The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-02-12
VOL. 24.

| s"Sgcsteu Whether fur-
"'er "me' than one year, should not be
allowed for the corporations to di.poss
"' 'he'r proper'y---nlso whether the dill
ought not to be made general In ns pr,,.
VISIONS IN respect To requiring annual
returns to be made to the Secretary, so
"s to embrace all corporations.
Mr. Cook said lie would further suy-
ges' whether the bill ought not to pro-
VIDE That upon surrender Of the char
'ers' they should he exemp, from the
provisions of the net lie though, they
should have the option of making the
return or surrender Of their charters.
Me- Whitaker said he presumed no
return would or could be required if the
charters were surrendered. That w,ulJ
put an end to their existence, und moth
ing further could he required Of the
members of the corporations.
MIR. Crnnston said he had not intend
TO have taken any part in the adop-
'iou of the course tn be pursued i'm this
business, but lei the movers of IL take
Their own course. lie would, however,
ut The request Of friend, whom he
highly respected, move that the bill,
with The amendment, be committed to n
select committee, to report on tho whole
subject. IL could he by them better ex
am'ned, than in this House, and would
be attended with but little delay.
MIR Titus objected to n reference to
committee. us tending to produce delay.
lie was disposed to act now, MS all the
necessary Information had been obtain
cd. II could DO acted upon as well this
moment 10 tho House ns before Com.
"'''ee aud he was wholly opposed to
that course, and fully prepared for pres
en-. action on tho subject.
MIR Hazard, Of Newport said that he
objected to the phrasolosy of the prean,-
b'e to the ball. lie did not think tho
House were prepared to cast the rcflec-
t'ons therein contained. They where
wholly gra,uitous and unnecessary to
effect the desired object. lie thought
1t should be amended. A part Of the
preamble was not true, and well known
to be so blythe members of the House.
II had always been well known before
the acts of incorporation were granted
that masons had secrets. There were
no deceptions practiced in obtaining
their charters. il wns true there were
objections--ihey were liable to be mis-
understood and he thought them on that
account very improper. But no evil had
had been proved to exist or resulting
from their secrets; for antimasons have
declared that they have all been made
known and are now no longer such. We
have been furnished with oil the onths
that have been administered by these
corporations and by the nc, passed one
year "go, the administering or taking
them is now rendered highly penal. We
have il in evidence that they hive ceus-
ed 10 admisier any oath. For these
reasons he hoped il would be commit
ied.
Mr.. c. Allen said he wished mn delay
the House were prepared to act now
aud needed no committee. The object
had been long and well considered, and
he saw no objection to the bill or pream.
bic.
Mr.. Crans,on said, that before taking
:ho question he should make q motion
md a few observations. The bill was
the result of n long warfare, in which
masonry and masons had been most cru
ely prosecuted and branded with the
vile and opprobrious eppithets. Tho
public mind and this house had become
heated and it would be well to let il
cool-A posiponement Of the subject
10 the next session would give time
for this heat 10 subsidc. No harm then
could be done. There was NJ neces-
si,y to hurry this business. II was
know that the object would be rs well
answered mt the next session ms Mt the
present. II would give time for the