The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-04-08
ADDRESS.
FREEMEN OF RHODE-ISLAND

administration of his Excelency JOHN BROWN
FRANCIS, view, with anxious socitude, the dis
organising attempts of few ambitious aspirants tC
office, TO disturb the quiet and harmony of the State
! They believe, however, in common with you, thai
their endeayors, like those of last year, will agair
prove abOrtive.
They see no good reason, why the freemen OF
this State, should be agitated by political excite
ments AT this time.
Entertaining these views, they have deemed prop
cr to address to you succinctly of the consid-
crations, which will determine them to sustain the
present State administration, and which, they fond
ly hope, will induce you also, to cooperate with
them, i'll every laudable effort TO defeat our common
opponents.
GOVERNOR Francis and those associated with
him. are well known to you. Their political senti-
ments accord whvour own. Twice in succession,
you have elected most of them, by commanding
ma jores to the several stations to which they are
again nominated.
They men of yonr own selecting and appro-
val. They have served you with fidelity and ability.
Under their administration, your rights and in
teress have been well guarded and promoted. Your
public affairs have bee administered with prudence
and economy.
The expenditures of the State government, not
withstanding that unusually expensive and protrac-
ed criminal trials have been thrown upon their ad-
mlnlstration have been greatly curtailed and dimn-
ished.
The sources of revenue have been augmented
and your treasury repenishcd, without resort to
taxes and cyactlons upon your lands.
The receipts from April 30, to Octobcr27, 1884,
g from all sources of revenue not appropriated for
the support of public schools amounted to 2,2 95S-
16, leaving balance in the treasury, at the latter
date, applicable to the payment of the current ex-
pcnses of 81, ,724 Al.
The school fund has been faithfully invested, ant
now exhibits pleasing contrast to that in which ii
was left by the immediate predecessor of Gov. Fran
CTS. II Is but Justice to state, that during the very
erpcnsiye and irritating administration Of that gen.
tleman, the treasury, in order to meet and defray
the current expenses, was obliged to borrow from
the school fund, upwards of $4,000; and at the
close of his unsuccessful and disastrous reign was
actually indebted to that fund in this amount.
This great deficiency has been nearly supplied,
and the fund nearly reimbursed. BY estimate of
the General Treasurer, made to the Assembly in
October last, the whole fund, which had been thus
diverted by improyldent legislation, will be rcm-
bursed and invested, leaving on the Both of April,
1885, still balance in the treasury of three thou
sand dollars.
As an additional source Of revenue, yielding an
average nett sum, annually of about three thousand
dollars, the State has acquired and perfected Its
title to the Providence and Pawtucket Turnpike.
This property, it is within your recollection and
knowledge, some Of your leading opponents un-
blushingly attempted to legslate away and convert
to their own private emoluments, although, acting
at the time, under imperative and solemn oblga-
tons to be faithful to the State. All this has been
effected within the last two years, by course of
careful and economical legislation of your present
official agents. Your courts of justice faithful
honest and intelligent. Your finances are in a
fourishing condition. Your State enjoys unusual
quetude The people are prosperous and happy
These facts are all well known to you. Indeed
your own individual experience verfes their asser-
ton.
You will pause with us then, fellow citizens, and
ask, where is the necessity of change of your pub
lie officers Have the people complained against
them2 Do they believe them dishonest, incable
negligent in conducting the affairs of the State
No such complaints made-no such beefls en-
tertained. Why then, we ask, arc they opposed!
Another reason exists, which, we believe, can
not fail to animate you in their support.
Gov. FRANCIS and most Of his Senate arc practi-
cal Farmers. Their interests, therefore, iden-
titled with yours. Those not engaged in agricul-
tnral pursuits nevertheless, in sentiments allied
with you Their political tenets necessarily lead
to the adoption of legislative measures, which ase
calculated to promote, equally, the various interests
of every class of citizens. We perceive danger,
therefore, under their administration that the inter
of any class, will be advanced over, to
the prejudice of those of another Equality, the
great and leading principle Of Democratic Repub-
licansm, is the basis on which they act and forms
the Distinguishing characteristic IN all their legsla-
ton.
They are not the advocates Of chartered monop-
olies, or exclusivep riveges. In this, they dissent
from the modern notions Of their aspiring opponents,
aud hold that monopoles every description, wh-h-
er regulated by individual enterprise, oregislatiye
aetments, Of deadiy hostility to the rights and
liberties of the common people, and subversive Of
orr free institutions. II is with pleasure we advert
to these topics, because we perceive your public
SCI, ants, whom YOU are again respectfully called
upon to sustain, have proceeded upon these great
and immu,abI. principss and have protected the