Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-12
PUBLIC SCHOOL IN NEWPORT.

PUBLIC SCHOOL IN NEWPORT.
The petition Of the town Of Newport,
for liberty to build school house, out of
the school fund in that town, created by
law and voluntary donation, after having
been read in the House of Representa-
tives, was referred to Messrs. Ennis and
Pratt, who reported a bill in accordance
with the views of the petitioners. On
Saturday morning Mr. Trevett called for
the consideration of the bill. Mr.. E. r.
Potter moved that the consideration of the
subject be continued to the next session,
in consequence Of there not being suffi-
cient time to act on it at present. MIR.
Trevett was opposed to a continuance,
and expressed his belief that continu-
ance might defeat the object of the petit
TONERS. Mr.. j. Champlin agreed with
Mr.. Potter, that the consideration of the
subject ought to be continued. Mr..
Peckham was in favor of continuance,
in order that the parties might compro-
mise. The remonstrance to the petition
was read. MIR. Trevett said there could
be no compromise between the parties.
He considered there was sufficient time
to act Oh the petition; it was important to
Newport and when the circumstances
were considered, the Assembly would be
of the same opinion. He had himself
been teacher in Newport for more than
twenty-five years, and had with pain wit
messed the evil which arose from the
want Of free schools. He had been the
teacher of from IS to 200 scholars, and
although his eight hundred ycor was
sacrificed in consequence of the estab-
lishment of the public school in Newport,
he was still willing to do all he could for
the promotion of free schools. He had
always been in the habit of schooling at
least twenty every year without any
compensation, and he hoped as there Was
but one public school in the town, and it
being impossible for all the children to
be educated at that, that the business
would not be postponed.
Mr.. Ennis said, if the question now
was, whether tax should be levied on
the people or not, it might well provoke
discussion; but it was simply whether
the Legislature would allow t,centy-seren
hundred dollars to be appropriated to the
building of a school house, out of a
school fund not otherwise appropriated
out, in fact, ola surplus fund.- That
house was necessary, every one admit
ed; they had funds enough, if the Legis-
lature would make the appropriation,
and, under these circumstances, he con-
sidered it inequitable and unjust, for
Newport to be deprived of the benefit of
the fund.
Mr.. Robinson Potter, appeared at the
bar for the remonstrants. He was de-
sirous to have the subject discussed at
this time, but he considered that impossi-
bic. The funds which the town wished
to get possession of, to build the school
house with, he said, were otherwise
specifically appropriated, and if the Leg
islaturc passed the bill, the sum to be
raised would eventually come out of the
town, and fall on those who paid taxes
He was satisfied that the town could not
afford it, and the citizens who paid the
heaviest taxes, was decidedly opposed to
it-that the vote passed at the town
meeting was not fair expression of the
views and wishes of the inhabitants of
Newport, and that it was passed when a
respectable part of them were gone to
dinner, by few individuals. Mr.. Sim
mons said that Mr. Potter did not state
facts, that so far from that, particular
hour was assigned on town meeting day,
and sufficient and timely notice given
when the business was to be brought be-
fore the frccmen, and that the meeting
was not only respectfully but very fully
attended when the vote passed. Mr..
p. wished to have the subject postponed
for further consideration, believing it
would be in his power to satisfy the As
scmbly that the bill ought not to pass
NJ Ha.axL aaid ho aaw no evil thai