The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-24


not require them to answer. Mr.
Sprague was present, and as the Commit.
tee then supposed and believed agreed
with the rest.
The committee proceeded the next day
and every thing went on harmoniously
until the next week, when the committee
first learned that Mr.. Sprague did not a
gree with the committee in not aliowiog
masonic witnesses to be questioned III
relation to their signs, tokens or cere-
monies, any further than was necessary
to explain their oaths or obligations. This
disagreement or misunderstanding a.
mong the committee, was, however, re-
concIed SO far that the committee pro-
ceeded harmoniously through the taking
Of the depostions, and until the drawing
up of the report by the chairman. The
five members Of the committee were all
present. 1t was twice read over in their
presence, and Mr. Sprague expressly as
sented to the facts stated in the report OF
the chairman, so far as he knew, except
as to the testimony taken in Newport, at
the taking of which, he was not present,
and which he had not read. But Mr..
Sprague did not assent TO the conclusions
drawn by the committee.
He never named to the committee that
he intended to make any separate report,
until about five minutes before the COM
mtttee came into the house with their re-
port, when he stated that he had a re-
port containing his views on the subject
which he declined showing the commit
tee. Iti true that for short time the
gentleman had manifested shyness and
the appearance of avoiding the commit
tee:
When tho rule prescribed by the COM
mittee first became public, one of the
strongest, and a leading and respectable
anti-mason said, in relation to the rulo,
you have done just right--the rule is right
and not until the principal part oftheir
testimony had BEEN gone through with
and nothing was proved against mason
ry were any accusations made against
the committee, ofpartiality, orcomplaints or
that the rule was wrong.
In the course of his speech, Mr.. Sim
mons read from the address Of the Anti
masonic Standing State Committee, last
spring to the public on the subject of the
then approaching election, the following
paragraph:
"Mr. Lemuel ii. Arnold, stood on
ground as independent as did Mr.. Fran
cis Their views of state and national
policy were understood to be similar, and
the independence, fairness, intelligence,
and sound integrity that had marked the
Legislative course Of Mr.. Arnold, partic-
ularly in the honorable and fearless dis
position evincod by him, to try the me-
mortal presented by your convention,
with the same impartiality and candor,
due and secured by the bill of rights to-
the other class of respectful petitioners,
strongly commended him to the commit
tee and to the whole body of anti-masons
in this state"
He also read passages from these pub
locations to show the striking similarity to
the various parts Of the report, and said
they bore one impress, and looked as
though they emanated from the same
master spirit, to keep up an excitement
among the people, for the benefit of in
triguing politicians. He knew there
were among anti-masons, many honest,
well-meaning men, who were conscien-
tiously opposed to masonry, that were
led OH by their duty in the course they
pursue. To blow up, in the minds of
these people, their prejudices, to keep
alive the excitement, and propagate a.
new the vilest and most slanderous char
ges against masons, appears to be the
leading objects of the gentleman's re-
port. 1t originated in fixed determine
ton to destroy the very object the Gen.
eral Assembly contemplated by the APP
pointment of the committee-which was,
TO allay party feeling and excitement, s.
reconcile friends and neighborhoods -
This was now attempted to be done un-
der the sanction of this assembly-but he
hoped their designs would by this scheme
be destroyed.
Mr. Simmons said he did hope that
when the masons come to see the report
Of the committee, that they are therein
completely exonerated from every charge
made against them, and that by the tes-
timony of seeding masons and anti-ma-
sons taken on oath by the committee, that
will take into consideration the propriety |
Of giving up their societies and surren-
dering their charters. 1t would exhibit
glorious example of patriotism, that of
sacrificing private feeling upon the altar
Of public good.
MIR. Amasa Sprague asked whether
the report of VIM. Sprague, Jun. was
not entitled to as much respect as the 9TH
er. He was one Of the committee and
he thought it ought to take the same
course as that made by MIR. Hazard.
Mr.. Hazard said that the report read
by him, was made by him under the di-