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

The debate in both branches Of the
Legislature on the Protest and Rcsolu-
lions, which will be found in another
column, was very interesting, and we
should have been glad to have given it
entire to-day, bot crowd Of advertise
ments prevents us. We present below
apor,ion only ofthc debate in the House
the remarks of Messrs. Brown, Grams
ton and Randolph, a. reported in the
Journal, without abridgcmcnt
The question being on the adoption
of the protest, Mr.. Fenner Brown, of
Cumberland, said, do not believe, sir,
everything contained in that protest. -
do not believe, sir, that the Demo
cratic members Of this House have in
tended to violate their oeth OF fidelity to
the Constitution Of this State, or that
they have violated it, | for one, sir,
did no; intend to violate my oath to thai,
Constitution so long as it remained the
supreme law Of this State ; but, sir, |
meant to exercise my power as an Amerl-
can citizen, Of appealing to the highest
tribunal in the land, TO determine which
was tho existing Constitution of this
State. Sir, | am not satisfied on that
point, and wished 10 have the question
settled, whether the Peoples Cons'itu-
;on is or is not the supreme law of the
State Of Rhode Island wished to
know, sir, what arc the rights Of the
people Of this State. | wished to know,
sir, whether the principles contendcd
for by our fathers, the principles ioI
which they fought and bled, are true CT
false, or have any existence in this State.
Sir, what did Rhode Island men fgh,
tor in the war Of the Revolution that
Rhode Island might be free-but she
has never been free. ! asked, sir, a
Massachusetts veteran what he fought
for in the war Of the revolution for
what you in Rhode Island have never
had, said he. No believing a Mas;a-
chusetts man about Rhode Island,
went into Connecticut and asked vete-
ran Of 80 years, what did you fight iol
in the war Of the Revolution "Foi
what Rhode Island has never had"
Sir, Jeremiah Olney, one Of the most
courageous and patriotic men Rhode
Island has ever produced, declared II
this city that Rhode Island had never
had one half her liberties. Sir, 1t was
to establish these liberties that applied
10 the Congress Of the United States
1t is not by military force, sir, not bJ
Algerine laws not by little white plumcs
that the liberties of the people of Rhode
Island are to be secured. | wish The
question settled by tribunal which i
superior to us ALL / believe, sir, tha
the sovereign power descended from
George III. not to the Legislature, bu
TO the people Of Rhode Island. Sir, th'
people of this State attempted to exer
else their rights Of sovereignty in thl
matter. They have been prevented
they have been put down. Now, sir
we appeal to the National Legislature
10 decide this question. Let them cx
anime imparialy and determine whc
is the legal government, and | for on
nm ready to abide by the result Sill
this protest contains the most threaten
ing expressions of any State paper whic
have ever seen. 1t bids defiance
the government, and tho whole Unior
Now, sir, the State of Rhode lslan'
large as it Is, is not large enough quit
10 set up for Itself, to declare its indC
pendcncc. know our young men al
full Of military spirit, and have done,
we may believe their own stories, dceC
of proves which outriva Napoleon
ut Acote's Hill and between here ar
there. But nevertheless, the State
hardly yet strong enough 20 combat Il
whole Union.
Sir, in this memorial we have on
exercised the inalienabe right of pet
sion to Congress. DO what you plea
with u.s. cxpel us il you choose, you CT
not deprive us Of thus right, or prcve
Va from resorting To II so long a.
breathe the pure air of Rhode Island.
do hope, sir, the protest will be Ia
on the table.
Mr.. Crnns'on.-This attempt on 6
pait Of few persons styling lhemsclv
Dcmocraiic members of this House h
excited only one feeling IN my mind
that of incHable contempt. Sir, but VII
Ia. the Congress OF the United States
do with our internal affairs What l.
siness have they 10 interfere IN 9th
rsees than ol fprelen INVASION OF dome