Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-23
/. \. Circuit Court.

Judge Story, having recovered from hi
late severe indisposlilon, was present at ll,
recent term Of the Circuit Court in Provi
dence, aud happily alluded in his charge t,
the Grand Jury to our State affairs. pasSln.
awell deserved eulogy upon our much abuset
old Chaner.-We have only room for tn,
following, which we copy from the Journal.
"You have just passed through crisis il
your po!tica uffalrs,nto tho details Of whicl
have no desire to enter. You have passet
through these changes, you hive been en-
gagged IN tho consideration Of those great
questions which arc vital To the existence and
duration Of all Rcpublcss in the considera
tion Of those great principles Of Liberty and
Law which lie at the foundation Of all civil
institutions, and form the basis of all your
liberties.
\ Constitution. deliberately formed, has
been adopted by a large majority OF the
people of the Sln,e, and has now gone into
successful operation.
Thirly.two years have passed away since
first visited the people Of Rhode Island in
Judicial character. During that time ]
have been a witness, and delighted witness,
gress in intelligence and lnorals--ls increas-
ing power and prosperity. ] havo observed
it's entnrprisng, energetic character, dev0t-
ing itself TO the best ends its Commerce,
though issuing from so small a territory.
whitening every ocean with its sails its
Manufactures spreading through the wide
world. These things afford no slight or un-
important subjects Of cons liberation for q
free people. They form no small source Of
congraiulalioD. What are they owing to /?
II is now $50 years ago this very year, |
believe, since a charter Of Government was
first granted to this State, thcn feeble Colo.
ny, scanty IN numbers and destitute in means,
situated in the midst Of larger and stronger
States, and from that day to this it has gone
steadily on incre aslng IN strength and intel
!igence, in wealth and numbers, to the pres
enl day.
The history of the world does not present
us with n charter of government which,
though susceptible Of improvement, was bet
ter adapted to tho wants Of a free people IN
the earlier period of their progress, than that
which for one hundred and eighty years has
constituted the basis Of your laws and your
institutions. II con6dcd the powers of gov
crnment to a free, intelligent and yIriuous
people. You have grown under i'll you have
lived in peace and quiet aud prosperity be-
meath it's rule, after every other form of gov
ernment IN this country IN existence at the
time of its establishment, and many which
came into existence long after, have been
swept away by the hand of reform The
time at length has arrived when changes
have been deemed necessary; when the
people, having outgrown their former lnstitn-
tions, have felt IT necessary to remodel
them. The past is the past the present is
nil that you or have before us the future
j. everything to those who are to come after
us. God grant, that under this newborn OF
government which you haye established, en
bracing as it does. the very principles which
gave excellence and permanence To the old,
you Inuy continue in the same career Of in
crrnslng prosperity that you may continue
,o be- the same moral and intelligent people
M IN the years that are past /; TINT you may
continue in the same course of enterprise,
md industry. and virtue, which has hitherto
resulted in bringing home peace, plenty and
happiness TO every freslde IN this beautiful
though narrow territory. II so. the change
will be hailed as blessing both by y0u and
by those who succeed YOU"