The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23
THINGS IN RHODE ISLAND.

EAST GREKNwIcH, r. /, January G, 1851
To The Editor offhc National Era
DEAR SIN Allow me to communicate word
or two concerning matters and things in our no.
table little State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations" as our own wise legislators have
seen fit to call it, In many respects this State
has been marked by peculiarities, and these are
still perpetuated Before the Revolution the King
granted Charter, which the people recognised
us their supreme law, till the time of Governor
DOrr Of famous memory, in 1872. From this one
would infer that we are very law-abiding and
conservative people That we are conservative
enough is certain; for it is wrought into the
nature Of all Rhode Islanders to follow in the
tracks Of their fathers; aud q new proposition in
any public matter would be considered social In
fidelity, and would he punishable with political
martyrdom. This following the beaten track
kept Governor Fenner in the Chair of State for
almost thirty years; and if n man once gets into
any Office there he may stay Till the day Of doom,
if he will let the laws execute themselves. But
if you infer that we are q law-abiding people you
are mistaken, unless you mean by law-abiding
Just what we mean by claw and order" That is
letting the law abide in utter contempt We
have now as good laws, with a few important ex-
ceptions, as any State in the Union but still
every one may be easily evaded, and that by the
direct countenance Of the Legislature. A very
common thing it is for the Legislature virtually
TO set aside the decisions of the State courts; and
no civil case can ever be considered finally set
tied. II may go on, by appeal from court to
Court, till it is decided in the highest, and then
it may como up to the Legislature by petition,
and be reversed, or remanded back to the courts,
TO come up again on petition indefinitely.
We have an excellent code of school laws, and
yet town, or district, or individual may set
them at Defiance and petition to the Assembly,
and he will be absolved And so of almost any
thing in the Statute Book In fact, in Rhode
Island there is comparatively speaking, little
general legislation. 1t is all particular. A rule
or law is made to meet particular case, or if
made general, it is 80 often rendered null by
special vote or by RENTING the penalty, that only
case in ten years or so will be really reached
by it,
Another thing very peculiar is our ballot
This is real curiosity. Every man who votes
by ballot is obliged TO put his name on the back of
the vote This is, ostensibly, to prevent fraud
and bribery. Ii is really amusing to watch the
polls, and Zee how narrowly the votes are inspected
after they are deposited and, in town could
name, have seen men compelled to withdraw a
ballot and replace it by another. We can never
hope for much progress in reform here, till this
is changed, and the balot-box is made to tell but
this single thing, rhom or mhdt you vote for. Now,
and they can be led in any manner by those whose
power they fear. The Democrats and Free
Sellers have commenced TO agitate this subject,
and you need not expect to hear Of any decided
progress in favor Of freedom or reform, till this
engine Of aristocratic power is broken. Rhode
Island wealth is now principally employed in
cotton manufacturing and in banking. These
cotton corporations can, by means Of tho ballot
which we have, control all their employees who
Win. nj honoa in Stata lao
emphatically. Yet it is even now compelled to
resort to bribery the most open and shameless in
order to secure its ends AS soon as this last
relic of the old charter dynasty is swept away,
you may look for change.
We have, and must from our own base habits
have, very careless and in fact good for nothing
legislative and executive authority. No mans
election to any Office of importance can be secured
without money either the candidates own or his
friendsl The hgh-mnded and just will not be
candidates under these circumstances. And when
the bad or second or third rate are elected, the
compensation il only about half enough TO sup
port them. Representatives get one dollar per
day while the sessions continue; and their board
and other expenses are not less than two. They
therefore hurry business; and even then, with
their expenses to get elected, pay very high for
their honors at that
The present Governor ii. h Anthony editor
OF the PROVIDENCE journal, Is quite popular
among the people, and is thought to be somewhat
in advance Of his party on some Of these matters
hut II will hardly answer for him to bring such
things into his paper He does now and then speak
out bold word against the Fugitive Slave bill,
and the dO-aothmg and hateprogresS spirit of Con
gress He ia talented man. and may lf he does
not continue too long an editor Of party organ)
do good service yet in the cause of reform Most
men Of all parties are heartily ashamed Of some
of our delegation to Washington and the card of
Representative Dixon, announcing that he will
not be a candidate for reelection, is considered on
all sides TO be the greatest deed he ever did, or
ever will do for his country's honor or prosper
ity. Senator Greene would get himself great
many blessings, especially from his friends, II no
would do the same heroic act. Our Legislature,
at It's October session, talked of electing some one
in his place, but finally postponed il till January
Many would return James F. Simmons, who WAS
at Washington few years ago and the Cotton