The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-05-10
yer. that expenditure from its usual course

\ system, recently adopted by the citizens o
Newport, for the general instruction o
their children. &
Ifslsappolntment,o on this occasion, should
excite dlspleasure, and 4 portion OF oul
community should ne disposed TO censure
me for this departure from a good old Gus
tom, i hope that reflection may soften theil
resentment, and That q measure which may
aid in the abatement Of serious evil, end
contribute III small degree TO . positive
good, may stand justified in the general es'
timation of my fellow citizens. However
this may be, as presume that my motives
cannot be misapprehendad I'd, and as know
the object in view to be a public benefit,
have resolved OH this step without regard
to personal consequences.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
JAMES FENNER.
Messrs. Henry BULL, DAVID KING,
and $. WmTEHoRNE, Com
miSsioners ofhe Public School
Fund, IN the ioaOn of of.Vemport.
% To which the Commissioners replied as
| follows. -
NEWPORT, MAY g, 1927.
Sir,-The Commissioners Of the Public
school Fund, in the town Of Newport, SC
knowledge with peculiar qualification the
receipt yoIr note, incIoslng SiOc as a q
donation to be applied to the support oi
public schools in this town. ID'ePendent
of this liberal expression Of regard toward
the institution Of public schools, winch Is
just about going into operation IN this place.
the Commissioners view Dis act OF the Ex-
ecutlve in his individual capacity, as hiighly
important in its moral tndency, and ad-
mirably calculated to give decided tone
TO public sentiment, in Appresslng, by eve
ry means that can be lrought IN aid OF so
desirable Oh object, tie alarming evils OF
intempcrance, particularly by rendering
questionable those exhibitions OH public
occasions to which your EXcellency al
udes from which n, good can come, and
40 much certain evi must result.
Impressed with he Importance OF this
subject. as connected not only with the
General advancenent Of morals IN com
munitv, but will the preservation OF our
dearest national institutions, the Commls-
,ioners would 10 injustice to their own
ceilings, should they refrain from express
ing their entire appreciation OF the course
adopted BY yotr EXceIloncy,. III thus 'end
ing the nfuelco Of your individual and OIL
fetal character, 10 the promotion OF the
cause Of Temperance.
So fqr from q feeling Of disappointment
or dispcasure, being excited by your de
parture from" "au ancient usage" establish
without consideration OF It's probable ei-
.ccts. and su4taiued merely from imitation
or from mistaken IDEAS Of hospitality, an
sage, az your ExcclIency has so happily
illustrated. uucn "morc honorcd IN the
breach than the observance" the Comms-
sloners arc confident that It will meet the
decided appreciation Of your ieilow'citlzcns
throughout the State, and that no enc car
be found who would for moment seriously
nut The inconsidcrahlc qualification to have
been derived from the compliance OF the
Executive with this custom, III compct tloH
with the benefits TO be secured to the ris
ing generation, by this donation OF the usu.
al private expenditures for that grstiica.
tion, to fund dCs gneo to disseminate a
mong them, the blessings OF knowIedge.
Had vour Hvcclency simply decl med
compliance with the custom alluded to, on
the ground of its immoral tendency, and u.
ali unnec essary expenditure, the good sense
Of the community would have insured a
cordial approval Of that course; but when
1t is accompanied with so appropriate an
ac, of liberality, substituting substantial
and lasting benefit to the youth OF this
town, for n momentary and unnecessary
indulgence to those who might have par
taken ofthe customary offerings on this oc
casion, higher sentiment than mere ap-
proval takes possession of every reilectng
mind. In behalf of our fellow townsmen,
and Of the youth who may hereafter re.
ceive the blessings of education, through
the medium of this donation, in connection
with other appropriations for that object,
the Commissioners beg leave to tender to
your Excellency their sincere thanks, and
the assurance of the high respect and per
sonal consideration with which they are,
Sir, Your obliged and ob't servants,
HENRY BULL, Commissioner the
DAVID KING, Public School Fund in
S wHITEHORNE, the town of Newport
To his Exccllenoy, JAMES FENNEk.
I'm reference to the above letter of His Ex-
ccllency giving his reasons for dispensing with
an old custom we would remark that as good as
this custom has been considered by many, we
too, think il is one ofthoso which is more hon.
cred ia the breach than the observance, and are
pleased to learn that His EAcellency has taken
the necessary steps TO abolish 1t. No one
could do this so free from imputations ofevery
kind as that distinguished man, for what has
been done by him and his venerated father in
this way, for the last thirty years, will repel
the charge of parsimony or avarico, and salts.
fy all that this late act has cmanated, purely
from a disposition to abolish practice the
following of which has not boen productive OF
any good, to say nothing moro in relation 10 it
His Honor the Lieut.. Governor. fully con.