mmmm % / TO THE Ji.1^ OF RMODE-ISLAND. BY A FH^SEMAJV. PROVI!K\CE, R. I. OFFICE OF T IE REPUR' I CAN HERALD JOHN S. GREENE, PRINTER. 1829. HINTS TO PAHM^ES- FELLOW CITIZENS.— J', is; ilip boijiuJen duty of every citizen of tho Republic, to ex- amine and enquire into its state and coiidition. No republic can be preserved in its purity except tbe individuals iliat coinposi it are vigilant and watchful upon the administration ol' its concerns. g». Rhode-Island was once prosperous and hajipv — her le^i^^lalors v\-ere ** wise and prudent, and her finances were adininisierv;d with ecoiio- ^ my But that day has passed away. Poverty, distress and ruin, vvitli a steady pace, are marcliinir up(in us. For the last six years, .., our State council, squaring their co!>duct by ihe rule t)4^ ihoir ar- ^ istocratic master, " tlie arm of the Represeniaiive has not be»n '^ palsied by the will of the constituent;" and our resources have been scattered and wasted in delirious extravagance. But a tew years a<):o, the annua! expenses of this State did not exceed !^7,lt(]0, and now they have swelled to the startling amount oi more than $18,000, exclusive of the money devoted to the Scliool fund. There are but two legitimate hems that ought to be added to our former expenditures, viz. the c«»inpensatioii to Representatives and Jurors. The Senate were paid under the former appropriation. Then for one moment enquire and calculate, whetlier the pay of Representatives and Jurors does create liie diffennce between the ?^7,0()tt and the -'? 18,000. The house of Representatives con- sists of 72 members — i'o are the average number that attend ; and calculating that the Legislature sits '26 days, including going and returning, the pay of the Representatives will amount to $2,r>o5 Adding the former expenditure . . - 7,0<50 Added ....-- $9/>35 Our present expenditure . - - 618,000 And dedurlincf our former expenditure and Representa- tivespay ._---- »,Oc>o Excess _-..-- §8,405 Leaving an excess of $8,465, to defray the pay of jurors. And none will^believe that this large excess is required to pay the com- pensation allowed to them by the law. These facts must satisfy every citizen that the Legislature of this State have wasted our resources with an unsparing hand : And the period has arrived for us to arouse and enquire, if a cl.iinge is not absolutely necessary and expedient. And if it is, we oujiht to remove such up watchful and unworthy servants, and substiti:te others fresh from the people, who knowing our grievances and teei- "ing our wrongs, will be willing to redress them= 4- ■ Jtet us enquire and iHvestigTie into the caases of this great in« oreaM- m slate expividiture. We will state a few ot liieae appro- prur. >.js. to stiow lo »vhat purposes nur moae^ has been in pried. —At June Sessiou, 182i, tiie General Assembl) pusbeU tiir lol- low'iii^ V lie — " V^■i.id, That the sum of two hundred J)ollar9 be p.iid to €har}-^> (jv.esj, Irom ilie Gen ral Treasury, for his services in cap- yifi,; :u . b:'<»ks of ancient recortis, ayreedbly to tlie resolutions of Iht* G :ii' ra! Asr^ernbly in January i^-^-4, us bocm as he sliail depo- sitt^ toe said co,o!riipnrii}(j the same." Another exj/sudi- *ture equally as extravagant and uselt ss. And at June Session 1827, the following appropriation was toade. " Voted and Resolved, That th-; gum of rwv. nu.voR d Dox.t.arp b« appropriated and paid outof tfie Treasury, to the Rhode inland Historionl Society, for the purpose of aiding and assisting titai So- ciety in carryi?ig into ettect the objects of the incorporaii<»:i, viz. to colipcf rind preserve whatever relates to the typonfrapl^.y, antiqui- ties, and natunil. civil and ecclesiastical history of this State," At the jHiiuary Session, 1827, it was '* Voted and Kesolved. That from and aftei the first Wednesday in Mm/ Insf. there be paid to the Secretary of State t* e sum of one hundred Dollars per annum in addition to his present salary, to hi; paid quarterly out of the General Treasury.' Whnt should be t'le reason of this addi- tion ? The Secretary was already allowed .t(i>() per annum as a salary, bpsid<^a his fees allowed by law, vid. State Law, pace 103. sec. 4 — The Secretary's is a responsible but not an onerous duty, the duties of the office do not absorb the whole of his time ; he prartices law in addition to the duties of this office. Did this Tn- cum'>ent corrmlain ? Did he attempt to resic i ? No, it is one o the best offices in the State. Then whv raise the salary ? In this •n: of hiffh salaries nnd profuse expenditure 1 It is pleasant to be donors lit the public expense. At !he same session, th.^ spirit of liberality was further ffxtrnded. Tl;'^ new Supreri'e fV.urt Act was passed, decreasipa he nmnber of !edj/rs fr'pi five, at the vesrlv cofi;pensatiori of ^'If'o'^. 