Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-02-18
TO TIE EDITORS.
WASHINGTON, Jan 22, lS4l.

WASHINGTON, Jan 22, le4l.
GrYrLEMrN: A few days Stree read in
the coIun,ns of the National lntelligcncer an
article extracted from the Boston Courier, IN
which it was stated that Moses Touro, an
eminent merchant of the city of New Orleans,
and a Hebrew, had given the sum OF ten
Thousand dollars to assist IN completing the
Bunker Hill Monument.
Mr. Touro was born in the town OF New
port. Rhode Island, and was descended from
colony of Jews, who emigrated, as nearly
as can recolect from Inv readings, about
the wear 1854 from Germany. They comprls-
cd some ten or fifteen families; were respect
sble for the correctness Of their lives and the
purity Of all their conduct. They fled to The
\ United States to escape the spirit OF perSe-
cution which had too long and too severely
oppresscd them in the German Empire.
! Al The period Of their arrival IN Newport,
that ancient city was in n nourlshng condl.
,,ion. and, in its commercial and financial re-
lations. far oulvcd and eclipsed the cily OF
| New York.
The names of the Jewish families that
comprised this colony were Lopez, Selxas,
Levy. Cohen, Touro, LEVERS, Myers, and
Moses. On leaving Germany they probably
directed their course TO Rhode Island be-
cause that then colony had been settled oy
Rope, Williams and his assoc es,and was the
proc laimed land Of religious tolerance. These
Jews, bringing with them, rs they did, an
abundance of the goods Of this world, were
warmly welcomed To Rhode Island, and, a.
long as their industry fourishcd, and their
ships returned laden with the wealth oi the
Indies, they were, os any other people would
have been, decidedly popular, and expe-
ricnced neither "let nor bndrnnce " III the
enjoyment of their religious opinions anu
worship. I hey fonrished for many years,
and had established an envlable reputation,
when the difficulties that led TO the quarrel
with the mother country broke loose upon
them; their ships were scqucsiercd IN Tor
clun ports their commerce was placed III
allowance; and, to add to the sum total of
their misiurtunes, an infurlated British sol
dicry laid waste their warehouses and dwell
hugs. In common with the mass OF Rhode
islanders residing in Newport, their hopes
were DESTROYED and they found IN America
less repose than they had experienced at the
hard hands of their German oppressors.
MANY of these worthy Hebrews remained
at Newport for years after the war The
Revolution, but the Larger portion migrated
to Boston, New York. Philadelphia, aud
Charleston, s. c. Whilst at Newport, and
in the midst Of their palmy days, they erect
ed synagogue, of very respectable dlmcu'
sions, where they regularly worshipped the
God of their fathers without nolcstolion, ana
freely participated IN dispensatlons of lhc'r
priests aud prophets.
The synagogue they erected was OF Gothic
structure, built Of brick, was OF great soIidlty,
and cost large sum Of money. Attached
To it was n ccmctry where they buried their
dead, and the whole was surrounded by a
high and thick wall
About the year 1900, or perhaps little
later, the Jews of Newport became diminish
cd in numbers and The progress oi Liberal
Christianity" was so rapid that they could
not worship at the shrine oi thor God With
oui subscting themselves to insult and annoy
ancc, and were compelled, by the mdgnanim
iiy Of sectarinn opposition, to close their syn
sgogue. For many years 1t was not opened,
save on those occasions whcn company oil
them came TO Newport from distant cities
and held religious service, or paid the last
debt OF gratitude and affection to some Of
their fallen brethren.
ltwas about The year 1919, | think, that
Mr.. Henry Touro,a younger brother of Moses,
the gentleman who has recently made do.
uarlon To the Bunker Hill Monnment,) whilst
riding m n gig, near Boston, was suddenly
thrown from his carrlage, and, in falling,
caught his ankle in the step ot The vehicle
The affrigh,ed horse dragged him some dis
,ance. and inflicted wounds that were immc
diotely pronounced mortal.
Mr.. Touro, who was man OF large for
tune, aware of his impending fate, made his
will, and, after making large devlses for the
aid of the INDECENT of his people, he be-
ancaihcd 10 the town of Newport the sum
Of $50, 600, [Sl5,000l to be invested as the
wisdom of tac town might dictate, with the
condition that the interest Of The fund, or 70
much of it as might DO found necessary,
should be applied TO keeping the Jewish syn
agvgue in repair, and in repairing the street
on which it stands.
The devise was accepted; the money was
placed in the hands OF trustees, and the syn
aropue and the street have been kept IN Y
most perfect condition ever since and the
| fund, am told, has been vastly augmented
by the correct husbapdry Of the town OF
Newport.
| At this moment. there is not, believe, o
Jaw in Newport. Their descendants, all OF
whom embraced the Christian religion, still
reside IN tho State, but, yielding To the force
ofpublc opinion aud the dogmatism Of the
age, have abandoned the Gods and the Al.
tars of their fathers. Notwithstanding the
tolerance which Roger Williams proicssed,
and his disciples attempted to enforce, The
atmosphere Of Rhodr Island wns loo iNToLrR.
Ant for Tie crisitnce of Judaism.
II were unnecessary to dllaie on the hard
ships ard cruclties that the Jews have en-.
dured. From the very dawning of Chris.
tinnity in Palestine. they have been subject
I'D To series ofviolcnce. prescription, wrong
Wherever We find them, we find them labor.
ing under all the ills that bigotry can lnillci
-insulted, ostracis"d, denounced ns Jios !
As early rs the reign of REGARD the first
Cntholic King of the Go,hs, notwithstanding
they attained uncxnmplcd prosperity ~ The
Peninsula. aud for many years were admins
traitors of the finances. aud render, d the ut.
mnst scr,rcc To- the Monarch, az agricultur.
ist. and inanciers, they subsequently Erll
victims TO the dcsputism of The King they had
honWcd and blessed. Envy. jealousy. and
bigutry pointed lbcm out as objects OF pcrse
cutlon, and laws we're passed" says the Rev
Mr.. Mailman, d" That they should not celebrate
the Passover according to their usage (; that
they should mol contract marriage according
to their custom that they should not prac.
uce circumcision, aud should make no dis.