, 1844-10-26

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doctrines upon which The whole sys
tenn OF the American Republic wa.
founded, and the Government wa:
anuIRrPublican both in theory ano
practice.
BY the first legislative action upon
tho subject Of suffrage, it was con
flned, and limited to those who might
be enrolled, and specifically admi,
ted to the rights and diennies O.
freemen by tho general assembly,
"A limitation, which at this enlighten:
ed day upon representative Govern.
ment, would rather be calculated ID
excite ridicule than to demand ,.ri:
Gus consideration. A restriction by
which the representative is practical.
~ as well as theoretically. the com:
piete and unreslrained ruler OF his
constituency.
In the second year of the charter.
the legislation upon this subject, was
characterized by a further restriction
upon their Own discretion, IN admit.
ing ireemen, con6uing it to persons
o: competent estates, civil converse.
ton, snd obedience TO the mapi,tra.
cy. This was the first imitation Of
that property qualification which ha,
created SO much excitement; and
which was subsequently, used BY the
legislative authority 10 enlarge and
contract the number of participant,
10 the political power to suit their
own sovereign will and pleasure. A
more arbitrary abuse Of he elective
could scarcely :. conc.iv.
ed. II was odious unjust and Cd.
Pressive, without, a single quality to
recommend it. Destitute Of Justice.
had mol even the tyfahi; plea, Of
stability and uniformity. ], DEPEND.
ed upon the ever fluctua,ing will of
interested legislature, whether the
elecIof OF 10, day, should be the cleo.
OF Tomorrow. 1t amused IN.
people with the mere shadow Of
power, while the substance remain.
I'd ! n the Legislature: The power in
he legislature 10 decree, a, pleasure.
who should and Nho should no, vote
utter disregard Of any uniform sys.
EN-, rendered Them as despo,ic a.,
.hough they held their power by he.
'edrary right.
In 1865, the legislature extended
he privilege Of admitting votes TO
he iresmen Of the towns, regard be.
other wise had 10 the qualifications
equIred by law. This alteration Of.
ected no change in the condition a.,
h. citizen. The tribunal was cham.
d, but not the arbitrary system.s
Ths Partlzans Of the towns were sub
titu ed, for the partizans of the leo.
stature, tut the condition Of the Gill
remained the same.
This system continued until 1898.
When n new innovation was made.
lustrating the fact, that while tho
Whole civilized world were making
aPld advances in political science
nd political federation, Rhode Island
I least was retrograding in both. In
nat year, they passed an act limiting
term Of admitting ireemsn TO free.
olders Of one hundred pounds estate.
r the, oldest son Of such freeholder.
producing TO some extent The doc.
rIne OF PrlmsgenI,ure. In 1742, the
reehold qualification was increased
f2O0or FLO yearly rent. In l746.
was Increased to f4OO, or an es-
'te worth f20 yearly rent. In 1862
wasreduced to TAO or f2 yearly
eni. And so ii existed, al the time
and through the revolution. This /,
oweverdId moi qualify the citizen to j
ote, but % become a candidate for 4
PrIvIleee--whnch might be grant. &
J., 1t his politics suited lhe complex. {
n OF the powers that be. $
In 1898, afer the American Revo 4
tion, this freehold qualification to r
scome a candidate for the privilege {
a voter, was u%ernianently fixed at ?
! estate worth els4, or s. yearly 9
mt, and so continued until it fell be. G
re the force Of public sentiment in I
'4i. in the adoption of the peoples ].
In TINT glorious sirup. :
e the odious doctrine that one Dor. I.
IN of mankind wen born ..boo,ed p
ID spurred' to ride rough shod over |
. rest, was repudiateoand denouIc- d
by the sterling Rmocracy Of n
node Island. They established a al
'e constitution by the fec voice Of io
3 people, which was afterwards out o.
wn by power, arbitrary, iIIepiti- ri
lite, brute force-unsanctnned BIZ ii
y thing, save the spirit o. despv- m
m that prompted it. I'll
Prior to l841, when the ,eople Ia
IL their constitution into theirown III
nda --