Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-05-19
DEBATE
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MAY SESSION, 1875
SATURDAY, MAY7,

'N'S'
SATURDAY, MAY7,
Upon the Memorial Of Nathan Brown and
others, freemen Of Johnston, complaining
/ of fraudulent voting in that town, and pray
ing that Committee might be appointed, to
investigate the same, and to report at the
next session of the General Assembly.
Mr.. Hazard, of West Greenwich, called up
the memorial of Nathan Brown and others,
citizens Of the town of Johnston, on the sub
ject of fraudulent voting in that town, and
praying an investigation OF the same. Mr..
ii. moved that the prayer Of the memorial be
granted, and a committee be appointed with
full powers for making the investigation de-
sired by the memorialists.
\ Mr. Tillinghast questioned the power Of
, the Legislature to make an Investigation of
this character. The memorial complained Of
the manner in which the records of the town
were kept. If the Town Clerk had done any
thing in violation of the law prescribing his
duty, he was liable to its penalties, with the
enforcement OF which the Legislature had
nothing TO do.
MIR Simmons-Let it be supposed for a
moment that every thing stated in this me-
moral was true, and what does it amount to-!
The allegations were vague and general as
sertions. Nothing was specified. We are
told of wonderful frauds in Johnston. and the
charge is published and spread out before
the world. But when men come to sign their
names to any paper, we find it to contain
nothing but loose and indefinite statements.
1t is stated in this memorial that there are
twenty-five men who vote and yet pay no
taxes. Suppose this Is found to be true. Is
it not also the case in every other town, that
men vote who pay 10 taxes? DO all your
certificate voters pay taxes? Do all eldest
sons of treemen pay taxes! II Is not stttec
even on which side they voted
The people who have got up this memorial
from Johnston are very much AFRAID that the
public will not believe the statements that
have been circulated by them in the commu-
nifty, and what is still more, they may have
reason to fear that they have been guilty OF
libelling some men in that town. He pub
lished nothing in his defence in the newspa-
pers. He was perfectly willing that hls
standing in the community should depend
upon what his fellow citizens saw of him in
!. this House. The prayer of this memorial re-
quired an unheard Of proceeding on the part
of this Legislature. They were called upon
to go out of their way aud to erect out OF
their own body "Star Chamber Court"
| The General Assembly had at the very
last session, passed an act with as severe
penalties against fraud in elections as any
member desired. TO appoint and send forth
a committee for the purpose required by this
memorial, with no specific charge to exam
ine, would be establishing mere party ma
chine. 1t would be one Of the merest party
proceedings that ever existed.
At the last spring election, in this place
we were told that if the books and papers in
the office of the Town Clerk of Johnston
could be obtained, great number OF iraudu-
lent votes would be detected. If any person
among his opponents believed this, would
they have permitted, fed up as they were
with venom and hatred against him, that he
should be again elected representative from
that town, at the following August election
without contest, and without daring even to
name candidate against him as they nigh,
have done? They had an opportunity Of
challenging those votes which they deemed
to be fraudulent at the June election, and al
so at the August election for Representatives
in Congress, very warmly contested elec-
ton. Yet the majority remained about the
same. This year he agreed it had fallen OH,
not only in Johnston, but in almost every
town in the State. The ticket nominated
not being very popular one, there had not
been that exertion made, that there usually
was
/ Could the records of the town be so kept,
that man of Mr.. Nathan Browns intelli-
gence could not find out who was, or was not
voter? He (Mr 81 had not been to exam
inc the records, and was very careless about
such things. 1t was said that certain deeds
of some small lots to him were not acknowl-
edged, as if there was fraud in the transac-
tion. He sometimes purchased small lots of
land when he could get them cheap. He
was his own conveyancer, and drew his own
deeds, and thought he knew something about
the title to real estate. II Justice OF the
Peace was not at hand when the deed was
made, it might be sent to the Clerks Office
without being acknowledged.
Was it possible that any man could believe
that he voted upon an insufficient estate, or
upon deed that was not recorded! Nobody
pretends that there was any incumbrance up
on his estate. 1t was one of the objects OF
those men who have got up this memorial, to
keep up an abusive excitement against one
of the most meritorous men that ever sat IN
this General Assembly Or. King) lie Is
deservedly very popular man, and always
bore the largest vote Of any man upon the
ticket upon which he was candidate. II
there had been no chance to get at the re-
cords of the town, was it to be supposed that
he would be permitted, year after year, to
hold the Office of Town Clerk? These very
people who make their comp laints against
him, go to his office and talk with him cordially
upon any question upon which they desire
friendly counsel. They would trust him with
untold gold. lie has hundred fold more in
fuence over them by his weight of character,
and the confidence which they feel in his up
fiuhtpces anI ,nt,ur,,v than NO nf those hv