Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

Suffrage.—The Boston Statesman has the following reference to the meeting at Pawtucket, the 14th., in favor of Free Suffrage. The Statesman is in error, in one respect. The Virginia slaves do not count but three fifths in the political population of the state, while the Rhode Island Lacklands, in the taking of the next census will have the privilege of being counted five fifths, to enable the state, if possible, to make out 100,000 population, and thereby secure two Representatives in Congress. With this exception of two fifths in favor of the numerical importance of the Rhode Island non-freeholders, the Virginia slaves have precisely the same voice in the election of rulers and the administration of the government.

It is supposed that there are in that state above 12,000 persons disfranchised, who by the laws of this, and we believe all the other States in the Union, would be entitled to vote. The Constitution of Rhode Island is the last print of the retreating footsteps of the Genius of Monarchy, in the United States, and should be washed out by the sponge of freedom. The Rhode Islanders have no more liberty than Virginia slaves.