'o three, at the ioereased ccmpensation of $1740 annoally, and since ikcia .5 ^iujtlier a«t waa paBse in ihis^ measure again present themselves to us for renewal Oi i.!V.. r Hut innovation un^i^^r the color of improvement is not to resi here, the fiat froiJi head quarters has already acne forth and your Courts of Common Pleiis are to be intrcnci i d upon as soon as vir- i5um>tances will p<>rniit. The. AJanufacturers- Journal, under date of January 3th \asi, whose editor assui.ies to control and mould our .Senate to his likiUiT, has issufd tlife following decree, which the mernber.s ot his own creation vvill not dare disobey. " The question naturally ocrr.rs, if three judges with a salary^ are better for the Supreme Judicial Court ti.an five, why wnuhl not thre.^ be also better for the C muis of Common Pleas ? The pay received by the five Judges of :..■ Court of Common Pleas lor this county, divi.ied among three, would amount to something respect- able, and induce those three to qualify themselves for the discharo-e of the important duties of a Jud^e. Three could certainly do the business of the Court without inconvenience. Manv advantaoes would arise from thft reduction of the number. There would be more despatch and certainty in the jaw, and the only possible evii would be the displacing of two supernumerary Judges. They ^'ould lose their appointments, but the public he the gainer. The example has been set in the Supreme Court ; the experiment suc- ceeded to a charm. Why not try it on tlie Common Pleas ? The people are prepared for the change, and will sustain the Legisla- ture if it attempts one." Thf fees of the Judges in Providence County amount to about $2'^<.''r a vear, that would give three, the numl)er contemplated, aenrlv v'TOO a year ^ach, and as the County Judges are to receive snh{){) per year each,) it w iii'd iid ' H hands tme item to our already overburdened trea- *"'■' ; "^'i ' ' ':-<^ resources derjvfH from taxes on Banks, nr.w liti- gated, ffheviid fail ui, a re«ort to Jirec taxation on lands most he ii;niiedi;ite, to an a»oui:l involving Uie landlniUiers' ruin. Tliis, in the languatr« of iho etale manager, " would be succeeding to a chiinn, tlie public being a gainer ; and the people," says he, '' would susiiia the Lfgislaturo should tliev atteoipt it." And the furtlier niproveraent of increasing the term of s-iMviee of the Judges to six years instead of the present annual election ; and then for good behavior or life, which is in contemplation, and t!ie •^resent Senatf- are advocated as being friendly to the measure, the pv.-cple will have rivetied uf)on them the most odious features of the late constitution engendered by a convention at fSewport, and which once we have indignantly rejected. — The pro.x advocated by the Journal, American, and other presses confederated for its election, were the conspicuous advocates for the adoption of tiiat eonstitution ; and the majority of the members composing that pro.x, viz. the present Senate, Wliealon, Cooke, vN'atson, I'homas Whipple, Eldred, Cross, and Burton, zealously exerted their influ- ence to effect it. And upon its success depends these contempla- ted changes in the organization of our ancient system of Courts and our fundamental laws of representation. Yes, the next step in progress is to remodel the representation in the General Assem- bly, and to district the State for Senators, and the constitution, which has been so triumphantly rejected, will be irrevocably fixed upon us. Thus accomplishing indirectly what you have directly voted dosvn. Within the last year, the Senate have been strangely inert and nervele.ss in holding the purse-strings of the State, and their laxity in moral courage thre •ten'? approaching beggary. The doors of the treasury are thrown open to projectors and favorites, and they have felt no diffidence in profiting by tue indulgence. For exam- ple, at October Session last, the Assembly passed the following tote. " Resolved that Benjamin Hazard, Henry Bull, and Joseph L. Tillinghast, be and they arc apiointed a committee to cause a tomb tl> be erected over the grave of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, and that said com nittee be autliorised to draw on the General Treasury for the sum of two hundred Dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary to enable them to carry the esolution into effect." It is admitted that this native son o*" Rhode Island covered the Union with the glory of his achievement, and shed an enviable brightness and lustre on our national character. Over his virtues, his'character or his grave, God forbid, that any one should cast a shade. Yet it is not improper for us to inquire, that as he died in the national service, and the victory he won was a national victory, ou'j-ht not the -^arih thai, covers him to have been ornamented by national munificence out of tiie national treasury. A single re- quest from our Legislature to the General Government, or motion from one of our members in Congress, would have relieved our State Treasury from a burden, creditable t» ©urselves and honor- able to oar country. And divosting ourselves of a delicacy tliAt n.av not ri^!M iniy belong lo us, ui ua a>k ourselves, i1 the reiriiiJiis ol CoiMu;o■ ii\n.