Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-01-26


ofthc government. The gentleman may
call this skirmshing, if he pleascs--it is
stating facts, such us will appear by the
treasury books. lie now held in his
hand, Il statement from the General
Treasurer, by which it appears that the
school fund, last May, was minus more
than $1,000. This could not be explain
ed away by any gentleman.
Mr.. Potter said, we can talk about
minus and other things us much as we
please. lie supposed the gentleman was
plus. But the gentleman had lost sight Of
his first object. lie hoped that greater
duty ON auction sales was not con,en-
plated That would, of course, carry
business to New-York, which was the
London of America. Goods were now
sen, from England to New-York and sold
at auction by those who had no local
habilation, who were not citizens of amy
country, but mere servants and pcdlars
of British merchants, who forced ihCIr
goods into this country.
After IA few words Of conversation in
which it was stated that the duties on
auction sales were much less in New York
than in THE State, which might occasion
the sending of goods there for sale, the
resolution was agreed to without Il dlyis-
ION.
Mr.. Hazard moved the following rcso-
luton, in the place of the one offered by
him on Friday evening:
Rcsolrcd, That the report Of the COM
mitlec appointed to investigate the
grounds of the charges in circulation Il
gainst masonry and masons III this state,
be recommitted to the same committee,
and that as soon as they shall have COM
plcted said report upon the whole subject
referred to them, they place tie same on
file in the Sccrctary's office, with all the
testimony in their possession relating t1
the subjcct-that the Secretary have pow
er To authorise some suitable person II
whose fidelity confidence can be placed
to publish said report and documents un
der the superintendencc ofthe commlttc'
to secure the copy right thereof, an'
that in the mean time, the Secretary tak'
care that no copies be taken of said re
port or documents, or amy part thereof.
Mr.. Potter said he thought it might be
improper to publish the report before i
was received by this house but he merely
suggested it for the consideration of the
house. lie had no objection hlmsel
personally.
Mr. Hazard considered that it was no
proper to delay the publication until tho
next session of the General Assembly
1t ought not to be kept back. The pub
lie expected it, and were anxious to see 1t
1t had been a very laborious subject fol
the committee, and could now he shortl
completed, the greater part of which wa'
already written, and needed only eXamln
Inc by the committee and copying. lfl
were not published the credulity of the
public will be further imposed upon, b!
s!anderous and vllainous reports clrculat
cd to gull and deceive.
MIR. Burgess wished the call of the
house in taking the question on the reso
luton.
MIR. Hazald added-and that the yeas
and nays be entered on the Journal.
MIR. Simmons made some remarks to
show the injustice to the committee in no
suffering the testimony to go to the pub
lie. They could then draw their owl
conclusions and sec whether the com
mittcc were not sustained in their rcpor
by the evidence.
Mr.. Allen hoped the gentleman, Mr.
Burgess, would withdraw his motion
lie was willing the committee shoul'
take their own way.
Mcssrs. Burgess, King, Potter, an'
Cross, made some further remarks Oh tn,
question, and the motion to call the hous'
and enter the yeas and nays on the jour
nal, not being sustained by one fifth o
the house, seven only rising in favor, th'
resolution was passed nearly unanimous
ly.
Mr.. Potter moved the following rcso
luton which was laid on the table. MIR
=. said he was not anxious to act upon
before May, when his party should be II
power. lie did not wish his party to I'll
their pockets from the pub.c Golfers.
Rcsoircd, That froE. 10 : after the frs
cdnesday oil May next, that thc 'o'''
pcnsation of the Secretary of State an
the clerks of any of the courts in thi
state, shall not exceed the sum Of eigh
hndrcd doHmS as full compensation iO
their services and that the surplus if any
shall be paid into the Treasury.
MIR. Amasa Sprague moved that th
separate report of William Spraguc, Jr
one of the committee appointed to inVes
tigate the charges against masonry an'
masons, he published with the report o
lthc committee and the testimony.
Mr.. Simmons objected to the publIca