid, or the constitution OF this
State, legally, pcaceaby and freely adopted
by the people thereof on the twenty-frst,
twenty second and twenty-thlrd days Of Mo-
vember, in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty-two, Is the lawful
constitution Of this State and whether the
Representatives Of this State in the Con-
gress of the United States ere entitled to
,heir seats therein, so far as their right to
III, 10 ipu ypd in
said question, as wholly beyond the right.
power and jurisdiction of Congress- or Of
either House thereof, and grossly voative Of
rights expressly reserved to the people of
this Stale BY the people of the United States,
the said question having been finally decided
by the people Of this State, and tho govern
me ut of this State having been actually SET
tied, aud being now actually administered
under and by virtue of The constitution Of
this State. legally, pcaccably and freely
adopted by the people thereof, os aforesaid,
and the same constituting republican form
OF government for this State.
! Third, Against the doing or agitation, by
Congress, or by either House thereof, Of any
act, matter or thing concerning tie govern
mcnt Of this State, aud the constitution
thereof calculated 10 stir up and excite anew,
rebcl lion, Insurrection and war therein, or TO
excite against this State, and the people and
government thereof, the ilI-will Of the people
and governments Of our s iser States, as a
gross violation OF the spirit Of our common
Union and constitution, plainly tending 10
disturb our domestic tranquility, and III M
infringement OF the guaranty by the United
States, IN the constitution thereof, OF the
Existing republican form Of government Of
this State.
And this General Assembly would remind
The people and Congress of the United States,
and the people and authorities Of the seve-
raj States of this Union, that, though the
people OF this State, ever jealous of the ir
hight OF domestic government and internal
police, were the last Of the old thirteen
States which adopted the constitution Of the
United States. they have faithfully mains
tanned and observed the same, and in seasons
of peril have never been found wanting 10
the common cause end, confidently trusting
that The men Of Rhode Island nre no, de-
generate from the spirit of their honored
sircs, IN view Of the premises, do solemnly
RcSoire, On the part md IN the behalf OF
the People Of this State, that We will TO the
utmost md by every means in our power.
defend our right TO govern ourselves, and to
nphoId our present constitution Of internal
government. until the same be legally chang.
ed in the mode therein provided against all
encronchment and opposition whatsoever and
according 10 the rights Of this State express.
y reserved md guaranteed To this State and
10 IN" people thereof, by the constitution Of
the United States and do further
ResoiUe, Tint his bxcelency the Cover
nor be requested To transmit q copy Of this
oar Protest onh Declaration TO The President
of the United States and through onr Sena,
tors and Representatives 10 each House Of
the Congress Of the United States: that his
Excclirncy be also requested TO address and
transmit n copy thereof to the Governor of
each OF the States of this Union, with ro-
quest that the same be laid before the Leuis.
latve assemblies Of their respective S,ates
mt the earliest session thereof: nnd do fur
ther
R,solvs, That our Seaators and Rcprescn.
ialves be requested TO urge this our Protest
and Declaration upon The attention Of the
respective Houses of Congress to Which
they bclong.
In House OF Representatives, March 30lh,
lS44. Voted and passed
BY order.
THOMAS a. JENCKES, Clerk.
In Senate, read the same day and cor.
cured. Bv order,
HENRY BOWEN, Scc'y.