- ? State niuniiKence has left uiicov< red the sacred re- n..uns o! those devt)teu and conqnering f'jriy, who spilt their life b:' oil in ihf ^'rtai battle ol the si Ivatiun of the whjtes against the t' manavvk and scalj.aug knite oi the native Narraganst tts. Tlie gi ves ol Hopkins, VVhip|)le aii(! Oiney, and a host ot other heroic an«; veneiat<^d n:imes, remain still unlioiiored, — h prece<;en( like ti;<- Oil!' iiicntioiied once established, and the ice once broken, the Legislature with an ill grace, can resist future applications, for like purp(;ses, on their piide and example. Ai tl'is same session the Legislature passed another rote, al- lowing Betijumin Hazard and Albert C Greene |' 100 each for th« ir prolt ssional seivice^ in the actions of the Providence Banks against the Slate. IVovv what did lliese Gmtlnnni Lmrycrs d( ? Under the direction of the committee appointed by the Gene- ral Assembly, they filed similar pleas in these cases ; there wtre no s])ceches nor arguments. By consent, one of the cfises was ap- pealed to the Supreme Court of the Uinted States, the others to aliide the result of the decision of the one appealed. This was the nature and extent of the services rendered, and ten Dollars each would have been an ample reward. \ eX the Senate wer^ too tmiul to reject such an exhoibitant allowance, nor dated to d» justice to an impoverished people ior lear of off'Miding two Law- yers. Such a feeble body aie not entitled to the ballots of free- men — And yet further in the case that was appealed, they hav# voted Mr. Hazard §500 more, in order that he might repair to Wash- ingion to superintend its mere continuance, when in all probabili- ty, i v\ill not be tried in two or three }ear9. Yes ; the General A-;embly have dispatched Mi. Hazard to Washington to argue a c nstitntional question, whether the Legislature have the constitu- tH.nal power to tax the Banks, at $500 expense at the outset. Corn 50 cents per bushel, cheese, beef and pork at 5 cents per pound, and send a Lawyer to Washington at f^oOO expense, only to see that a suit at law is entered and continued I ! ! Farmers, pon- der on these things, and fearlessly act tor youiselvs. A deliberate Senate, that will not better deliberate for your interest than this, oujjht to be indignantly ejected from their seats. Another si:bject came before the Senate in October last, of mor« importance in its consequences, and involving in its results, the destiny of you all. State bankruptcy, individual distress and po- vwtj depend upoB the erentfal issue, viz. the paymeRt ©f tli« SkfATK Bkb» — -Eachariah Allen, of ProTiden«e, intro^ueed tLe f6llouini/ rt;Hf>lution : ** Ttie Co 1 n mi t tee to whom was referred the subject of the State debt and tlie petition of Joiiattiau B.)vvci) a:id ottiers, respectfully report. That there are Notes or Certificates of various sums duf> frora the State of Riiod '-island to several iiidivi luais, which certificates fcave been held by t:i»in for many V'^ars, without receiviiior at)V oart of the iiuerest or principle du on ^aiJ N )lP3 It appt^rs thai )« sev >ral occasions s>l JuiUarv a;"or.".said. And he if fnrtlip' "n'l-- I, I'nai i.r fuvdo' mi iu 1 perform- ^Rce of thitt aet the faith of the State is hereby pledged." 9 The yoaag meiubers uot understanding the circumstances out of 'xiiicl! tins -.('teiidod debt arose, the reM)lution w.t.soui .iiuch ' deliopraiion pii^.^ed the House. It was s-eul to tiio Seii.ile - .a in- iluential member urevented the ready assent ol tliat body, and uro- cur'eda posipoiiiiieiit. The Senate had time during the lecess to investigate into tiie history ol' tins debt, and at tlieir Januar) Sess- ion last, instead ofrejectmg the net in tutu, have iurther posponed it, Willi an inteiiliun, it is leaied, of concurring m the measure af- ter laeirre eleclion. Fellow Citizens, let us enquire into the his- tory of the pretended Statk Di:bx, as few of you are old enourli to recollect the time and circumstances out of which it grew, in the Revolutionary war the contedera.ed Congress passed an act, that foi ;dl the expenses that sUuuld accrue, and lor ail supplies h.at should be furnished, and for all damag; s susia.ned in d.