The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-10-04
MRMoIR OF RHoDH-IsLANp.
NEWPORT. December III.

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NEWPORT, December 7th. (
At a Town Meeting, called by order 0
the Town Council. Thursday. Novembc
, 26, l767,
Yoted. That committee be appointed
to consider Of the proposal made to thi
Town. BY the Town Council, for encoura
ging industry, frugality and our own man.
ufactures. and make report to this Meeting
which, stands adjourned to Friday, the 4th
day Of December next.
Friday. December 4th, 1867.
The town met. according TO adjournment
The committee presented the following
report, viz.
WHEREAS the excessive use Of for ,ign
superfuities is the chief cause of the pres
ent distressed state of this town, as it is
thereby drained of its money, which misfor-
tune is likely to be increased, by means OF
the late additional burthens and impos,ions
on the trade Of the colony, which threaten
the country with poverty and ruin:
II is therefore Voted, That this town will
take all prudent and legal measures to en-
courage the produce aud manufactures of
this colony, and to lessen the use of super
fluities, and particularly the following emu
merated articles imported from abroad, to
soit. loaf sugar, cordage, anchors, coaches,
chaiscs and carriages of all sorts, horse fur
niture, mems aud womens apparel ready
made, household furniture, gloves, mems
and womens shoes, sole leather, deck nails,
gold aud silver and thread lace Of all sorts,
diamond, stone and paste ware, snuff, mus
tard, clocks aud watches, siIvcrsmiths and
jewellers ware, broadcloths that cost above
ten shilings sterling per yard, muffs, furrs,
and tippets, and all sorts of milenary ware,
starch, womcns and chidrens stays, fire en-
gines, china ware, silk and cotton velvets,
gauze, pewterers hollow ware, linseed oil,
glue, lawns, cambricks, silks Of all kinds
for garments, malt liquors, and cheese. And
that the following superscription, for this
end, be, and hereby is recommended to the
several inhabitants and householders of this
town, viz.
WHEREAS this colony labours under a
heavy debt, incurred in the course of the
late war; and the inhabitants, by this means,
must for some time be subject to very bur-
thensome taxes: And as our trade hath
for some years been on the decline, and is
now particularly under great embarrassment
and heavy impositions, our medium very
scarce, and the balance of trade greatly a
gainst this country We, the subscribers,
being sensible that it is absolutely necessa-
ry, in order to extricate US out Of these en-
harrassed and distressed circumstances, to
promote industry, economy and manufac-
lures among ourselves, and by these means
prevent the unnecessary importation of Eu-
ropean commodities, the excessive use Of
which threatens the country with povery
and ruin, DO promise and engage to and
with each other, That we will encourage
the use and consumption of all articles man.
ufactured in any Of the British American
colonies, aud more especially in this colony
and that we will not, from aud after the
3lst ofJanuary next ensuing, purchase any
Of the following articles, which shall be i'm
ported from abroad after that time, riz.
loaf sugar, and all the other articles men,
TONED above, except such household furni-
Iure as cannot be procured Of our own man.
ufacturs.
And we further agree, That at The fu-
neral Of any of our relations or friends, we
will not give scarfs nor rings to any person,
nor gloves to any, except the ministers at
lending, which gloves shall be OF the man.
ufaclure Of some Of the British colonies in
4 America; and that we will not ourselves,
nor suffer any Of our families, TO make use
of any mourning upon the death Of even
Inc nearest relation; nor upon such an oc-
casicn procure any new garments but what
hall be absolutely necessary"
Voted nndnimonsly, That the above re-
sort be accepted and that the resolutions
presented by said committee pass as vote
.fthis sowns
Ind IL u further Voted. That the Town
-lerk tfewa numbcr Of subscription pa
'ers end deliver tn committee appointed
. get shs same signed BY the inhabitants Of
hi' tow" ; who are tn make report si the