The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-16
FRID AY, AUGUST I6, 1914.
RHoDEIsLAND-THoMAs W. DoRR AND

RHODE DEISLAND-TH0MAS w. DORR AM
80 HENRY CLAY
We have thought that we could not at this tim
better employ portion Of our paper, than by Civ
ing our readers short history of the Rhode Islam
difficulties. For this purpose we give the succnc
statement of Mr.. McClernand of Illinois, made t.
the lower House of Congress at the last session
We give his statement for the reason, that from
his locality it may be presumed, that he would b,
more unbiased, than those Immediately concerned
in the transaction.
Mr. McClernand says:
'.In 1868, Charles II, King of England, granted
the charter under which the late government o
Rhode Island was organized He granted it, ac
cording to its terms, to certain his "trusty ane
welbeloved subjects" and, for the purpose o
imparting life and motion to the corporation, ap
pointed, of his s'royal WILL" Benedict Arnold gov
ernor Of the corporation; also, lieutenant govern
or, and ten assistants, who together with speci.
fed number ofpersons to be chosen periodically by
the freernen of the company, were charged with
the management ofits business; for it was nothing
more than mere landed corporation.
"[Here Mr.. Cranston asked what Benedict Ar
mold was referred to.
ssMr McC. said, not the one of revolutionary
memory
ssThe right of suffrage is restricted by the char
ter to such persons as the company, by their con-
stuted authorities, shall admit to be members and
.freemen Of the company. To none others, al
though required to pay taxes, and to do military
duty,i is permitted the right This restriction OF
suffrage together with the increase Of population,
had so widened the disproportion of the freemen
and non-freemen according to the classification of
people, that, in lS4, the general assembly was
elected and controlled by a number of towns con-
tanning less than onethird Of the population Of the
State In some instances, the inequality was ex-
treme; as, for example, the town of Portsmouth,
with ! 700 inhabitants elected thesame number Of
representatives as the city Of Providence with 49,,
172 inhabitants. Three agricultural towns, whose
united population amounted to but 1905, elected
the same number Of representatives as three other
agricultural towns whose population amounted to
1s,s4s. This inequality Of representation and un-
just and degrading restriction of suffrage had been
cause of dissatisfaction and complaint for near
forty years before open collision took place between
the two parties. In 1911, bill to extend the right
ofsuffrage to all who paid taxes, performed mil
itary duty, was passed by democratic Senate, but
was lost in chartist House of Representatives
.'In 1929 40, and Al, the people IN various
ways repeated their appeals to the charter authori
ties in favor Of the extension of the right ofsurage
and free constitution, but in vain Their sup
plications were not heard, but were treated with
tce at the hands of their oppressors, they finally
elected a convention to do themselves what other
wise could not be done. In October, lSil, this
convention met, and after making some progress
in their business, adjourned to meet again in No
vember after, when they finished their laoors, and
submitted the draft of constitution to the people
for their adoption or rejection The vote ofthe
people was accordingly taken uponit; and on the
18th ofJanuary, after The convention again met,
when they proceeded to count the votes for aud
against the proposed constitution, the count show
ed the whole number ofvotes given in by Ameri- !
can male citizens of full age, and permanent resi-
dence or home IN the State, in favor of the adop-
ton ofthis constitution, to be 1894, being ma
iority of the whole number Of American male citi-
y.,. ,r s,,,.r. .nd ,o,u.oon, residence or home
= ~ S,.,a "a IA Thov a,so decl,r.d ,bo,
of,h. - who,. nrmher If yot.r. na o44, 4oso
: - ,..,,,.. a e.o.mou 11non ,h;..asn,,
a. .anson;;,n nrooI.;mod ,h;. oons,;.,,;on - ho
a.. .,,,..uann, r, IS ,ho s,.,o M .nd ',ooomm.ndod
~. ~ III. pu ...;..,;sa :, s s oa;aa..,,.,a. $50 a :,
..Th.. ~ o.onm,,n;o.,.S,h. 49, ,o.,,. ,o
,.,ber w;,b>s eonv Of the neon,es coDstitution 10