-huce aganist the common enemy, the same should be paid for by ihe U. Sl:ites, tn be liquidated by the Slates. At the close of th<: tt evo- lutionary war, the General Assembly, in conformity to the act of the confederate Congress, i^sued notice to all those who had c1l;itis against the U. States, for supplies furnished, services rendered, or had sustained damages in the course of that eveniful stru^gli . to brinir them in and have them adjusted, tVcilthey migiit be p--eM Dt- ed in a form the most imposing against the U. S. ibr assui'i j;;on. And agreeably to this notice their claims were presentee' lo liie Legislature of this State, and were liquidated accordingly. And as notes were considered the most ('.irect and [jalpabh- siiaf^- in which the debts due to the people of this State could be prei-euted and enforced against the U S. and the best evidence ol the amount of the debts. State notes were issued to the ascertained amonru of these claims, it being the understanding, meaning and intention of all parti; s, at the time, that these notes were only evidences oi'tiie individual debts against the U. S. as ascertained by the Legisla- ture. And as most of the members of the Assembly, and pernaps all, and a great majority of the people were creditors, (Rl;ode- Island suffering from the war in far greater projjortion than any State in the Union) it was popular to niake liberal allowances to the claimants. And there being no adverse party to investigate into, or object to these claims, Notes to an immense amount were is- sued as the ascertained amount (d' these claims, all parties under- standing that these notes vvery only used as itie best mode thai could be devised to shape these demands against the U States. The claim- ants would not at that time have waived their rights against the U. S. and have accepted of State obligati(vns in lieu of them; the State at that time being insolvent and wholly unable to pay the bills of credit that had been issued ; and such was the distress and embarrassments of the people vvhen peace commenced, that the stock of the common farmers were sold at the pul^ltc posts for the pay.'i^'nt o! »heir ;>r i::!'i'y ti^ip^^. And this reason is siiffieient to demonstrate tliat no Legislature would fee mad enoiagh t» have at- m te«ipte«J to funJ a debt against the people wlucli all the property ©f tht: Siaie at no period would have been sufiicient to have dihcliarg- ad. And the liolders would have been equally as delirious to liave endeaiored to oL)tain a security so invalid. And as conclusive ev- idt.ncs, demonstrating the intention of both parlies, upon the adop- tion of the constitution, tins debt was presented against the U. S. and liieydid assume and fund $*^0(),0(»0, ano the residue rejected, the claims upon investigations, proving to be unjust and irregular: And the noti's now out, standing against this titate, called the St.4Te Debt, an; the notes founded on the claims that were af- terwards rejected by Congress as invalid and unjust. After their rejection by Congress, and the State not being liable for the pay- ment, having only lent tlje claimants their name and aid in the shape olStatp assumption, the better to enable the holders to pro- cure their payment by the U. S. they fell into immediate disrepnte and were considered of no value. Speculators since that period have bought up these notes at administrator's sales and otherwise, for little or nothing (and the family of the mover of this resolution is reported to be largely interested in its adoption,) in expectation that some period might arrive when the history and circumstances of these notes mighi be forgotten, or through some false principle of honor or inattention, the Legislature might be induced to fund, or Older their payment. The young gentlemen in the Assembly have given frequent evidences of maidni greatness by maiden spef^ches upon the honor of paying our State debt ; honestly, though ignorantly supposing, that it was a jusi debt, because the speculators called it the State Dkbt, and the printers called it the State Dkbt. And but fevr are now living who were at its birth anil its burial, and fewer who have taken the trouble to be inform- eiie people. !t oeiioves OS t;> be awake and actively alive, whnn we see the int^ r-'si of the lamiliolder and tenant as seriousiy attacked and ieop,udizf".i as conUMnplated by tiie act which luis already pas.