tion of the condition of society” —and that "NOTHING 18 TO BE

CONSIDERED UNCHANGEABLE, BUT THE INHERENT, AND INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF MAN."

4. Resolved, That the Political Institutions of this State have, long since, lost their characters of liberty and equality, which belong to a REPUBLIC; and that inasmuch, as, in the words of Washington, "The basis of our political system is the right of THE PEOPLE to make, and to alter the CONSTITUTION OF GovERNMENT," it has now become the duty of the people of Rhode Island, acting upon the principles which have been recited, and animated by the example of their PATRIOTIC ANCESTORS, to apply with a firm hand, without unnecessary delay, and in their original and sovereign capacity, the necessary corrective to existing political evils, by the formation and adoption of a written REPUBLICAN STATE CONSTITUTION.

5. Resolved, That we unanimously and cordially reaffirm the views, sentiments, and plans, set forth in their Resolutions by the Convention of the friends of EQUAL RIGHTS held at Newport, on the 5th day of May last; and that, inasmuch as the General Assembly of this State, at their last session in June, have finally decided that the freeholders are, exclusively, the PEOPLE of Rhode Island; and have denied to the great majority of the people, so far as it is in their power thus to deny, any participation in the Convention to be held in November next. The time has now fully arrived for the people, in their original and sovereign capacity, to exercise their reserved RIGHTS, and that we heartily approve the call by the State Committee of the People's Convention, on the basis of the Resolutions aforesaid, at an early day, for the formation of a Constitution,

6. Resolved, That when the Constitution so formed shall be adopted by a majority of the whole PEOPLE of the State, by their signatures, or otherwise, as the Convention may provide, we will sustain, and carry into effect said Constitution, by all necessary means; and that, so far as in us lies, we will remove all obstacles to its successful establishment and operation, and we hereunto solemnly pledge ourselves, to each other, and to the public.

7. Resolved, That we hail with pleasure the presence among us of the venerable remnants of our Revolutionary Worthies, and entertain the hope that they may be spared to witness another anniversary, when they will be deemed not only worthy of shedding their blood for the defence of their country, but of voting for their rulers, and of taking an equal share in the concerns of government.

8. Resolved, That we enter our solemn protest against the principles upon which the Landholders' Convention is called, as by that call a large majority of the people of this State are excluded from a participation in the choice of Delegates to frame a Constitution, by the provisions of which they are to be governed.

9. Resolved, That we deny the authority of the Legislature to proscribe or prevent any portion of our fellow citizens, who are permanent residents of this state, from a participation in the organization of the government, which is to affect the rights and privileges of all.

10. Resolved, That it is contrary to the spirit of a Republican Government, FOR A MINORITY TO MAKE LAWS THAT SHALL BIND THE MAJORITY; and that we will resist, to the utmost of our ability, a government that shall not acknowledge the just rights of the whole people.

11. Resolved, That we will use all honorable means within our power, to have every American citizen, who is a permanent resident of this State, represented in the Convention for framing a Constitution, that shall define the powers of the Legislature, and secure to the people the free exercise of their rights and privileges.

Resolutions offered by Mr. Bailey.

Whereas, When the sovereignty of the British Crown in Rhode Island ceased to exist, the sovereignty reverted equally to every citizen of this State; and whereas, in the formation of a government each one is required to surrender some portion of his natural rights for the good of the whole, therefore

1. Resolve, That no portion of such citizens less than a majority of the whole, have the right to form a government, declaring how far, and for what purposes, such rights shall be surrendered.

2. Resolved, That we, the people of this State, in Convention assembled, on this 5th day of July, 1841, do enter this, our solemn protest, as free citizens of the United States, and of the State of Rhode Island, entitled to equal privileges with all others, against the power and authority of the Convention of the Landholders to be holden in November next, for the purpose of reforming the present mode of government, or framing a new one.

3. Resolved, That we will not recognise such a government as binding on us, and that we will resist it by all the means within the limits provided by the Constitution of the United States, without respect to a minority government, and minority laws, in the State of Rhode Island.

