Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-29

cause, and also the actual design and oh
ject he has in view, from the party b,
whose aid fe expects to accomplish this
1t is not likely that he told the Conven
ton over which he presided, in Septem
her last, that it was from this cause, tha
he had procured an address to be writer
which was adopted by the Convention
censuring the General Assembly for tn,
' course which had been pursued by tha
body in relation to the anti-masonic Me
morial, designating it as an unusua
course, when it was known by the write
and others, that the reference ofthat me-
mortal to Committee, was approved o
ny Mr. Sprague at the time; and was S,
satisfactory to all aDti-masons, that the
anti-masonic committee in their addrc 4.
TO the people, shortly al,er it was done
declared that Governor Arnold, by mere.
ly favoring that reference, had coMMEN-
DED himself to the support of the whole
anti-masonic party in this State. Every
candid anti-mason will say, that nothing
had transplred in relation to this memori-
al, after this reference of it to a commit
tee, nothing had been asked of Governor
Arnold and the National Republican Sc.
= nate, by anti-masOns, which has been
denied them; nothing had been done by
them, nor has there been since, which
could then or can now be distorted into a
justification of this complaint or censure.
This law then, relative to Banks, which
had so exasperated Mr.. Sprague against
those who passed it, is the only cause to
which the course pursued by him can be
fairly attributed.
With such an object, it was policy, of
Mr. Sprague, to take this early opportu-
nty with the party in which he had
most influence to create prejudice a.
gainst those to whom he was opposed for
reasons which he did not wish should be
known. 1t was also natural for him to
direct his efforts, first, against those who
had voted for this law, and where mem
bers from towns, where his business gave
him commanding influence: and it will
be seen that from Warwick and Grams
ton, there was but ONE member elected at
the Augusttown meeting, who had so vo-
ted, and he was returned member a
ganst the most active exertions of Mr.
Sprague, to defeat his election. All the
rest were displaced This hostility of
Mr. Sprague and his family, was then, as
it is now, sufficient to accommodate itself
to any circumstances. I hus in War
wick, where circumstances favored such
course, his son renounced masonry to
accomplish their designs; and in Grams
ton, where other circumstances existed,
this same family object was secured, it is
said, by bargain with political oppo-
nent, a Jackson man.
With the above facts before them, the
public will readily perceive that the same
law has occasioned the abuse, which has
been so unsparingly used in the news
paper devoted to MIR Sprague's interest
against those who were members Of the
committee that reported this law to the
assembly, and particularly against Mr.
Simmons Of Johnston, who introduced the
subject at the June session. Mr. rSprague's
language in reference to that gentleman,
ever since the law passed, has been abu-
sive in the extreme, and he has repeat
edly and publicly offered to put his money
up against his election, in his own town.
He will not deny any part of this, highly
improper and rcprehcnsible as it is; for
it is as notorious here, as is the conduct
of the Bank of which he is President.
The character Of all these transactions,
mark their intimate conneXion. He will
not deny the facts here stated. The ex-
act expressions applied by MIR. Sprague
TO the law in question, and to those who
passed it, am obliged to exclude. Their
profanity would be offensive to the intel
lgent and virtuous, for whose informa-
ton the facts are communicated. Be-
sides, am not considering the claims
Mr.. Sprague has to their support, but
merely stating what the measures of the
present state administration have been,
that have affected his interest, and there
by caused him to oppose them. 1t is the
attitude assumed by Mr. Sprague, and
his known interest and views, in relation
to the law in question-a law in which
the freemen of this state are vitally inter-
ested, and upon the existence and opera
tion of which, depends their exemption
from land tar, that makes it necessary .
to point out his conduct in relation to it,
Let this be done, and let the freemen
know with what perfect confidence, he
has expressed belief in his ability, to
get the law repealed, and it may be safe
ly left to them to say, whether he shall
be entrusted with the power he aspires
to, or whether they can be induced to
turn their backs upon their real friends;
to abandon their own interests; their po-
litical views and principles, at the call of
such man, or those, either under his,
or acting from similar influence, and
with the same object and design-men