The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-09-04

sgaiust him. No man can actas free
man, unless he 10 "rcaIly and yrsiy pos
sssssd in his oson proper right of &c. &c.
The true criterion to determine this
fright, is, it mus, be such a freehold, or
estate, as. subjects it 20 the payment Of
the owners just debts, either by bis ex-
ecutors or administrators, duIyauthor-.
lied according TO law, or by attafhment
at the suit Of creditor. These are the
inseparablc incidents to a freehold, re-
Tally and truly pOsssssedin ones ouas right
The admission Of Mr.. Cranston presents
an entire different result in regard 20 his
freehold. 1t admits, that his estate was
IN such situation, that his creditors
could not attach it. His deed was neitI'-
er recorded nor lodged to be recorded.
but, was within his entire control. His
case. as he states himself, then amounts
to this While he confines himsclfwith-
in the jurisdictional lines Of the State,
his deed on 6ie in the Clerks Ofiioe.
makes him a freeholder and freeman |;
but when he goes out Of the State, he
puts his HOUSE, and LOT into his pocket,
and strides at large in defiance Of legal
process. This is the qualification of n
Newport Moderator /! The fact Of
placing his deed on file does not aid Mr..
Cranston in the least on the contrary,
liz is calculated to deceive. The deed is
equally valid and binding between the
parties and their heirs. with or without
its being placed on file. This does not
add to its validity between them. nor
does it prove, that he is really and truly
possessed, sc. On the contrary, lhis
very estate, Notwithstanding his deed,
is this moment liable to be attached for
a debt Of the grantor, and sold in spite
of any claim, which Mr., Cranston has by
virtue Of his deed. What then becomes
of the Moderator's freehold Canilb be
aid. he is really and truly possessed in
his own right 7 lfso. it ought and wopld
most assuredIy be liable TO attachmSnt
by his creditors. Yet, by his own cin-
struction he argues, that it is not such q
freehold, and yet, he assumes the riths
of a freeman and acts as ModeratIr.
To cap the climax, we are told by te
Journal editor, that this question WIS
discussed by j. L. Iyiinghasf, Simmds
and Broyton, in a mastery and conch-
sive manner.-Indeed! Let these geh-
tlemen put their arguments on papsr,
and we stipulate to strip them Of ther
arrogance, and expose their fallacy.
The right Of Mr.. Cranston to officiats IS
Moderator. upon his own showing. car
not be maintained but by the grossest
absurdiry and sophisticated logic. Tint
the gentleman, who advocated his righ,
are adopts in the former, and not very
expert in the latter, must be admitted By
all who have had an opportunity Of np.
preciating their respective talents.
1t aeems nn incidental question arose
upon Mr.. Cranston's vote, being char
lenged, who should administer to him
the oath required by law. Il is here the
master spirit, Benjamin Hazard, who
directs the motions Of the whole Arnold
faction, appears from behind the curtain.
and pretends there is no one authorized
Ito administer the oath to the Moderator.
lIf this be correct doctrine, it shows more
conclusively than any thing else,. the
impropriety of choosing Mr.. Cranston,
the presiding officer of the meeting.
Ono of two inferences is unavoidable
from this position. 1t was either the
original design to smuggle in the vote Of
Mr.. Crsnston, by his oson decision; or i,
was filling the Office with a person, who
could not administer the oath to himself.
and thus avoid the consequences of ito
sacred obligations. Whichever alter
native we-fake,, the gross absurdisy and
limpropriety Of choosing him Moderator
stare us full in the face. The very da-
ficuIty the case presents, proves he was
not a proper person to be Moderasor',
Let this case be remembered. AZ one a,
mong tho many tricks Of the Arnold
party, by which our election law 10 vio-