Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-01-23

Joined with re in f-n,imcnr. There are, how.
ever, fome who tuy and Cell the Hamps at
profit, that are yet vociferous in their favor.
Bot, there arc very few of this delcripfion
For 70 principled we're the people in our quarter
againe the al, tina, they would not be concerned
with it, otherwife than they were obliged. My
arguments agsinlt il, as have aated them re-
pestedly in private circles, with now TO fatcin
a more public manner. They arilc from the ne-
quality of its operation, land from the perPlexity,
n vexation it creates. Though il has often been
isid that il is a tax which is paid by the wealthy,
and commercial part Of fociety ! controvert
rhe petition by aking, who are the giyers Of
nsfes ? mention notes, becauie they are slmoft
the only legal inffrumsnts, with which the
country part OF the community are concerned.
Charter parties, Bills OF lsding, Bills of ex-
change, &c. &c. arc confined to fea ports, and
mercantile towns. Meter are moa commonly
given by thoie who arc unable to pay their
debts by the poorer. TO the rich and it is re-
CURED Of the siptr Of note. to pay for the Camp.
And j, frequently happens in many parts of the
country, that there ave none TO be obtained
within ten or fifteen miles. Here then il a con-
funption of time in performing that diRsnee,
perhaps thr'pgh froit aud inow. together with
all the expences incident to travelling, which Of
ten amounts to dollar or raol1. out of pocket,
paid TOO, by an INDECENT citizen, 10 place few
cents in the public chef. Shoold they fail 10
the objea of their journey in not being able to
procure Ramp, fuch as is required, there re-
mains no other alternative but TO fplit the fun,
and for one or f7uo hundied dollars, to give fve,
or zen fepsrate notes, which, iftransferrcd from
the hands of the original payee, becomes the
foundation of as many lawfuits. Can this be
equitable, and equal +! Can this be law that
is calculated to encourage ineuAry, and econo.
my Can any one fay thar it is judicious, and
wholelome to the community?
But let Us for moment, confdcr It's ope-
ration III another hight. In commercial negoci-
atons, We obierve that it bears particularly upon
the young beginner, who purchaies on credit.
His notes, at Gxty, and ninety days, muft colt
him ten or fifteen dcllar year merely for an
occupation, when cofc of his accounts, might
declare him bankrupt, and when the oppuieot
creditor. who has goods by the fhip-load in his
fore, feels nothing OF it.
Other inaances Of its inequality might be
pointed out, as, for infance, its operation with
regard to inventories. A iamp of Efy cent? is
required to thelc, ler their amounr be what il
may and whether it conGas Of the homely
houfehold fluff, or, asyou may fay, the worth
leis trumpery, which aniwers the neceHities Of
the poor man /; or the gaudy trappings, and
fumptuous habilaments Of the wealthy. The
widow, or cftate Of deceaied Cotagev in Free
town, muR pay as much to legalizc an adrninif.
tration of ba effects, that OF the moa oppulent
gentleman in Bottom. Can thi, be egnai / Is il
equitable :
In addition to the obfervations have
made, fhsll FAY bu, little. But l cannot dif-
miis the iubjetf, without femarking further iu-
convenience ln,t TO FAY opprsfIicn) BY which its
operation is often attended. The cafe is this
Two men living at diaance from each other,
have mutual claims to fettle. They meet for
that purpoie the balance is truck, & note Of
hand for the fame is required. The amount ex-
ceeds f1ueny dollars; confequently it nun be on
hamp paper. But il is in the evening the Of
fees are fhut, and none to be obtained. The
buiineis mutt, therefore, be deferred until morn
ing. Thus one, or 10th Of the parties may be
detained from their familie, all night, at the ex-
pence, perhaps Of fupper, lodging, and break
fat, and all on account of Jfpen- pcrny famp.
II they are perfevering, and will plod from houic
to houfe, perhaps thro' wet rain. they may ,afer
dRorbing two or three different families in their
retirement. pofibly obtain one. But whether
they do, Or not, they will have pair Of wet
feet, and probably thereafter as conlcquence,
hoarfe cold 20 charge TO the account. Thief.
are not merely idle fpeculations, but naked
truths, which know from actual obieIvation.
Nor are they confined to notes merely but are
incident in greater or leaer degree TO many
other traniaetions of the kind. So that fay,
generally. the .famp al hangs with heavy
weight upon buhneis, which it ought to be the
Object Of our laws to relieve, promote, and en-
courage.
Though believe that hateful imroGtion
upon the Pobc, will foon be confgncd TO the
fhades Of oblivion. without leaving any other
veftige Of its exiaence. than remembrance Of
its dcformities; yet could not content to let il
pafs into the political tombs which have alrea-
dy, and very juifly, embraced its authors, with
out bearing an exprefs, and open teaimony a
gainif il. So far am I, however, from lament.
ing that !, ever exiaed, that think it will have
ialotary effea Of etssisg ibe eysr Of tbe People,
and ihowing them the precipice to which they
were ruihing; and hope it will be held in
everaiting remembrance, that thofe who had
the baiencfs to projett it. have been hurled from
the heights to which their merits did not entitle
them. 10 order to render its exit as memorable,
and as awful az pollible, would recommend