- of every waggon, carriage or vehicle, built or rimmed anew, and drawn by three l)easts, (except- inn pleasure cairiages,) passing U|)oii or over any common high- way or turnj'ik" within tins State, shall have fellows not less than four inches in width, and if drawn i)v more tiian two beasts, the said w.iggon or otiior vehicle (excepting as aforesaid) shall have fellows not less than five inches in width. Provided, That the wheels of stage coaches passing as aforesaid may have fellov^s only four inches in widtli. Ser. '2. Be it further enacted, That the owner or owners, anf>. also the driver of every waggon, carriage, or other vehicle, having wheels contrary to the provisions of this act, who shall drive or suffi > the same to be driven, upon or )Vpr any common highway, or turnpike within this State, shall f .tfeit and pay for each offence a sum not less than five dollars nor more than twenty dollars, to the use of the Town, District, or Turnpike Corporation, liable by Jaw to support the highway or turnpike upon which the offence shall have been committed, to be recovered before any Justice of the Peace within and for the County within which the offence shall have been committed, not being a member of the Turnpike Cot- poratiqn or an inhabitnnt of the town or district liable for the sup- port of the copmion higliway or turnpike as aforesaid — Provided hi"vrvcr, that no prosecution shall be sustained under the provi- sions of this act, which shall not be commenced within ninety days from the commission of the offence, upon the complaint ot one of the Surveyors of highways, or of the I'reasurer of the Turnpike Corporation within the i'own or District liable for the support of th"^ road np^on which the offence shall have been committed, to a Justice of the Peace having cosnizance of such offence. And provided fvrihcr, that the provision? of this act shall not extend or be applied to any carriages passing upon or over atiy of the roads afor'sairl, solely for the purposes of common husbandry. Sec. 3". Be it further enacted, That this act shall be published in the months oT January nnd June in each year for the term of two venrs in 'ill 'he news"apers p'^inted in t'ii« State, in w!:ich the laws of fh'- "^J: I" are pnblisho-', niv' shall also be read at the an- nual town meetings for the same term of years. l^his act same of the members of the Senate openly avovt a de- termination to supf>ort, and yet no one mt;ir^ure ol' its magnitnde Wiiii!(i be so opprestiive and vexations to the landed interest, and particulaily so to the tenantry of tiie State. Carts, wliich cost front .5i) iO 70 Dollars puch, must be thrown into disuse, or if the use IS attempted, it woulJ be at tlie expense ot prosecution, and a new one obtMin^o at an in.^reasfd expense in iirc under additional duty upon iion. «vhich at flu; present ajriculiui al crisis would be oriielly unji'st, d to the tenant an onerous iiem in arlditiou to his rent. Tois ; <11, with othrr measures, exhibit a curious phe- nomena ; that hilc other interests are enjoying protection from liiirh duties throng legislative enactment, the agricultural, dis- tressed as it is, sho'ild he selected for burdensome exaction ; re- garded like the animal composing the stock of their farms, which will quietly lie dowt. to he shom without coniplaint. With all these evidences staiiny us .n thr face, can the farmers give this Senate their sOpport ? If from among us tliey are against us, our duty is imperative to discar.l them and select others, who knowing Our interests will r<'speci then.. And rfiect w it). out hesitation a bill introduced at the insance ol Turnpike proprietors to increase their per centum u[>.»n roads exclusively an(! arbitrarily their own. There is in embrio another snlijf-ct which threatens the treasury witii a serious encr'-aciiment Messrs. J. L. Tiliinghast, Tixon, and Haile, were a committ^re ,o renort upon the expediency of edu- oatii.g the Deaf aud D. mh, at the Hartford Asylum ; the rf^port Wa< made to the last session of the Asst mbly and the measure re~ COii'it'ended, and ti:e expenses vvliich other States |>aid were stated at $115 for each person yearly, and timt there were 45 of that un- fortunate class in the State, and that four years were necessary t© complete the education of each pupil, amounting to $5,175 ex- pense yearly, and .*20,700 for the whole four years. However philanthropic and benevolent all this may be, the cost ought to be countid and our ability ascertained whether we could bear such an immense burden, before we enter into a contract from which we cannot retreat withn it dishonor. This humane and benevolent act in other States has been performed by charitable societies and religiously disjiosed institutions, and the expenses paid by contri- bution^ from the lium ne and wealthy. Sr it would be and has been doiip by similar societies in this State, but the Lawyer trium- virate of Tiliinghast, i^ixon, and H. Y. Cranston, dictators of the majority in the Assemblv, seem disposed to exhaust our treasury wit'i innumerable splendid projects at the expense of others. Caa anr! will the people consent to entei into a contract like the one pre'osed, upon the recotiimendation of men who pay no taxes themselves and are reckless of the burdens imposed upon others ? These projectors have been fertile in expedients to draw out of the treasury the people's money, but have not devised or pursued any dicresffj plan to renhce it. It is high Umt we aros^ and put into shad this Jti.tta rf Lawyere, wrought into notice by paid puffs in newspaper paragraphs. 