15. We cannot entertain a doubt, that the foregoing statement of grievances will be admitted as juft by our countrymen at large, and also that an equal reprefentation, by univerfal and annual fuf, frage, would tend immediately to redrefs them. It remains to prove, that the difficulties faid to attend fuch a scheme are merely the chimerical inventions of interested men.

16. Let us fuppofe, all partial corporations (thofe badges of flavery) abolished, and confider the whole ifland as one corpora tion, divided into counties or cities, for the purpofes of embodying and exercifing militia, &c. and for electing reprefentatives, fubdivided into diftricts or townships, as nearly as convenient, in equal proportion to the number of inhabitants.

17. Allow to each diftrict or township one reprefentative, and let it be fubdivided into parishes, and every man entitled to a vote be registered in the parish in which he refides. Large parishes may be fubdivided into wards or hamlets.

18. Let every voter give his vote in the parish in which he refides; let the votes be brought in writing, and called for in-fucceffion, either alphabetically, by the names of the voters, or nu merically, by the wards and numbers of houfes; either of thefe methods would prevent that fource of riot, the practice of voting in party groups.

19. The truth of entry of every individual vote in each parish would eafily be examined, and the totals of the feveral parishes in each diftrict fo eafily collected, that we fcruple not to affert, a general election might be decided, with indifputable certainty, ip twelve hours.

20. In faying the whole island fhould be confidered as one cor poration, we do not wish to be understood as recommending that diftricts fhould chufe their reprefentatives from diftant parts. On the contrary, we think the reprefentative fhould always be a refident of the district, as his character would be better known to his con ftituents. Hearfay characters are feldom any other than the bla zonings of faction."

21. It is indifpenfable to good government, that reprefentatives fhould be paid for their fervice to the public. The want of open and honourable reward retards the exertion of laudable characters, and fubjects the nation to the fraudulent and delufive practices of mock patriots.

22. To thofe who are convinced of the propriety of the foregoing ideas, and only afk, how fhall we attain the practice of them? We anfwer, afficiate. By fo doing you will better correct and ftrengthen each other's opinions on the fubject of liberty, and eventually abafh the tools of corrupt influence and lawless power. Effects which are not to be expected from the vague and defultory exertion of individual opinions.

Having thus ftated what we conceive to be the fentiments of the fociety, we recommend, that the members fhall meet in divifions, confifting, as nearly as convenient, of thirty members cach; and

that

that the management of its affairs be vested in one committee of delegates, one fele committee, and one council, fubject to reference to the divifions and trial by jury, as more particularly defined in the following fections.

SECT. I. Form of Admiffion and Duty of a Member.

1. Each candidate for admiflion into this fociety fhall be propofed by a member, who fhall either belong to the divifion in which the propofal is made, or be perfonally known as a member of this fociety to two members of fuch divifion.

2. The fecretary fhall enter the name, refidence, and occupa tion of the candidate, together with the propofer's name and nomber in the minute book of the divifion, and the prefident fhall pus the following queftion to the propofer:

Are you well acquainted with the candidate you propofe, with his means of life, and his political principles, and are you well affured that his general character is fuch as will not be difgraceful to this Jociety?

3. If the propofer fhall anfwer the foregoing queftion in the af firmative, the prefident fhall demand of the divifion, whether any member has any objection to the candidate,

4. If no objection fatisfactory to the divifion fhall be made, the prefident fhall put the following questions to the candidate:

Are you convinced, that every man who has attained to years of difcretion, is in poffeffion of bis reason, and zor difqualified by crimes, ought to have a vote for a reprefentative, and not more than

one vote?

Are you convinced, that the reprefentation ought to be divided as nearly as poffible in proportion to the number of electors?

Are you convinced that the election of reprefentatives of the people ought to be annual?

Will you by all juftifiable means endeavour to promote a reform in the Parliament of this country, agreeable to the principles which you have now professed?

5. The candidate having anfwered the foregoing queftions in the affirmative, fhall be declared a member, and shall receive a ticket, on which shall be indorsed his name, and time to which his contribution is paid; and another ticket, on which fhall be written in large figures the number of his divifion; and beneath that, his own number in the divifion.

6. It shall be at his option to wear the latter ticket in a visible fituation in any meeting of this fociety; and it is particularly advifeable that he should wear it in general meetings, and keep with the members of his own divifion.

7. Every member fhall pay 6d. at the meeting of his divifion, next before the first Thurfday in each calendar month, or after that rate for fo long as be fhall think proper to renew his ticket, to defray the expences of this fociety, and of the room in which his divifion meets.

8. The last article shall not preclude any member from furnish

ng a larger contribution, as he may judge proper, either periodially or occafionally but fuch extra contribution fhall not give he member any additional power.

9. It is the duty of every member to study concord, and for that purpose to moderate his own paffions, particularly his perfonal attachments and averfions.

10. To make himself well acquainted with the principles, confitution and laws of this fociety, and to circulate a knowledge of the fame to the utmost of his ability.

11. To attend his own divifion as conftantly as poffible, and - particularly on the meeting next before the first Thurfday in each calendar month.

12. During the difcuffion of any question, it is the duty of every member to give a close and candid attention to the opinions which are given on it, and also to give his own opinion freely, unlefs it fball correfpond exactly with one already given.

13. In giving his vote, which is the declaration of his final opinion, he ought to be guided folely by his own conviction, totally difregarding the chance of his being in a minority or majority, even though he should stand alone.

14. When decifion is taken by a fhew of hands, every member fhall give his voice filently, by fhewing one hand: the practice of fhewing both bands, or of calling all! all! or other fuch exclamations, are tumultuous, indecent, and utterly unwarrantable.

