The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1837-1849, 1847-03-06
From the Providence Daily Journal.
The Old State Debt, No. l..

| From the Prov Ndeuce Daily Journal.
| The Old State Debt, No. l..
MR. EDIToR:-l'he dark and damning
deed has been done Rhode Island has
repudiafed her Stale Debt The legis-
laiure OF Rhode Island have by a vote Of
their House OF Representatives repudis-
. ted one hundred and thirty thousand dol
lars IN valid claims OF her citizens against
the Staie-clams originating ic the war
OF the Revolution, wheI her whole peo-
pie, with almost prodigal wsste, scattered
their treasure and split their blood TO Sc
cure the Independence OF their common
country. The Legislature have rejected
the petition OF the holders Of State claims,
praying that some provision may be made
10 meet the payment. The widow spd
tho orphan had hoped for some trlliog
aid in thus their hour Of need. But DIS
graceful TO the State, they are not only
turned away empty handed, but the re-
fusal has been accompanied with the most
opprobious language. For four long
years have the Petitioners followed in
the wake of Legislative power, begging
relief, and begging the State either TO
make the payment, or suffer the Petit.
ioners TO meet tho State before arbiira-
tors from the neigbboring States, where
by a decision eau be had, under no local
influence; but these solicitations have
been indecorously denied. The State has
wrapt itself up in its severe gn power, and
spurnad us from its door.
We will here recapitulate as briefly as
possible some OF the Acts Of Rhode Isl
and beginning 1915, April, page 1877.
AT the April Session OF the Colonial
Assembly, an Act was passed for raising
an .arny q Observation, 1000 men, to
serve within or out OF the State as may
be necessary against the common enemy.
Against this Act formal protest was
made, and appended to the Act signed
BY Joseph Wan,on, Governor, Darius
Sessions, Lieutenant Governor, and
Thomas Wickes and William Potter Of
the Senale.
| Oct. page z. Raise 500 men.
| Jan. (" ell. Increase the Army Of October
| TO 75O men.
| " 222. Raise a Regiment Of Artillery
| from l6 towns. 224 men.
| /" 223. Raise a Regiment Of 760 mon.
| +" 2S3. Repor, 285 Miuu,e men.
| =" 235. Resolution for 237 men.
| " 35i. Raise 750 men.
| Mar. Artillery Of January olicered.
! "spss Act for Pu'eheins 1000 .''la,
l776.
| Mar. page 3l2. An Act passed for
equipping and Commissioning armed ves-
ses, and for Courts Of Admiralty for
Condemnation end for sale Of pr,zes.
May, page %. An act passed Repeal
ing an .4ci entitled "an .acl for the more
Ie6sciuaiiy securing to his Majesty the a.!
ieg,amce Of his subjects IN the Colony ana
Dom,n,on Of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, and alier,ng The forms ot
Commissions, Wras and Processes IN
Courts and The Oaths prescribed by Lc,O "
This Act was o full Declaration Of Inde-
pendence, and was precisely two months
IN advance Of the confederated Congress.
May, page al. An additional act for
arming and equipping vessels Of War
was passed.
All this was done while wo were Co.
lcny, and before the Declaration Of Inde-
pende0ce by the United States. The
same spirit of warlike defence was sub
sequenly pursued during the whole war
| We will now advert to The financial
spiri, Of Rhode Island, before and alter
the Declaration OF independence.
| 1875.
May, page 7. An Act passed for en-
body'ug, supplying and paying the army
raised IN April last. This Act declared
at great length the number and grades OF
officers, the rate Of pay, and all the mi
nutia Of Regimcn!ial discipline. To
meet the necessary expenses tho same
Act ordered EGO, 900, Bills Of Credit to
be issued, redeemable in Two and five |
years OF on interest of 9 i-2 per cent.
June, page 60 10000 mere were
issued on the same conditions.
Oct. page l62. 100000 wns ordered
to be emmted (Form Of Obliga gatidn. ~
"The possessor Of this Bill shall ho paid
by the General Treasurer oi this Colony
Of Rhode Island lawful money
within FIVE years from the date hereof by
order Of Assembly"
l776.
March, page 30l. 100000 Bills Of
Credit emitted and placed IN the Tteasu-
~ (fom Of Obligation,) "The posses
cor Of this Bill, shall be paid by, the
General Treasurer Of the Stale d Rhode
Island aud Providence Foundations
dollars within ak years from tho date
hereof" The States having declared
Independence, this emission wos one OF
the State, ns the othor was by The Colo
ny.
These several ISSUES are over $780,. ,
600.
Directly after these issues, the Dele
gates from The New England States mel
In Dtau,danca and racnm ne nded thai