, 1844-10-26

code OF political principles which a.
rose over the ruins of u colonial
vossalage--took root in our free in.
stltutIens, and are the foundation o.
all civil and religious liberty.
In assuming tho responsibility o.
the chair. he WA aware that he took
upon himself the duty OF stating the
objects, and putting the meeting in
possession of the questions involved
IN The Controversy. In the perfor.
nance Of this duty, he would neces.
sarlly be compelled to draw upon
the patience o. his audience, while he
took q very brief review OF the histo.
rlcal events which resulted in the is.
sue and the contest. /, opened a
large field for investigation, but he
would enceavor 10 Gull 50 much from
II, and that With an impartial hand,
as would fairly put the meeting in
possession of The questions a, isstle.
The first charter granted 10 Rhode
Island was In the year l643. in the
reign OF Charles the FIRST; al d Just
about the time Of the beginning of
that revolution in England which
brought the head Of tho Monarch to
the block, n raised Cromwell to the
froctectorate. ii originated in stor.
my tlmes,--it might almost be said
amidst the clsmor Of arms in q civil
war--and, strange 10 say, it promuI-
gated some OF The nobIest doctrines
e:clvll liberty. The doctaine which
has subsequently taken such deep
root IN this country, Of the right Of
the people TO rule by popular
mnJorItIes, was preserved in tina,
charter. In 1855, this charter
was ratified by Cromwell. then q, III.
head of the Commonwealth Of En-
gland. But this charter, so liberal in
Its principles and credltable to the
age IN which it was granted, did no,
seem to suit the early settlers of Rode
Island, who seemed to wan, some.
thing nearer the idea of a close cor
porat'on for the special benef, of the
arsholders and their descendants
forever.
They applied for and obtained the
grant for another charter from the
then reigning Monarch, Charles H.,
which has continued the onlv organ
law of Rhode Island up TO is4I, the
time OF the adoption Of the PEOPLES
constitution. This charter was es-
sentlally different from the former,
more anti-republican, and more in
conformity with the despotic princi.
plies OF the age. BY its provisions,
he government Of the Province was
confined to a few landholders. 10 the
utter exclusion of the great BODY of
The people. Under this charter the
Government was virtually
confined to the corporators and such
they might from time to time ad-
nit to the right Of members of the as
ISOLATION under the dignlfied cogno.
men Of "freemen." ltprovided for a
Governor, Deputy Governor and
subsequently, dignified
with The title Of Senators. and also
IN Assembly to be elected, not BY
he people, but by the freemen Of the
owns, who were, in fact. the privil.
.ged class, under the charter. There
we're no well defined limits to Iegisla-
i've or executive power in it; and,
Consequently, the action under it
'ears all the marks Of capriciousness
nd instability known to govern.
nents dependent upon the will OF
rulers. Thus, the fcunda-
ion of all governments, the source Of
Official power, from whom It ema-
ated, in whom it existed, was as
in the government Of
.hode Island as the OF inions of those I
yho administered il. 4!
In order TO a better understanding
( their peculiar legislation upon the !
uestion of suffrage it may he well
ere to remark, that the doctrine Of {
le right Of the citizens to participate a
their Government, was never re. 7
ognized in the Government Of Rhode
land. The inherent right Of the
otter, was a doctrine wholly un- c
nown in that Government-with, or 3
.ithout, limitations and restrictions.
he citizen there in addition to bring q
himself up to the standard Of EQUAL 4
under a restricted suffrage, e
ID to obtain the consent Of the /
lrty in power. 10 become an cleo II
r, and it is q fair and legitimite in. u
renee that the admission to that d
ivilege, was confined TO political n
,rtizans. Some of the other States a
d restrictions upon suffrage oven II
freehold qualifications, but then
cir laws were general, and when te
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