Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-17
From the Democratic Reriec.
RHODE lSLAND-its Rightful Governor and
UnrighteOuS Government.

UHTlsHtt0uN UUftfnlIleHl.
Is there any young man, under whose
eye this page may pass, now hestating in
his choice between the two great political
parties, uncertain TO which Of them to al
tach himself for after all, whatever Pc
cuIiarities OF opinion individuals may enter
tain on particular POINTS of policy, at vari-
ance with the general doctrine of their
party, they must still all, on the whole and
IN the long run, belong to the one party or
the other. And the maintenance Of his
party in ascendancy, for the sake Of its
general system. spirit and tendency. may
very properly be an object of far higher
concern 10 true patr;~ than the present
promotion OF one particular measure or
other, however large the interests involved
in il. On the point of the Tariff, for in
stance. there may be many a Democrat,
who, from mistaken view of the econo-
mical question, is in favor of strong and
stringent projection, who would neverthe
less be exchanging gold for copper to sac
rlhce the ascendancy Of the general prn-
cipIes of Democracy and the Democratic
party TO the maintenance Of the present
high protective tariff. On The other hand,
there may be many Wing. better enight-
ened IN the philosophy Of free trade, yet SO
attached TO the conservative and anti-dem-
ocratic spirit Of the Wing party, and so
impressed by their charges against US Of
wild, testruct We and disorganizing tenden-
cy, that from his point of riew, he would
make an equally absurd mistake in contri-
buting 10 the elevation Of such party
20 too of the currency question. vital as
that is IN lis bearings on the highest moral
as well as material interests Of the country
IA question on which by common consent
the two main bodies of our parties stand
divided, rs on one side the National Bank
and Paper Money party, and on the other
the Independent Treasury and Hard Mo-
ncy party-yet even this may from either
SIDE be properly subordinated TO the still
larger, higher and stronger motives Of
choice by which the Wing or the Democra,
may be influenced in the determination Of
his general political character. But. SET
ting aside all regard for particular meas
ures and doctrines Of policy, is there any
Young man, we repeat, undecided with
which OF the two parties TO cast his in lot
on which side or the other of the broad
dividing line to fix his general political
home and abiding place. If We can gain
the ear Of any such, we would earnestly
and with all the atfsctonate sympahirs of
youth with youth, Of countrvman with
countryman, of patriot with patriot, invoke
his attention 10 the Rhode Island question,
from its first stage to its last, as atfordng
ose ct the best tests that have been pre-
scented within The present generation Of the
true character and spirit of the Wing and
Democratic parties respectively.
The general facts of the case may be
very bSiefy capituIafed. The central prin-
ciple involved is that the right Of the peo-
pie TO organize aud re organize the cens,i-
tuition Of the State, independently Of the
existing legal authorities. Alter n long
series of fruiiles. etf1rts TO obtain an eX-
tension of the rights OF suffrage from the
voluntary concessions Of the privileged mi
nority possessing it by the right of landed
PROF erty. the Suffrage Party adopts The
only other mode left open for the accom-
plIshment OF this object, by direct appeal
to the great numerical mass Of the people
themselves.
This is done, and with all the regularity
and solemnity a Constitution is framed by
public Convention and submitted to the
popular vote. The vote Is taken, and with
the precaution of requiring every voters
name 10 be written on his ballot, and the
proxy votes similarly attested TO by wit.
nesses. The Constitution is adopted by
l. 81 81, L. AZ,
of the State. and lhereupon proclaimed TO
tie The organic law 10 whish allegiance is
due from all members Of the community
The charter authorities are invited 10 as
sist in the process of investigating this po-
! pular vote and their refusal 10 accep: this
| invitation closes that question OF fact as TO
the actual malorlty-that refusal resting on
the ground Of the principle before stated,
which denied all worth or validity 10 any
part OF the whole proceedings even though
the popular vote had beet absolutely uEan-
| inous Under this Constitution an election
/ is held, and government organized accor-
dinghy. The question of right and duty
here arises for every citizen, which OF the
two sets Or pA4hlic aWhorales is the true
government 10 VIII ch his obedience and
support are rightfully and Loyalty due
Each claiming that character, each pre-
Pares 10 maintain it, by force of arms
which asserts itself to be simply and ne
cessariiy defensive, against rebelious ag-
gression from the other.
~ this crisis the Federal Government
in,ervenes, under the influence OF the SIM
lister counsels that then swayed It's action.
and casts the sword OF the military and
naval power of the Union into the scale
against the popular party, whose cause is
accordingly made 10 kick the beam. Some
fatal mistakes of practical conduct are at
the same time made or that side. and it is
conquered. routed, and its leaders driven
from the State. Another attempt al mill
tary rally Is made, and again in sim lar
suppressed, by the superior energy OF
wealth, organization. military force and
the prestige Of law, still, as before, backed
by the menacing array Of The military
power OF the Union. Ia the meantime,
under the auspices of the charter govern
ment, new Constitution is Submitted 10
the people, which after receiving the votes