Governor Representative Ballot: Rhode Island Prox.

1843 Rhode-Island Prox – Following the events of the Dorr Rebellion, Rhode Island framed and established a written constitution. In the first election under the new constitution ex-governor Fenner running as a “Law and Order” candidate defeated Democrat Thomas Carpenter. Note the new constitution was responsible for extending the right of suffrage to a greater portion of the population; as such the gubernatorial election of 1843 polled 16,520 votes compared to only 7,080 votes in the election of the previous year held under the Royal charter. Also under the new constitution state senators were no longer elected at large and as such do not appear on ballots for state officers. 15.8 cm X 12.9 cm