14 A subject came up the last session of the Assembly, illustratire of the 2ourse of thrs Junta of Lawyers, and of tlie proditiality of the present administration of our State government. It was the repeal of the Fawcatuck river Jisk act. John Wliipp'e, (a lawyer who never labors under pricp,) i'homas Whipple and Uavii' VViI- kinson, were appointed a committee to confer with a committee from Connecticut, on the subject of the fislieries in this river. It being a subject of private interest with certain landed proprietors about mill and factory dams and water privilrges, the parties inte- rested in the increase of the value of their private property otfered to pay the expense of the committee, but Messrs. Tillinghast, Z. Allen and Dixon, (the latter sent by Westerly, but acts as a fifth representation for Providence,) advocated warmly, that the com- mittee should be paid by the 8tate instead of the parties, although the parties applying were willing to bear the expenditure ; thus attempting to cast on the people from three to five hundred dollars expense to compensate a committee appointed for a private pur- pose, when the applicants were ready and willing to defray it. Our alarm ought to be excited at a proposition in agitation which will complete if effected, the prostration of the land-^d inte- rest, and strip us of all the rights and privileges attached to and protective of property. Many in this State are clamerous for Freb Suffrage, and meetings in Providence and other places have been ©ailed, of 7ion freeholders, to petition the General Assembly to ex- tend to every male over '21 years of age the elective franchise, and aided by presses established for the purpose, are vociferous on the subject. And at the late meeting in Pawtucket, of which Barney Merry (a great manufacturer) was chairman, it was vauntingly stated, that there are at least twelve thousand free white male inhabitants in this State over 21 years of age," who are to be em- braced in this extension ; which is double the number of the pre- sent qualified freemen. And upon the adoption of this favorite proposition, the landed interest would be liable to be voted down, by a professed majority of two to nrif, by those who would not be assessed one cent in the taxes and subjected to the burdens they might judge proper to impose. And it is worse than senseless to suppose that any restriction would add to our safety, for such a ma- jority as this measure would create, would disregard, or cause the representatives, by whose vote they would be elected, to repeal them. The Farmers are reluctant to believe that this intended improv^mfint is the boasted " American System" and protection of *' Domestic Manufactures" which was to be encouraged It it the " warmed adder," whose poison would work their death. A measure of this character would give the rich power in pro- portion to their wealth, and the great manufacturers, bankers, merchants and large capitalists, with the means that are in their hands, would control the destinies of the State at pleasure. The property to be taxed, and the mode of taxation, would be directed hj a class of citizens, who would bear noue of its burdens ; an^ 16 ve should be at ao I088 to conjecture, that the whole of oui inter- ual n-Vfiiue sysu'm would uiidergct an imniediate repeal, and the Slate btirtiw'ns be thro-vn on real estate. In a sliort period c<»r- rupiioii would be reduced to a system, and arrangements organized eftVouiuil) to transfer the powers ol election troni the landed in- teres^t, to which it is rijihtlully attached, into the hands ot a few. Tiie great maiiulacioiies, ilit Banks and wealthy nierehants might each send trom KfO 10 JiOO voters to the polls. And it is greatly to Ite regretted that the er.i of fraudulent tij'r deed voting is again attempted to be revived in a more objectional shape Every one must see the results. And from the consequences to be produced., it is to be hoped that not a single landholder who values his rights, will stand an idle .