The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-11-18

ns rs SO little better than heathens, thu.
Tor his part he was ashamed to no out
of the state in a steam boat or stnge.
lie admitted that within his own OBJ
scrvation there was not one twentieth
part of the ardent spirits drank now.
that there used to be 40 years ago.
Things were going on very well, but
when these temperance people whu
drink their bottle of wine day, under.
take to tell poor man who works all
day IN the sun, that he shan't drink
cents worth Of whskey, il makes tho
hair rise up against the grain. lfthey
did not take some measures to stop this
excitement, the people would put other
members in their places who would.
But he did hope we should not posi-
pone this thing, and continue the ex.
ciiement. Mr.. II. then related an oc-
currence which happened in going To
New York in n steam boat, a man on
board having asked him whether Rhode
Island was any bigger than farnif
and his reply telling him what X. l. had
done III the Revolutionary war. hut
now we were held up as the greatest
drunkards and heathens in creation.
We ought to put stop to this. Mo-
body believed il, but we were PUBLISH
ing our own shame. He wished 10 be-
placed in this matter statu quo ante
bellum," or some such nonsense, to nc.
gin where we were before this excite-
ment was got up.
Mr.. Bill really thought the gcntic-
men were not generous. He asked SO
little and yet they refused that. Tho
General Assembly ought not TO mark
out part of the people as beasts of
burden, by imposing this tax upon their
business, while others were left 10 pur-
sue their business free. Why not Tux
the lawyers as well as the grocers7
There was tax upon them once Of
$40 year [it was SSl but we never
could collect it. They were too much
for us, and either got round it, or over
il, or under it. N'
The Speaker-A tax of 500 is now
paid to the state, by every person nd
mitted TO practice law.
Mr.. BuH--That may be, but il is no
reason why we should opprcss the gro
GERS like beasts Of burden. The gen.
tloman says il is for revenue, and TINT
pat Ms shn ta tsss. lass Sssr 81 % s As lev
bull bagger TO get the thing put of. IL
the object is To 60 for pihnoer, let IL bs
understood so. The gentleman front
Warren says, let public opinion take
care Of itself He cares nothing about
it. do care something about public
opinion. We come here to legislats
for public opinion, and are we to scout
public opinionl The gentleman SAWS
that his constituents arc not aiicctcdby
the selling Of rum. admit that War
rem is one Of the most sober, industri-
Gus well conducted communities ever
knew, but dare say if they wanted
this law repealed, the gentleman would
ask for it. We are very apt to think
about our own town as the old lady did
in Westerly, that Westerly was the
biggest part ofthe whole world. Why
sir, are we not sent here, rs the guard
ians Of public opinionl am not n-
shamed to go with the people when
they ask for redress, and therefore
want to meet this question now, and
take the opinion here, while public o.
pinion is with us. Justice urges us on,
but time is killing us. Delay is tho
object, until public opinion shall get on
the other side. Our opponents wish to-
keep this question of, but l believe
public opinion will sustain US. II is on
our side for repeating the law ms il now
stands. have no doubt that it viii
support that class Of citizens who aro
oppressed in this way like Helots aud
beasts Of burden. ] have no doubt
they will find friends TO rally round
them. II is to be laid 10 our charge
that we complain Of the Injustice Of
this law7 As the poet says,
"Ilc that suffers, loudly may complain"
am accused Of laboring under an
excitement. / acknowledge it. il IS
the right Of every man to feel excited,
when he is oppressed, and to resist it
accordingly.
Mr.. Pratt subsequently, made some rcms'ts
on this latin quotation, implying that II was
Incorrectly used We did not 90 unt'ers;sn nd