15. In cafe his divifion fhall be difperfed by perfecution, he fhall ufe every endeavour to rally the members of it; but if unfuccefsful in this attempt, he may then join any divifion which may perfevere in meeting.

16. To habituate himself, both in and out of this fociety, to an orderly and amicable manner of reafoning, but especially to obferve the following rules of

ORDE R.

1. That no member ought to be interrupted while fpeaking, anlefs for the purpose of calling him to order.

2. All noife is interruption, whether intended to express applanfe or cenfure; approbation may be expreffed by holding up a

hand.

3. To attribute the conduct or opinion of any member to factious combination, or other improper motive, is diforderly; as are allo all invectives and declamatory remarks.

4. The foregoing is not intended to curtail the power of accufation, agreeably to the X1th fection of this conftitution, but only that fuch accufation fhall not interfere with any other queftion.

5. No member shall be allowed to speak longer than ten minutes at one time, nor more than twice to one question, except to explain or retract.

6. No member shall be allowed to ftile himself, or any other, by any party name, whether intended to convey refpect or difrespect.

No. 32.

7 S

7. All

i

7. All political appellations, which do not in their immediate interpretation convey an idea of political fentiment or fituation, are party names. The following do not fall under this objection, as will appear by their explanations.

Republican-One who wishes to promote the general welfare of his country..

Democrat-A fupporter of the rights and power of the people. Arifrocrat-One who wishes to promote the interest of a few at the expence of many.

Royalift-Among the ignorant part of mankind, fignifies a perfon attached to regal government: among artful courtiers it is a veil for their own aristocracy.

Loyalift-A fupporter of the conftitution of his country.

Citizen-The ancient appellation given to the members of free

ftates.

Subject can only, with propriety, be applied to a member of a ftate, whofe government has been inftituted by foreign conqueft, or the prevalence of a domeftic faction.

17. Perfons attempting to trefpafs on order, under pretence of fhewing zeal, courage, or any other motive, are to be fufpected. A noify difpofition is feldom a fign of courage; and extreme zeal is often a cloak of treachery.

SECT. 11. The Organization and Power of a Divifion.

1. Each divifion fhall meet once in a week, on any evening ia the week except Thurfday and Sunday.

2. The hour and place of meeting fhall be at the convenience of each divifion, but must be announced to the conftituted bodies.

3. Each divifion fhall elect, from its own members, a prefident, vice-prefident, fecretary, affiftant-fecretary, delegate, and fub-delegate.

4. Each divifion fhall be furnished with three books, (viz.) one to bear the number of the divifion; a fimilar book, to be called the fupernumerary book of the fame divifion; and a third for entering the minutes.

5. No divifion book fhall contain more than thirty effective names; fubject to variation as hereafter mentioned.

6. Members admitted after the divifion shall amount to thirty, fhall be entered in the fupernumerary book, but not before.

7. As foon as the members entered in the fupernumerary book, fhall amount to fixteen, they fhall be entitled to a number as a new divifion; they fhall determine the time and place of their future meeting; they hall receive a fupernumerary book, and a minute book, and a new fupernumerary book fhall be delivered the origi

nai divifion.

8. Members entered in any fupernumerary book while less than fixteen, fhall be entitled to vote, and in every refpe&t be confidered as members of the divifion to which fuch fupernumerary book thall belong.

9:

No

new member shall have a vote the fame fitting in which

he

he is admitted; nor transferred member the fame fitting in which he is transferred.

10. Each divifion fhall be allowed one fhilling and fix-pence per week, for rent, furniture, &c.

11. Every member fhall have liberty to introduce one ftranger, provided fuch member shall answer that the fentiments of the ftranger are fimilar to ours; and the fame ftranger fhall not be introduced more than twice, except for the purpofe of admission as a member.

12. If two or more divifions fhall agree to meet at the fame time and place, the following rules fhall be obferved:

13. One fupernumerary book fhall ferve the whole meeting, which fhall be kept by the fecretary of the oldeft divifion prefent. 14: No new member shall be entered in the fupernumerary book, while any divifion prefent is fhort of thirty members.

15. One prefident and vice-prefident fhall ferve the whole. meeting.

16. Each divifion alternately fhall elect, from its own members, the prefident and vice-prefident; and the affiftant-fecretary of each divifion, alternately shall act as door-keeper.

17. They fhall not intermix their elections of delegates or subdelegates, fecretaries, or affiftant-fecretaries, nor the reports of their opinions on referred questions.

18. Members entered in the fupernumerary book shall be entitled to vote, and in every respect confidered as members of the oldeft divifion prefent.

19. In all elections and decifions of referred queftions, the prefident fhall take the decifion of the oldeft divifion first.

20. The term oldeft divifion is not meant to convey any idea of precedency; it is to be understood, that divifion which fhall bear the smallest number, though it may have been formed later than one bearing a greater.

21. The delegates and fecretaries of divifions fo meeting, fhall not fit together, but difperfed as nearly as convenient at equal diftances.

22. Over the feat of the prefident in each meeting of this fociety, fhall be fufpended a label with these words, " Berware of Orators."

23. In cafe of perfecution, and that the means provided by the VIIth, VIIIth, and IXth fections of this conftitution, fhould not produce the effect of re-establishing a reprefentative body of this fociety for two weeks fucceffively, every divifion fhall have power to elect four perfons, whofe powers fhall be the fame as the four officers of the committee of delegates.

24. The fole object of thofe four perfons, fhall be the re-eftablishment of the reprefentative body, and they fhall report progrefs weekly, and be weekly fubject to revocation.

25. If two or more divifions fhall make the abovementioned election at the fame time, the perfons fo chofen fhall act in conjunction,

782

SECT.