The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-17

TO the Frsemen of Rhode Island.

will proclaim through the ballot box
your opinion of men aud their measures.
aud as the party now dominant in this
state seem inclined to push their preten-
tions to your favor by claims Of shaving
done the state some service, e,"-of bav-
ing rescued it from bankruptcy. and Of
having restored the body polite to n
state Of Plethora, from Dhieh, perhaps. IL
is in greater danger than il formerly ez-
perisned from the poverty SO much depre-
Gated. it mny not be amiss to examine
these ciains--sift their actions, aud see
for ourselves whether. during the year
which is gone. they have so managed
the reins Of government, as to make it Ell
ther wise or prudent to trust them for
the future. In the first place we are di-
rected by their flntterers TO cast our ad-
mIring eyes on their glorious scheme of
finance, and if you car only believe them,
it would not be too much to say that the
mantle Of Morris, OF Hamilton had
fallen upon their shoulders +: that the ge-
MUS Of Neckar had left it's abode in the
skies, to visit the pale glimpses of the
Moon in our neither world, and :,ao act
ually taken up its abode-phere do yos
suppose gentle reader why in a corner
of the polite pericranium of James F.
Simmons But deeds speak louder
than words !; therefore, unfortunately we
cannot believe their assertions, and we
put the question--whnt have tlsy done?
What arc the means they have resorted
to what tho implements they have
worked wiihal, to enable them to fill the
public crib, the better to satisfy the crav-
ings Of their own Unsuitable appetites? ?
And here it will be necessary to strip
the subject Of the sophistry with which
they have enveloped it,rub offtlle gloss g.
sizing with which they have artfulIy coy-
cred their fabric, and expose their web
in all its corruption and fimsiness. For
mer administrations had been content
with drawing 9 moderate revenue from
monied corporations. The banks had
been taxed--the farming interest was
satisfcd--to be sure thoses from whom
the money had been drawn, twisted and
kicked n little at first, but every thing
had settled down, and it was supposed
that storm had blown over. But no
the increasing commercial and manu-
featuring interest of the country, were
supposed to require more facilities to en-
able them to carry on their business
with profit to themselves, and advantage
to the state. They ask tho powers that
be to allow them to augment their bank
capital in degree equal to the inereas-
cd wants Of the community: and what
is tho answer The door 10 shut in
their flces, unless they consent to re-
ccive the boon cloggcd and shackled in
such way as to render it any thing but
n blessing. A few corporations "whose
necessities aud not their will" consented,
took this questionable benefaciion, en-
numbered with an additional and heavy
tax: and from the money squeezed in
this way, arises one scource of the reve-
nuc, Of which they make such proud
boasting. Dolts did they not know
that this very money that they were
wringing from tho hard hand of labor
would eventually, at least in part, be alb
stracted from the pit,ance Of tho widow
and the orphan: or, are these sapiens
Legislators ignorant that the poor form IA
very considerable class Of the stockhol-
ders in these institutions. But this is
no, all--tbe step they took was in every
point Of view false one. Iftbe COM
munity actually needed more bank cap
ital, it should hnye been granted on the
same terms that had been held out to
former applicants. Ifit was specula-
ting concern, go, up by the avarico of
the fsw TO the injury Of the many, no in
ducennent, no golden prospect should
have dazzled their eyes; for in that case
to grant the prayer Of the petitioners,
was to betrey their constituents. Come
we now 10 another source Of this vaun,ed