The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1841-01-27
RHODE. ISLAND LEGISLATURE.
TUESDAY MoRsISG, Jan. 18th.

A bill Of Sl4 was submitted in favor Of A
fred Green for board and clothing, furnsheC
one OF the Nauagansett tribe.
Mr.. Gaviit stated that the Indian was turne
of from the tribe. and was taken care oi whe
perishing.
And the bill wis allowed.
Mr.. GAvIT stated that some further legisa
lion was required in relation to the tribe. Tn
Indians we're nearly all gone, and their place
were supplied By negroes Of the worst kind
The House voted that Messrs. +. II. Potter
Spencer and Gayit, be a committee TO enquire
what legislation was necessary for the tribe.
Petition of Smithfeld Exchange Bank for a
mendment Of char,er-of r. !. Society for thu
encouragement of domestic industry for ex
enpian from taxes. received and referred.
A bill to adjourn the Court Of Com non Pleas
for the country of Bristol TO the 9Th day Of
FEBRUARY, A. ID. ls4l. was read, and the rule
was suspended, the bill read second une and
passed.
The bin introduced by Mr.. At~el to repeal
certain law. against Masonic Societies was read
Mr.. ArwELL said the act most obnoxious TO
the Masons was that requiring those Societies
not Incorporated to make returns OF all theIf
meetings and affairs TO the State and It was not
required Of auy other body Of men ana II sets
the mark Of infamy on large class OF our most
respectable citizens. and brands with Iniamy
many Of our best men who are sleeping IN the
tomb. lie aske If tho masoDso OF Rhode Island
had done any Thing. or had any 'hins
been proved against the Mssons to warrant
such an enactment; nov the days oil ianailcIsn'
and creduliiy were past the Assembly with
clearer heads and sounder views on2htto repeal
those laws the masons had held their meet
inss and the laws had not been enforced and
could not be enforced legally in any court IN
the land. but he did not wish the brand Oi IN
fanny put on any class Of cirlzens.
This gave riSe to a debate which continued
until the ad djournment. Mr.. Spencer opposed
The repeal of the laws as an antimason; Mr.
Simmons opposed the repeal because he was
afraid il would make an ercitcment. although he
admitted that the laws are unjust: Messrs.
Wbipple and Atwell strongly urged lhcrrcpcal
on the ground Of their Injustice
A6ernoon.
Mr.. ArwELL called up the bill relative TO
masonic laws under discussion this morning.
He said that what proved al the trial was
put on record we must take for truth what
vas spread on the record as proved, and ~e
must take for truth that what is there set dawn
gas all that proved. Ii ii is stated IN The
preamble that the Masons had secret oahs. 1t
was known before for centuries that Masons had
secrets.
Our ancestors came here for freedom of o.
piGIon-to find a spot where mans secrets +,
should not be wruns from him by torture, aud :
hen punish him for the matters he migh con '
ess. The legislature Of Rhode island have
'een guilty of the same tyranny from which our
Fd,hers fed The law of Rhode Island, re-
Iuircs the Masons to come. before them and TO :,
urge themselves by oath, that they have not y
iolae! the law, and if they do not. the Auor- y
lry General holds over their heads the lerrors u
# an indicimcnt. Wha, is this but the Inqui. y
ition II
This law SAYS that there is a class of men a ~
nongst us so base and iccnious that we are .
10 bring them yearly before us TO
i've an account of their deeds. Suppose we -
iade law of this kind, affecting private in =, r.
him before us To answer for -
hat laws he has broken for the year! wish w w
} hear one man avow this to he his principles y
lesisaton-that we are to compel men to
,nlesslon by the rack and tho iaggot. ~
The Constitution provides TINT "no man 49,
,all be compelled TO bear witness against HIM y
'if.' and yet this law requires masons 10 ex- :,
urgato themselves of an offence or they will y
c muct in a fine. =
1t has been said we are not to repeal this law, VI
excitement will arise from it, if on enquiry
is found that some one will be offended - "
his is the vesy answer the King of Spain al P'
'ys made when the iuquIstoD was arrai2ned,-
My Government could not stand without his -
stiu,ion." The, plea of cxpedency--which wv
always the tsrant's plea. -
But are there none of our citizens who will be
ended at this law on the Statute Books as ~ ~
II As some offended al its repeal There ~.
. many-very many. who regard this law as 4,
. plague spot in their hearts. They have of. ,''
, called on me to move for this repeal. They VIZ
me now. when the party to which | belong is -.
fnl
me-. and they are TO be told at tins time that " :"
Rhode Island the wrongs Of men are not to ~ az,
righted, les, political party will be in. Wv ~"
ed thereby. wa
MIR. CRANsToN left the chair and addressed
House. He felt il his dnty TO give his views ~
the House.
The question of party h,s been brought mp. tnp,
ther are few subjects in which We are not '"'.
nenced by party. There were questions OF ~
'ediency that should be considered "0J'
dr. {. said he had been mason for 80 years,
he had never seen in il aneht that was n
nsi his duty to himself, his family, his coun- liam
, or his God. Ee never had seeded, and pos,
trusted he never should; and he had always n
lsed 10 testify when called on to reveal its not
Is. wou
lie argued that the laws were disgrace to n
, Statute Book, be thought if we did not sem
We hastily in the matter the gentlemen who the,
'c'ed these laws would move their repeal Tie with
not wish TO renew the scenes that had passed NJ
could demonstrate that the excitement had peti
{ the Stale 800, 200 and he dreaded The re- the
val Of those scenes. Mach as he regarded NJ
'onry- as lie wished masonry and it's Of II
efiis to flourish. still he wished the subject ther
hponed to next session. He thought ii his ed I
Y to make all The poliicaLcopitoihe could. and lone
MS trends maintained the strong majority tent
y now had, he would 90 fully for the repeal dasi
hose laws at the next session. take
1r. RANDOLPH was not prepared 10 vote on som
subject hastily. TO throw the community Tow
fermcnt. He wished time TO converse bic.
b his constituents, TO Know their views on \
subject. IL We repealed this law hastily. from