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Kaminski, John P.; Schoenleber, Charles H.; Saladino, Gaspare J.; Leffler, Richard; Reid, Jonathan M.; Flamingo, Margaret R.; Lannér-Cusin, Johanna E.; Fields, David P.; Conley, Patrick T.; Moore, Timothy D. (ed.) / Ratification of the Constitution by the states: Rhode Island (3)
(2013)
VI. The debate over the Constitution in Rhode Island, 20 January-29 May 1790, pp. 711-897
Page 711
VI. THE DEBATE OVER THE CONSTITUTION IN RHODE ISLAND 20 January-29 May 1790 Introduction During the four months from the passage of the act calling a state convention to the ratification of the Constitution by the second ses- sion of the Convention on 29 May 1790, the Rhode Island debate over the Constitution intensified. Some Rhode Islanders and out-of-state com- mentators predicted that the state Convention, scheduled to meet in South Kingstown on 1 March, would ratify the Constitution. Their op- timism was soon dampened when, on 8 February, the Antifederalists elected a majority of Convention delegates (RCS:R.I., 684-708). Rhode Islanders were concerned about how the federal government would treat them as the only state still outside of the Union. In late February Rhode Island newspapers were filled with items appealing to the state Convention delegates. All but one of the items were Federalist pieces that stressed the dire consequences if the Convention did not ratify the Constitution. The first session of the Rhode Island Convention met from 1 to 6 March. It drafted and approved a bill of rights and amendments and ordered them sent to the towns for their consideration before adjourn- ing to 24 May (VII, below). The Convention's failure to ratify the Con- stitution produced an outpouring of Federalist private letters and news- paper items. Federalists disparaged Antifederalist motives for adjourning the Convention, asked for federal aid in pressuring Antifederalists, and enumerated the dangers of remaining outside the Union. Several Anti- federalist newspaper pieces countered these arguments. The decision to adjourn the Convention was made in hopes of fa- cilitating a Country party victory in the annual spring election of state officers, assistants, and deputies, all on 21 April. Antifederalists dropped Governor John Collins and nominated Daniel Owen, who did not want to run. Arthur Fenner replaced Owen at the head of the Antifederalist ticket. Federalists knew they could not win a statewide election, but they hoped to elect half of the assistants through a coalition prox. Anti- federalists dismissed the Federalist plan. The entire Antifederalist ticket was victorious. The town meetings of 21 April had also been enjoined by the state Convention to deliberate on the Convention's bill of rights and amendments and to instruct their Convention delegates accordingly. 711
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