Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-19
FREE SCHOOLS
NO. i


to Committee of that body, who report
ed bill in conformity herewith and
that the question on the passage of the
bill was postponed to June session, in
consequence of a Ren,onsirance from GER
tain of the citizens in opposition to the
measure, oferecting an additional School
house; but you are totally ignorant, it is
presumed, of the grounds on which the
rcmonstrants set themselves in direct op-
position to the declared will of the town
in that particularly propose to submit
to you copy of the Remonstrancc, with
such observations on it, as will enable
you duly to estimate both the correct
ness of its statements, and the liberallty
of its sentiments;-premising however,
that as some of the persons whose names
are subscribed to it, were not present at
the meeting when the resolutions were
adopted, they at least ought not to be
held responsible for any of its inaccura-
cies:-
"The Subscribers, Frcemen of the
town of Newport, beg leave respectfully
to address the Hon. General Assembly
on the subject of Free Schools in said
town, and TO demonstrate against the in
structions given to their Representa-
tives.
"They respectfully suggest, that those
Instructions were carried by small ma
jority, in a small Town-Mecting.
"That an opposition to the scheme con-
templated by these instructions has al
ways eriSied, and that the plan of Educa-
ton now pursued by the town, was mat
ter of agreement and compromise be-
tween the two conflicting opinions.
"That the scheme of extension OF Free
Schools now proposed, is beyond the abil-
ity of the town, and will lead to oppres-
sive taxation for an object already sub
stantially possessed.
''In the opinion of the subscribers, the
new scheme of extension, will occasion
an application of charitable donations,
contrary to the intent of the benevolent
donors, will overthrow the present sys-
TEN of proceeding which has hitherto
done much good, and introduce topic
of discord and litigation in our town at
fairs, which all moderate and judicious
men must deprecate, and be solicitious to
prevent.
''For these and many other reasons
which might be urged, the Subscribers
pray the Hon. General Assembly to con-
slider this matter cautiously, and uninilu-
enced by motives ofphilanthrophy too un-
bounded to be practicable. To permit
the town Of Newport to remain undis-
turbed in the power of doing much ac-
knowledged good in the matter of Educa-
ton, and not to license them to endan-
ger this, their actual condition, by eX-
tending their favor to schemes of splen-
did expenditure, Of specious benevo-
lence, and inevitable taxation, and they
as in duty bound will ever pray"
Signed by 81 indiridudls.
The first assertion in thisremonstrance,
is, that the Instructions given to our
Representatives, were carried by small
majority in a small meeting.
You will probably rccollect that the
subject embraced by the resolutions, was
referred to a committee of five persons,
appointed at the April Town-Meeting,
1899; that they made report on the
subject at the June meeting following
at which time new committee was
raised on the same subject, who made
their report last August; which last re-
port was by vote of the Freemen, re-
ferred expressly to the last April Meet
ing for consideration, and was published
in the Mercury, and Republican, so that
all the Freemen might be apprizcd of its
contents, and prepared to act according
ly; prior to the April meeting, it was IT,
serted in the Warrant for calling the
meeting, as part of the business to be
agitated by the town AT an early hour on
the morning Of the day Of the meeting,
the subject was called up by f. Tcrvett,
Esq and on his motion, 8 o'clock P. NJ
was assigned fortaking the subject up, s.
acting on it; at the last mentioned time,
discussion commenced, which lasted
nearly three hours, and the resolutions
were finally adopted,by vote of64 to %,
there being 229 proxy votes given in at
the meeting. So that it cannot be pre-
tended that any Freeman was ignorant
either Of the subject, or the time when it
was to be acted on; and it will not be
denied that the house was generally as
full during the whole day "a is usnal ON