-spectator or be absent from the polls when this unblushing attempt is made by insolvent politicians to improve their foriunes at the expense ot the dearest privileges of the soil. And it was to be hoped, for the honor of our .""tale, that none could have been found bold enough to have avowed an open determination to put down the landed interest at a blow, which universal suffrage would most assuredly and effectually do. And it can scarcely be credited, that the sober steady and reflecting portion of the com- munity, who value the stability of our institutions, and the glory of the republic, would entrust their own and the destiny of their descendants, in the hands of a population so transient and waver- ing ; when all can obtain the necessary qualifications to legitimately act with us, if they had the disposition to make the investment. And It IS an indispensable requisite that tnoee who have the power to create burthens, should be liable to bear a due proportion of them when imposed. Justice, equity, and the inherent principles^ upon which our institutions are founded, require it, and only the foes to good government would dissent from a doctrine so funda- mentally necessary and reasonable. To the intent that the previous abuses upon our rights should be corrected, and our State be preserved inviolate ftom waste and further encroachment, a convention which assembled in Provi- dence on the 15th January last, composed of delegated freemen, firm in purpose and devoted to your rights, and the welfare of the State, fortned and have submitted to you the following prox of Ge- CTal Officers for approval on the 3d Wednesday of April next, FOR GOVERNOR JAMES FFN]?rER, OF PROVIDENCE. ' LIRUTKNANT GOVKRNOR CHARI.E8 COLLINS. UF NEWPORT. SENATORS. I NATHAN RROWN, ofJohnstoB ? JOHN P'WOLF, of Briatal. II) -8 NOEL F"^^!? :»RN, ofN. Kingitowu. 4 ISA \(. AR Ei.,olMi(luletowa. fiVVILLlA.i VKilPPLE ol Cumborland. 6 JEll'H. N. POriER, of S. Kingstown. 7 GEORGIE HAWKINS, O! Coventry. * t H\S. RE.Mh\GTuN, [s. i;.] Warwick. 9 EDW.-iRD BARBER, olH.pkinton. in GEORGE FIELD, ..f Cranston. SECRETABy HENRY BO WEN. ATTORNEY-GEM' liAL ALBERl C. GRKE>fE. tJf.NEKAL TKEASI RER THOMAS C. PlTwAN. Voted and resolved uuanirnously, tliat the members of this Cour ventioii will use all fair and honorable means to promote tht elec- tion of the gentlemen by them nominated as General Officers for the ensuing political year. Resolved, That the proceedings of this Convention together with an Address to our Fellow-Citizens, be signed by the Chair- man and Secretaries, and published in the Republican Herald and the Providence Patriot. JOHN R. WATEKMAN, Chairman. WILLIAM G. BOWEN, \ ^ . ■ JOSEPH H. PATTEN, / ^(^cietancs. Let us examine the chaiacters and principles of the men com- posing this prox, and then the one adversary to it, and judge ibi ours^'lves. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and first Senator, are the same in both. 2d Senator. John D'Wolfe. For many years a Judge of the Supreme Court of this State, and a Senator in the Genera] Assembly ; a man of firm and established character, and a large farmer ; and voluable as a member of the Senate, when the affairs of the State were conducted as ably as at present, and at one third of the expense that they are now. 3d Sen. Nof^l Frp^-born. A man of considerable estate, and aK> industrious worthy citizen, an uniform lepublican, and a firm friend to t!>e landed internst, whose character for integrity and independence, has entitled him to tiie esteem and confix dence of tlie freemen of the town in nhii'h he lives. -4th Sen. Isaac Barker. For many yt^ai''' -i Senator and also a Representative in the General As^nmbly, whose unbending integrity and devoted attachment to the landed interest were never questioned STth Sen. Willir^in Whionle. Well known to you all as an oM friend of '_' nun!, i:. i ;in indi pendent and firm sup- ]|.orter •! ths internal revenue system, and who was last year 17 su3taiiied by the people against the attacks and machiuatioJis of its adversaries. 4th Senator. Jeremiah N. Potter (the nephew of the lale Govern' or Samuel J. Potter, the long tried and faitiiful friend of Rhode-Island, and the valued companion m office of our la- mented Chief Magistrate, the late Arthur Fenner,) is a plain and prudent farmer, of undoubted ability, and unostentatious integrity, and a decided Republican of the Jefferson school. 7th Sen. George Hawkins I 8th Sen. Thomas Remington, B. S. } Are likewise aubstantiat farmer.^, who for many years have been, and Mr. Hawkins now is, a member of the House of Representative*, influential men, and justly enjoying the confidence of the Towns and County in Wiiich ihey live. 9th Sen. Edward Barber. Also a prudent, plain and thriving farmer, possessing a character of proverbial honesty, unslia* ken integrity, and kind manners ; economical and exemplary in hia habits, and a firm friend to the interests of the State. 