4. Resolved, That the General Assembly, having refused all concessions of popular right, the people of the State have no dependence but in GoD and their own energies; and that they owe it to themselves, and to their posterity, to rally round the standard of LIBERTY, and never to relinquish their efforts, till the great object in view shall have been achieved.

Will not future generations believe that the Rhode Islanders must have been an incomparably wise and

a

great people, when they reflect that "the mob," "the rabble," the very "froth and foam of society," were capable of acts and resolutions, such as are herein presented? And should the actions and sentiments of the wisest, and the greatest, be then called for, how would be the climax, crowned, or inverted? It is a blessed thought that man, though he compel into his service the force of LEGION, cannot annihilate a single ray of truth. Whatever is true and good, will live, for only such has life. Whatever is

right, will finally prevail, and nothing else.

CHAPTER VI.

THE PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTION.

con

IT has often been said by our opposers, that they had no objection to a change of government, provided it be done LEGALLY that is, by themselves trary to their own selfish interests, and long-settled determination. Let me ask by what law these United States, then British Colonies, threw off the yoke, and abrogated the law of their rightful sovereign? By what, but the indestructible Law of Nature, written intelligibly within their own souls? a law which is legible in the erect bearing and upward visage of man by which he proves himself invested with a right, which no despotism can destroy the right to participate in the government of the community of which he is a member? By what authority were the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence framed? By what but the God-given authority of Reason in every man, which tells him that he has an inherent right to regulate all

matters which affect his life, liberty, or happiness? By what right was the War of the Revolution prosecuted, but by the right of Manhood to be free? a war in which Rhode Island first poured out an offering of blood upon the altar of our young Liberty! And are we, alone, of all the people of this Union, to be defrauded of that right, which our Fathers bled to establish? Are we to be bond-slaves in this, the beautiful land of our nativity? It shall not be. Our course is onward. No one can arrest our progress, but by a direct violation of every principle which an American holds dear of every principle which the Apostles of Freedom in all ages, and in every clime, have held sacred!

Such was the tone of question and of answer, which flashed like rays of light from a newly-discovered star, from heart to heart, and from soul to soul, as the men of Rhode Island, in their original and sovereign capacity, went forth to their great work the framing of a State Constitution, which should be just and equal in all its provisions. On the 24th of July, the State Committee issued their CALL, to all the Towns in the State, requesting them to elect delegates as nearly as possible, according to the proportion of one to every thousand inhabitants, to assemble at Providence, in October, for the purpose above named all male citizens 21 years of age, who had resided in the State one year, being permitted to vote for Delegates. In obedience to the call, meetings were held in nearly all the towns in the State; and on the 28th of August the election of Delegates took place, they being divided into eleven committees, to which different departments of the great work were assigned. They were as follows:

No. 1. On Declaration of Principles and Rights. Ariel Ballou, Chairman.

No. 2. On Electors, the Right of Suffrage, and Elections. Thomas W. Dorr, Chairman.

No. 3. On the Legislative Department. John A. Brown, Chairman.

No. 4. On the House of Representatives. John R. Waterman, Chairman.

David

No. 5. On the Senate. Pardon Spencer, Chairman, No. 6. On the Executive Department. Daniels, Chairman.

No. 7. On the Judiciary.

Chairman.

Samuel Y. Atwell,

No. 8. On Elections. Oliver Chace, jr., Chairman. No. 9. On Amendments of the Constitution. Welcome B. Sayles, Chairman.

No. 10. On General Provisions. Dutee J. Pearce, Chairman.

No. 11. On the Meetings of the Legislature. Joshua B. Rathbone, Chairman.

A large majority of the appointed Delegates assembled in Convention, at Providence, on the 4th day of October; and after having drafted the plan of a Constitution, they adjourned until the ensuing month, in order that the subject of their labors might be submitted to the test of public opinion, and freely canvassed by the people. The Convention reassembled in November, and after making several amendments, finally passed upon the Constitution, and on the 18th adjourned. The PEOPLES' CONSTITUTION was submitted, for rejection or adoption, to the adult male population, who were citizens of the United States, and were permanent residents of the State, on the 27th, 8th, and 9th of December, and on the three succeeding days;* and on the 13th of January, 1842, the same was declared to be ADOPTED, by a very large majority.

* See People's Constitution, Article XIV.