The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-01-03

facts connected with his decision on that
day. Two persons presented their votes
who never had exercised the right Of
voting or been admitted Free, according
to the usages Of the town--a question a.
rose as to the legality Of their voting
The Town Clerk, who has filed that Office
for upwards of forty successive years,
without any opposition, was called upon 10
state whether it had been the custom Of
the town to allow eldest sons 10 vote be.
fore admitted Free by vote of the town:
| the Clerk said he never knew vote to be
received before the person presenting it
had been admitted Free. Ii is but Justice
to the Town Clerk to observe that il is not
! believed he knew for which candidate the
votes in question were for No evidence,
either written or verbal, was offered, to
show that the two persons whose votes
were disputed, were of lawful age--nor
was any motion made 10 admit them Free,
according to the custom of the town.
1t is an undoubted fact that the Elec-
ton law is differently construed by the
several towns in this State Whether tie
construction Of that law by Middletowp,
rs right or wrong, ought the moderator
who presided at the town meeting on the /"
2lst ult. to be responsible, he having de- ?
cided in conformity to the uniform custom
of his predecessors, O custom perhaps as
| old as the town itself, and a custom in
which she is not alone? Had motion
been made, as usually is done, for these
persons to have been admitted free accord
ny to the usages and customs Of the town,
and that had been refused them by the
Moderator, or had some proof OF their be-
| lng the eldest sons of freeholders and of
lawful age to vote been given, would not
the complaint have been grounded on
| some substantial reasons? but as it is, is il
not groundlcss?
| Admitting for argument S; ke, that The
custom OF the town is superfluous and not
required by the strict letter the Law, is
! Il unfair or unwarrantable to require some
prooi Of oldest sons being oflawful age be-
lore they are allowed to vote, such proof is
certainly always to be obtained by per-
sons when they huve arrived at that age
1t any rate they can make the declaration
)f the fact 20 the Moderator, or their
| friends for them, and if they do not avail
| themselves ofbecoming freemen according
| the cnsto;n Of the town, and fail 10 pro-
luce evidence efthe fact oitheir being EN-.
utled to the right of suffrage, at whose
ioor does the fault lie, or is it unfair to in
er that they are not entitled to that priyi-
iege-or is the bare act Of presenting a
ote to be considered as conclusive eyi-
ience ofan Oldest son being Of lawful age
nd entitled to vote? If so--whcn parii-
4ans become SO desperate as to bring idiots
the polls upon their backs,they may with
he same face bring Oldest sons before they
! nave arrived at lawful age. JUSTICE.
NORTH CAROLINA ADMINISTRA-
| TION GENERAL CONVENTION.
The following is an extract Of Letter
! from Member of the General Assembly
Of the State of North Carolina to one Of
! the Representatives in Congress from that
! State, dated,
"RALEIGH, Dec. 90, 1897.
GAS this is the day set apart for the
meeting of the Adams Convention in this
city, have no doubt you will be anxious
10 hear the result. The meeting was ap-
pointed to take place in the Commons Hall,
ct 3 o'clock, this afternoon. at which time
! the Delegates from the different counties
! appeared, together with some Of the men,
bers of the Legislature, who felt anxious
! 10 cooperate with them. There were a
bout sixty in number, and presented ali as
semblage OF talent and respectability, sell
dom cqualled in this State. The Conven-
ton was organized by the appointment Of
the Hon. William Davidson Chairman, and
Joseph Gales, Esq. Secretary. Mr.. CASTOR
made a very handsome and appropriate ad-
dress, explanatory Of the objects and pur-
poses of the meeting. After which the
Secretary proceeded to call over the Dis
tricts, and the following gentlemen were
nominated as Electors, to wit:
Here follows List of the Electors.
/ ~ NoIuuittc was dPPonicu " pitPoie
an Address to the People of this State, and
ten thousand copies we're ordered to be
printed, Another Committee was also
appointed as Committee of Vigilance and
Correspondence. with powers TO supply any
vacancies that may occur in the Electoral
Ticket. The meeting was conducted with
much dignity and decorum, and was witt
messed by great many spectators. among
: whom were q good many Jacksonnns. WIS
-l.ll,, cl,ny,1oIcod ~ e. fr,,.n,,-