Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-04-11
II Il X A l. ID OF TIL T. I'll les

| adopted IN this Slate ~ December, 1911 anC
established and carried into effect by the or
ganlza,ion Of q government under Il IN May
1872" so far as IL can be iegaiiy enforced ant
no further.
/ Does any man believe that this mcmoria
was meant 10 emboJy request so absurd
| Can constitution be partly enforced nn'
partly not Is there any such thing as en-
forcing constitution so jdr, and then ceas
lng 10 enforce 1t? The Senator thinks III,
effect would have been TO lcgaliZc The acti
! heretofore done ~ ITS support. Why. sir
this is n strange idea indeed How can Con
gress guaranty republican form of govern
ment" now to this state by lcgallzlng acts
committed IN this state two years ago in sup
port Of the so called peoples constitution
Into what perfect maze Of nonsense an,
CONFUSION does such n construction lead Us
What power have Congress to legulize III,
acts of individuals committed under the lava
of this State? VIII the Senator sanction
such an exercise Of the legislative power by
the General Government,
Il have run through the principa portions
4 of this memorial IN the hight Of the cOustruc
tlnn put upon it by the Senator from North
Prov deuce, aud have shown the utter IN.
compatibility of any such Interpretation with
the express language and obvious design oI
the memorial.
I We can, then, come 10 no other concu.
sion than TINT This memorial is a direct mp.
peal to the Congress OF the United States to
overthrow the existing government and es-
'absh the peoples constitution upon its
ruin. Every statement and every previous
request in the memorial does but lead To and
allord the grounds for this the iinnl and all
important object OF The appeal. And 1t will
be observed that attention is directed To this
the main object Of the memorlalIsts By tal.
clsng the passage.
! And now. sir. | would ask, can any man
doubt whether such an appca. TO another
government Is in violation OF The oath Ot al
lcgiancc which we have takca to bo faithful
10 This state, and TO support It's constitution
What j. an oath to support the constitution
Of lhls state IL II something 10 put on
when we enter this room, and laid asd"
when we leave it? Is it holyday dress,
worn only on state occasions, and Ia be
thrown off at our pleasure No, sir. No,
sir. 1T IL an obligation taken in the most
solemn manner. not Tor one day, or one
month. but for all time. II binds us whether
here or elsewhere. IT is an obligation 10
support and maintain tins constitution. Sir,
can you show me now man supports house,
who IS seeking To undermine 1t Is that
man supporting the constitution, who Is do
ing all IN his p' wer,whethcr openly or secretly
10 overthrow that constitution, and calling IN
The nid Of foreign power 10 establish another
government on It's RUNS? Is this fidelity Ia
the oath Of allegiance l. this performing
our duty To the constitution Sir, the day
OF mental reservations ~ gone by. When
man takes an oath TO support n constitution,
10 thereby recognises. IN the most solemn
manner, the Legality of that constitution.
In consequence of this memorial. the sub.
jrct has been brought before the House of
Representatives. A committee has been ap-
pointed to investigate these matters. That
committee, it ls true, was appointed by q
small mainri'y but debate was cut off, and
the venerable statesman from Massachusetts
day after day in vain endeavored to obtain
hearing on the question Of power. And now
| say, cir, II bohnoves the State OF Rhode
Island, before the report Of that committee
IS received, IT we retain ihat jealousy OF our
State rights which has ever been n chnrac-
'eristlc Of this people, solemnly TO protest
against this invasion OF our rights, and at.
tempted cGcroachment upon our internal
government and affairs. We are small
state, but small as we are. we have never
yet been wanting 10 proper determination TO
uphold and maintain our rights. Sir, it be-
hooves this State to come forward and in
dignlficd and firm language, demonstrate
against these proceedings to arouse the al
'cntlOn of tho larger States 10 these ques
tons. and lead them 10 perceive the danger
OF establishing precedent so full of peril.
One word more. sir. and | have done.
would not hive it thought by the gentlemen
on the other side, or by any persons, that we
are afrold to discuss or investigate the Rhode
Island qucstlOn-that we shriak from an ex-
animation We are not afraid Of invcstiga-
lIon, SIR; we court II on any proper occasion
md before any proper tribunal The Su.
Dreme Court Of the United States will have
hose principles under investigation in the
rial OF case which is now pending there.
We are willing, We are anxious. to have the
decision of that tribunal npon these princi-
pies. But, sir, we protest against the inva-
SION of the rights Of this State by any invesli-
ga,ion,on the part Of the House Of Rpprcscn-
'a,ives, of question touching our internal
policy and government. an investigation
which INVOLVES the spcrlicc Of the great
rights Of this State as member Of the
Union. We protest against the right of the
House OF Representatives to interfere with
The government of sovereign State and
we mean To ask the different States of this
Union whether they intend to sanction such
an interference.