The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-09-07
0Donlestlc.
mo TIER FEDERAL OUTR.fGE
OR THE
REIGN OF TERROR REVIVED!

/ Mr.. THOMAS FLETCHER, a native o
Great Britain. who left that country in the
year 1898, and became naturalized in this
was on the 10Th inst PUBLICLY WHIPPED.
| without having had trial } by a ra5ble in
the Town of Providence, headed by the town
sergeant. and acting under orders from the
Town Council!
1 BY law of the State of Rhode Island. it
lis provided. "that If any person shall reside
Iin any town in that state, not having legal
settlement in that town or state, and shall
be likely to become chargable to the town
or who shall in the opinion OF the Town
Council of such Town, be a person Of bad
fame and reputation, and an unsuitable
person to become an inhabitant ;hersof. il
shall and may be lawful for the Town Coup :
Gil OF SUCH Town, upon complaint of one Or
more of the Overseers of the Poor of such
| town, 10 order such person to depart from
| and out of such town, within such time as
the Council may appoint. And if the per-
son so ordered, shall not depart within the
time appointed. or having departed, shall
return without leave frsm the Town Coun
Gil, such person shall be fined, not exec cd =
ing seven dollars, and in default of paying it,
shall be publicly whipped at the discretion
of the Town Council"
| II appears hat William Larned, one
of the Overseers of the Poor of the town
of Providence, complained to the Town
Council, that Thomas Fletcher having
no legal settlement in the town, was likely
to become chargeable to it; and that he
was. moreover, according TO Information,
turbulent and quarrelsome." -He there =
fore requested the Council to examine said
Fletcher, and 10 order thereon as they might
think proper.
MIR. Fletcher was accordingly ordered
| bef he 81,
it appeared, that he landed in Boston from
England in the year 1898, where he mar
ried an American woman, by whom he has
eight children that he is by trade a mar
row weaver, at which trade he then work
ed in Providence, and by which he support
ed his family.
After this examination, the council order
ed that the said Thomas Fletcher and his
family be rejected from the town; and thar
Boston in Massachusetts is adjudged to be
their place OF legal settlement They fur
Their resolved, that the said Thomas and fa
miiy should depart within fortnight. Mr.
Samuel Ogden then waited upon the Town
]Council, and requested. in behalf of Mr.
Fletcher, that he might be permitted to
remain until the fall, upon giving bonds
as he held the lease of house and garden
spot in that town. which would then expire
at which time he would gathern the pro-
lduce Of hrs garden and depart. The Coun-
lci refused this reasonable request. and on
iiy granted him a further time of fourteen
ldays.-At the expiration of this time, Mr..
Fletcher did not depart. Whereupon the
Council issued warran, to the Town Ser
lgeant to levy ard collect the fine OF seven
ldollars and in default of payment, to seize
1.-THE person of Mr. Fletcher, and publicly
iintilct upon his naked back seven stripes ;
alter which TO conduct him out of the town.
The Town Sergeant accordingly proceeded
to lay hand upon Mr.. File cher; and he
not paying the fine III ready cash, the OF
flcer did not make a return to the council
OF the goods aud chattels, (as usualD which
tcould be seized to-satisfv the fine, but in
Istanty dragged him into the streets, and
IN the presence of an approving, but infu.
rated and malignant federal mob had him
lfa6hcty uhithed and then removed him
out OF town from his family!
The disgrace that was intended for Mr.
r. fell altogether upon his inhuman and ia
coblnical prosecutors. The viiAinous ac
was detested. and the ,aggamuffins who
planned it, hooted by every man whose o
Ipinon was of any consequence. THIS On
lprecedented outrage on the right of citizen
ship, will stamp with indelible infamy, all
who were engaged in it and must call
forth the adherence of every friend to the
Oo"SNtNuNiOhJ anu W bhC llNlOldDllltJ OF per-
son.
Mr.. F returned the same day. when the
Council issued another warrant to the Town
SERGEANT, directing him to bring Thomas
Fletcher before the council, to answer the
crime of returning to the town which con.
tanned his famfiy! The officer made re
turn, that he was unable to find him. he
having probably secreted himself. The
council then ordered the Sergeantto appre-
bend Mt. f. zOheneUer ne could find him.
and commit him to- BridezvcH!
Their is exhibited another specimen of
that intoleraut spirit of persecution which
characterised feferalism in '98. That ma
hgnant SIP rit which would not only impri
son, whip and baniSh but would eu;ilotjue
and hang all whose disposition led them N
support the principles which secure equal
and exact rights and justice Is not this
conduct OF lie Town Council a h1Vrant vic
laion OF The constitution OF the u. s..
what article recognizes the right OF any
corporation or body of men. to order a citi
zento be publicly whipped without a regu
lar and legal frtak and co,y!ction by jury ?
he accusation against MIR F. that ne Was
hkely TO become chargeable to The town, is
wholiy without foundation as he has al
ways supported himself aud family with
great ease. by his trade, at which he could
learnbetween four and FIVE dollars q tlsv.--
It's manufactures were sent TO New York
from whence he drew his money, which me
spent IN Providence to the amnunt of fifteen
dollars week. IL has been said by his ea.