The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-13
From the Providence Herald.
X RHODE-ISLAND LEGISLATURE


We close to-day, the detail Of the pro-
cecdings of our General Assembly, for the
session which closed on Saturday night,
last week. 1t will be perceived that large
mass OF private petitions have been discussed
of, and n good deal of other matter. Of a
private and local character. In fact. but
little else has been done, of much imuort.
ance, in public point Of view. Abou, n
week, Que fourth part of the session. was
taken up IN the discussion of three questions
the right of pcillIon, tls license act, and
the Charlesiown contested election. The
discussion of the resolutions rrlaiye 20 The
right of peti,ion, the federaIis,s had entirely
10 themselves. They were divided ON il.
and monopozed the entire quarrel; aud. n
sharp one 1t was, too, in some Of IFS stages
Charges, insInuatlons and inuendos, were
banded between the leaders, in right good
style; and of such character too, that had
they been uttered by democrats, every in
mate OF the federal camp would have sworn
them false. a iter all, The whole affair was
mere farce, probably enacted for poliii
cal benefit, and ended in noise and smoke,
ss was probably Intended ut an expense
to the State, of some FIVE HUNDRED DOL
LARS. The subject was finally disposed of
by Indefinite postponenent and il is not
at all likely that the entire debate changed
u single vote, or was expected to do so.
The discussion of the license law was n
fair specimen of another attempt at political
management. The federalists also took the
lead in connecting this law, in obedience 10
the dictates of the junto, as set forth in the
Provide Journal, and with the eyiden,
intention of compromise with the ultra
temperance men, on one hand, and their
antagonists, on the other so as, If possible.
to secure the votes of both. But they have
signally failed in the undertaking to quiet
the excitement. The law is not the like
ness Of uny thing else in existence; and,
not one in twenty, Of either party, will be
satisfied with its provisions. This unavail-
ing law has cost the State at least Two
HUNDRED DOLLARS.
The contest of the Charlestown election
was another federal pet, to tickle the fancy
of Doct. Dan. King, and his party, and tn
secure the town of Charlestown to the fed;-
eral cnuse.-By the game Of hoeus pocus,
they succeeded at last, in elccling the f,der.
al Delegates within few days Of the time
when their term of service would expire
and to do that, have saddled the State with
a bill Of FouR HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE
DOLLARS for the fees Of Witnesses nl.ne.
and about FoUR HUNDRED AND FrFrY Dol
LARS, for the investigation and debate. So
that, II will he perceived, these three aues-
iions alone, have cost The State about SIN
TEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS And
this, Ne suppose, is What We are to un-
derstand as a federal com,nent on econo-
mlcal Legislation .a.
Anoiher manpuvre of the party leaders,
ns n fund IN reserve for the Spring cam
paign, was. the attempt Of the onh Merton
ian Phiiosepher of Jobnson to brand the
administrations Of Governors Fenuer and
Francis either with lavish or improper eI-
pendiiurrs of the public money. The phil
osopker thought himself on the high rosd
of successful experiment; but disappoini-
mrnts will sometimes occur, even in our
best coneocied schemes. The srgscious
shrewdr-..s 50 Of ,ur friend Potter detected the
suspicion Of au error IN the fpori, to . suf