Preamble and constitution of the Rhode-Island Suffrage Association, adopted Friday evening, March 27, 1840
Providence: printed by B.T. Albro, 1840. First edition, 12mo, pp. 11, [1]; bottom half of text dampstained throughout, stitching broken; good. "The formation of this Association was the beginning of the great movement for the extension of suffrage and formation of a Constitution in Rhode Island. It was drawn up by Jacob Friese" (Sabin, quoting Bartlett). At the time more than half of the adult males were denied the vote. The suffragists intended to test whether in fact the U.S. Constitution guaranteed to every State a republican form of government. The Association, in fact, determined to by-pass the General Assembly and to draft and ratify a written constitution for the state. See Patrick Conley's study of the Dorr Rebellion, contained in Democracy in Decline (1977). Thomas Dorr himself remained aloof from the Association until May 1841. American Imprints 5751; Bartlett, p. 129; Sabin 70739. Three in OCLC: URI, RI Historical, and AAS. Item #55347
Price: $375.00
