1841/11/18

       The Rhode Island Suffrage Association, of the Independent State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations proposes the People’s Constitution: Article I, Sections 2, 4, 9, 13, 14 of which state:

• All men are created free and equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain natural, inherent and inalienable Rights; among Which are life, liberty, the acquisition of property, and the pursuit of happiness.  Government cannot create or bestow these rights, Which are the gift of God; but it is instituted for the stronger and surer defense of the same; that men may safely enjoy the rights of life and liberty, securely possess and transmit property, and, so far as laws avail, may be successful in the pursuit of happiness.
• No favor or disfavor ought to be shown in legislation toward any man, or party, or society, or religious denomination.  The laws should be made not for the good of the few, but of the many; and the burdens of the State ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens.
• Every man being presumed to be innocent, until pronounced guilty by the law, all acts of severity, that are not necessary to secure an accused person, ought to be repressed.
• The right of trial, by jury shall remain inviolate; and in all criminal cases the jury shall judge both of the law and of the facts.
• Any person in this State, who may be claimed, to be held to labor or service, under the laws of any other State, territory, or district, shall be entitled to a jury trial, to ascertain the validity of such claim.
• Retrospective laws, civil and criminal, are unjust and oppressive, and shall not be made.
• Tho enumeration of the forgoing rights shall not be construed to impair nor deny others retained by the people.

       And Article II, Sections 1, 2 and 6 of which state:

       OF ELECTORS AND THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE

• Every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who has resided in this State for one year, and in any town, city, or district of the same for six months … shall be an elector of all officers. …
• Paupers and persons under guardianship, insane, or lunatic are excluded from the electoral right; and the same shall be forfeited on conviction of bribery, forgery, perjury, theft, or other infamous crime; and shall not be restored unless by an act of the General Assembly.
• The voting for all officers chosen by the People … shall be by ballot; that is to say, by depositing a written or printed ticket in the ballot box, without the name of the voter written thereon. …

       [restored 9/6/2026]