10th Sen. George Field. Also a farmer, and for many years your Senator, who last year lost his election through the in- trigue and management of a combination, for effecting the repeal of the internal revenue. If Rhode Island has a friend devoted to her best interests, and the people a sentmel to pro tect her rights from dishonorable encroachment, and the trea- sury from the hungry hands of projectors, it is George Field. These candidates are all pleitged to support the internal revenue and a judicious system of retrenchment and reform, and it is ne- cessary for our individual welfare, and the public prosperity, that a salutary reform and retrenchment should be immediately resorted to, and that the State adiininistration should be arrested in their career of innovation and extravagance, or lijce our sister Massa- chusetts, " the granite State," we shall be necessitated to hire money to pay our representative roll. — The Secretary, Attorney General and General Treasurer having no vote, and the Conven- tion ineaning to demonstrate to the people, that the interests of the State and our welfare, and not party principle or opposition, were their motives, have left them unopposed. \ou will all recollect that an attempt was made last year, and a serai-successful one, by a combination of Bank holders. Auction- eers and Lottery venders, to work the repeal of the internal reve* nne system of this State by packing upon you a prox of Senators pledged to the purpose. Your vigilance detected and defeated the scheme, and our farmers and property saved from an annual bardea of $18,000 per year, to be wrung from us by the force of tax gath* erers and tax warrants. This year the same game is to be played over again, and nothing but the political defeat and prostration of this subtle cembination, and their unprincipled coadjutors', can se*- cure our safety. And the question is put to us, whether the Baaks, which are receiving from .«?.'< to 10 per cent interest upott their •apitala, with their exelasive privileges of bank attechtnenW^ r- Id pv«r ordiuary process ; and whether the venders, Auetioneers and Brokers, are to pay taxes for their exclusive privileges? or whether the taxes, instead of being as they have been, are to be borne by the iarmers, who are not receiving three per cent, upon their estates, with no exclusive privileges, but those " of hewers of wood or draw- ers of water," to the monied aristocracy. Th9 candidates in the other prox are guilty of contributing to t lie waste and expenditure of the past four years and of increasing the Stale expenditures $10,000 more yearly than €► oonomy and common prudence required, or our exegencies de- manded. And from the influence that the exclusive monopolists and bank aristocracy exercise over them, impresses us with fears alarming to our interest. And the evidence upon which they rest are not of a nature to quiet our apprehensions. ISathan M. Whea- ♦on, Elisha Watson, Thomas Whipple, Charles Eidred, George D. Gross and George Benton, are directors or bank holders, two of them, Watson and Eidred are Presidents of Banks, and kave large interests in them. Wheaton, Cooke, Whipple, Eidred and Cross are small land holders. Here then a majority of the Senate are Presidents, Directors, or Stockholders in banks, and far the more. Wheaton is a merchant, Cooke, Watson and Whipple are shop- keepers, (Watson is also a large land holder, but his interest from banks and his other personal property, far exceeds that from his lands) Eidred, a physician, and Cross a tanner and currier, and none cultivators of our soil. By them Brown and Whipple are overruled. Farmers look at this bank prox, their interests are adverse to yours, and it is never safe to trust those to act for us when it is their interest not to do so — they would rather deceive than injure them- selves. The combination influence created, and supports this prox, and they will be obedient to the will of their creators. If this prox is elected, the bank taxes, and the internal revenue duties, will be repealed and the State burthens thrown on us, greater than ouf ability can sustain. Freemen, arise, assume the armor of inde- pendence — Let us gird on our strength and say, we will be free, and that unprincipled speculators shall not impose on us and our children a debt of HALF A MILLION .that we nor our farthers ever owed ; that Bank holders, Lottery venders and brokers shal! not throw upon us all the State burthens, nor longer govern the land holders, nor impose a prox upon us made by their intrigues or subject to their influence. Say to those in power, that they have betrayed their trusts and have wasted in extravagant salariea and exhorbitant expenses, more than half our Slate resources — that they continue upon us that unjust and oppressive law, exempt- ing iii'ire than a MILLION of property from taxation, to favor priestcraft and monopoly, thereby increasing the burthens of taxa- tion heavier upon us — .Say to them they are unworthy servants and unfaithful centinels, they are exempted from further service and •ur confidence — Yes, Freemen, be fearless, ami repair to the polls cSite and all, and gire your rotes to the FARMERS' PROX« \£Fe'10 ^m- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS III III I II r iiiii|iriiiii|imiriiii lilJIi 0014111 3148 e