, 1844-10-26

tIO pCoptO =
the virtually self.co INSTITUTED legisIa
1--WE authority, TO promote by form o
law; the call Of a convention to re
mbdel the constitution and make i
more 'cofigehiaI to the spirit Of IN,
age and the genius Of a free peopl,
but their appeals we're all III vain
Twice during tins long contest they
amused the popular voice by passing
laws to call a convention. but re
tanning the RICH, in the privileged ie "
to vote it dOwnn liberal and enlipht
ened principles should creep into it,
vas bot adding insult TO injury. Un'
willing TO part with the political pow.
er Conferred Upon their ancestor.
and heirs forever, by their gracious
sovereign Charles II, evert effort a,
Reformation was voted down. Dur.
ing this time the evils were daily in.
creasin9. A charter formed original.
ly tor n little rural communiry. was
daily becoming more and more made.
quase to secure the blessings Of free
government 10 State rapidly in
creas'ng in wealth, population, com.
merce and manufactures. The secu-
rI'y and happiness Of the people re-.
CURED a r%emodeling Of the constitu.
ton, SO as TO secure the blessings oi
free government. To appeal 10 the
Legislature longer, which chung with
q death,lIke teuacily to their iancied
power, was equally vain and fruitles.
10 submit longer 10 be and remain
mere vassals TO a landed arisiocracv.
was Incompatible with the spiri, Of
freemsn. The yoke was inloierabIe,
and the only remedy remained with
the people ~ strike the bow for lib
efty-uPon the principle of those in.
herent rights which belongs TO every
American cItlzen--tO remodel their
Institutions al their sovereign will
and pleasure. They accordingly
held their popular meetings, formed
organizations 10 collect the public
will, and promote the reformation
without that legislative and, SO repeat
eddy denied them. The legislative
action has been usually sought to la
chfate The COLLECTION Of the popular
will, but mover to give the right TO
the people TO alter and reform exist
'ng forms OF government. That right
exists inherent in the people of eve
ry tree governneht-and, to assume
action necessary TO the
exercise Of such a power, n 10 az.
the Legislature sovereign over
he people.
But when the people, in virtue of
hat inherent, original, and Ultimate
bower, which is supreme over all
constitutions and laws, and from
all organizations emana,e--
as the sovereign authority
to alter their form of gov
eminent. they were mel, by the odl-
'us and despolic doctrine, on the
Of the Churtis,s, that the sover.
''gnty rested not in the people, but
q the institutions of the country-a
loctrins that saps the very founda-
ions OF liberty, and one much better
niled 10 the latitude OF Constantine
lie than the AMERICAN RepubIlcs.-
This was the frs, open and formal at
emPt 10 cohIroveit The American
heory OF government, 10 this coun-
r!y, that the sovereignty, Of the State
esIdes IN the people. In the iounda.
ION Of all governments, the suver
'guty must reside somewhere. la
esPolic governments, It resides m
he msnarch: in an oiigarchy, it Is
ssumed To reside IN the lew exercise ,
" political power, and the forms ,
nd institutions: in a mixed mon {
rchy, II Is assumed to reside ia The
Io~n. or several estates, and the IN I
buttons OF the country. In all these /
'rn's OF government the power OF n
'form is placed beyond the people, Q
tcept by open revolution; and as The {
.opIe are disguised to bear evils ra,h- y
than right themselves BY free. it T.
YES Z stability to oppression. But C
e republican doctrine differs total II
and fundamentally from all these v
Laying the foundation OF sovereign. Il
where it rightly bslongs-in the II
This 10 the doctrine of the a
ecIaration Of Independence-,he G
Of the several State govern: il
tnts-the doctrine recognized and t,
ted upon, in all the Judicial decis- :
NJ upon the subject, as the theory u
government upon which the Anne. !,
an republics were founded. Au. Il
from all political parties -,
ght be qnoted to sustain this posi- -
n. Yet the Chartists Of Rhode Is. ~
ID. Unable to resis, the business ofS,
claims Of the people, were driven to