The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-17

came direct contract between the debfor
and the creditor, and If the debtor were
guilty of any breach Of tho condition of
that bond il became forfeited. In Eng
land, and some of the other States il was
otherwise. The bonds there were given
20 the Sheriff, who held in custody the
body Of the debtor. He thought the law
might be easily so altered as that in every
involuntary escape, if tho debtor should
return in so many minutes or hours, it
should be deemed no escape. He gen.
orally agreed with the gentleman, Mr..
Potter, in the remarks he made.
Mr.. Pratt said he gave no opinion on
the practicability Of the proposition made
by the gentleman, being carried into eff
feet. There might be some difficulty in
applying it under our laws He had not,
however any objection TO it. He alluded
to the attachment laws Of other States.
Mr.. Potter said it was difficult to strip
a rogue of his property. We had no
sleeping attachments here as in some
other States. He believed our laws were
as favorable to the honest debtor and
creditor as those of other States. In
point of humanity they would not be
wanting in comparison. He would not
shrink from such a comparison. He was
glad the remedy was so easy, as the
Speaker had said. Mr.. p. said he knew
a case in Kent county, where prisoner
on the limits was playing ball, and he
inadvertently stepsed over the limits. was
seen BY an old woman, who happened ta
be looking ont Of a window--she told of
IT. and suit was brought against the
sureties on the bond.
: The Committee on the Judiciary were
instructed to bring in bill on the subject,
providing some relief on Jail bonds where
the escape was involuntary, and the debtor
returned within limited time.
Mf. King moved that the bill relating
to the removing of snow from the high
ways, and rendering them passabe when
ever they should be so blocked up with
snow as to impede travelling, be now
considered, as there did not appear to be
much business before the House.
MIR. Potter said it was good time for
that business, as the snow was now falling. |
1t was showing at the time.)
MIR. Shaw stated that he was one of the |
Committee to whom that bill had heen re-
ferred, and then had i: in his possession.
He had well considered the subject, and
had come to the conclusion that it wasI
inexpedient to pass any law upon the
subject but leave it to the towns 10 make
such regulation thereon as they should
think proper. 1t was very difficult to
make general law that would not
operate unequally.
Mr.. Potter said he was aware of the
difficulty that attended the making pro-
per law upon the subject. He had two
or three slcighs and twice as many horses,
and should like to have the roads cleared
out for him. Last winter he was blocked
up eight or ten days at WEXFORD, on his
return fromthe General Assembly, where
he first Iearnr the principles Of anti-ma-i
sonry, and then had to hire persons to
dig him home.
A short desultory debate was continued,
in which Messrs. Davis, Potter. Sisson,
King, Tillinghast, of w. Greenwich,
Dawley, Holden, Church, Hazard and
Allen took part, when the bill was re-
ferred to the Attorney General, with
directions to report a bill which would
meet the general sentiment ofthe House.
Tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the morning
was assigned to take up the docket Of
private petitions, and at quarter past
eleven the House adjourned to o'clock
in the afternoon.
Wednesday Afie,noon.- Hoase
met according to adjournmcnt--The
Committee on Convict petitions made a
report in favor of granting eleven of the
thirteen presented, and against the other
two. Nine ofthose recommended by the
Committee were granted.
The Committee on the Judiciary to
whom was referred the insolvent law,
with directions, reported by bill, which
was read a first time and laid on the table.
Mr.. Potter enquirnl Of the speaker if
there was any business on the table and
was answered in the negative.
Mr.. Pratt mentioned to the house. that
there had been different decisions by the
courts on Jail bonds, for the liberty of
the yard, whether they were required for
double the sum actually due, or double
the sum as it appeared by the commit
ment on the gaol book. The speaker
said he considered it would be embraced
in the subject matters Of Jail bonds before
the house in the morning and as referred
with that to the same committee. The
house then adjourned to half past nine
o'clock Thursday morning.
TSursday Morning.--The House took
kn tA1 l.