The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-27

:. TOW.v MEETING. ,,.
The ffeenien ofthe State assembled in their
respective towns on Tuesday last, for tliee-
lection Of Representatives to the General As
sembly, and the choice Of two Representatives
to the 2Ist Congress Of the United States. in
this town, the meeting was organized at 1O
O'Clock by the choice Of Henry Y. Cranstonr
esq. as Moderator. Tho fret business which
came befors tho nieeling,t was the choice oi
Repre- sentatives to the General Assembly
All the old inc1Iabents were reelected except
II. Y. Cranstoh, who declined--aDd Christie
pher T. Robbins was elected to fill his place
after contested vote with Samuel ;. Gard
ner; the votes standing for Robbins 05, Gard
uer 67--uaj. "a The polls were then'opsn-
cd for the reception 'ofvotes for members Of
Congress and vote taken to keep them open
till Q o'clock in the evening At 3 o'clock p
m thc'Frce School business wa taken up, 4
after some debate, the Report OF the Com
mittce' appointed in June last, was received
and ordered TO be published, which 10 as fol
REP ORT.
The Committee appointed at the Town meet
! ing IN June last, in .rclation to the subject
Of The Public School in this town have ma
turcly considered the Report Of the forne,
Conimiiteei and, after q careful and patient
examination or all the proceedings of The
gtown, and Of all acts oftlro Genctal Assem-.
bly,, in any way tonnsc,ed with the system
ofPubic Schools, beg leave asthe result Of
tbeir investigation and research, TO Report
That tbs school now established in Mill.
street, is not such school as can with propri-
ely be called Free and varies materially from
tho wish Of the freoucn of tbe towS cently
expressed by theirrcsolutions and 'prnceed'
jngs and vaflcs, Il Is believed from, 'ery 9th.
or free school in this State.
- The latest expressions Of tho sentiments Of
the frermen Of tho town upon the subject, are
cont aimed IN tieif vote on the third Monday
of June, 1926, and in sundry resolutions dopt-
ed March 26th, 1S27--,bc latter IN relation to
the rcrt,lation of our present school. '-
In tho fotmsr they say aafolows "Where.
as tho froomen Of the town Of Newport, in
town meeting legally assembled, have passed
sundry acts and resolutions for the establish.
me ut and support Of public schools, for thsed.
ucation Of all tho youth Of said town al the
public expense; and, in consideration that Ger
tain property which was. Originally given for
The education Of the children Of the poor in,
habitnnts Of said towt. hay wing been sold uH:
der tho authority Of said town, and the prol
seeds thereof and the rents and profits arising
having. been diverted from their
proper object, and appliedt TO the liquidation Of
The debts of said town and, that the sum 30
would at this time if it had been
vested in available funds as it accumulated
produce an interest, sufficient for the rduca
ion Of all the youth Of said town." : r.s4
The net Of the General Assembly pa ssed
il tho June session, 1876 under which the
chool In Mill; street was cstebN.1.d, - pyt ia
c G orr3nnce with the vote above recited, nor
loes il appear ever to have been submitted to
he eonsideration of the ffeemoh, for their o..
iopiion or rejection, nor .evor directly. acted
IN by them. -
{ In the resolutions, passed March o6tb, 1897;
We read as follows, to wit /" But il is at the
same timc hereby expressly provided, that no
shild shall be excluded from the benefits Of the
school, morely from inability 70 pay for his ia.
ition." -. -
From the language usoain the proceedings
Of the town as long as they continued 70 agi.
tate and discuss the subject, not doubt can
exist that tho frcemcn did intend to establish
a Free School for the education Of all the
youth of the town, and to educate them at the
public expense entireIy to provide them
school houses and instructors only,-but also
fuel, books, stationary, &c. sc.
Tho school in Mill.street does not fulfil this
Intention -
Ist. Because, it.entireiy < ,ludes the chill
dren Of all parents possessed of, or reputod to
be possessed of property TO the amount Of -
dollars
End Bocnuse, many of those who aro ad
rHitted arr required, it Is believed to pay sum
for their tuition which they are wholly unable
10 pay and consequently compelled to,leave
The school The amount Tins received from
.ehal9ts for the year ending 2d|June 1899, is
Al tho January session of the Gcnerai As.
,cmbly, 1923, 80 act WAS nassed establishing
public schools ihroughopi the whole. State
All Of them that have yet gone Incorporation.
more FREQ in their character than the school
n MiIlstrect, if the information collected by
he committee at some considerai pains can
70 relied on. In none oftho public schools in
his State, except the one in this town, does
,ropertyin any way prove either disaualifi.
atiot, or an aid to sdmission. In sone Of
hen, persons 25cr 81 years Of age, and all
sbo plea 90 ,tcccnlc prptfs' nnd avSifN them.
esSes of lIts provision for education node by
he State. 81
A, The May session Iso7--thc legislature
ssscd an act for establishing Q public school
Ind In this townsss56. .sdlnua ether ;peps Mons
contains ono fot,'srpiying ute dchatiek ,of
1880. spnde by Constant Taher, !. 10 hts viii,
To the ressstxl Gee schoefs thsS were or
night be estsblishcd In this town"--to aid the
nnds Of the school established in, Mill street
rhc .committec do not perceive any right
'hieh the legislature possersed to change the
bicct Of testator's bequest at all or, ifit had
uch right why itmght mt with equal pro-
riety hRve directed tho application of the
md, to the public school established in Wash
,gton street or, to that maintained Mt the
lsylum on Coasters Harbcr nd,-si,her Of
,cm beipc 70 say the least Of thom os free