Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-04-22

1910, hno havtu8 sstssneo tneVSci'es "
the correctness Of the petitioners map.
reported that factto the Assembly at the
Oc,. session following and asked to be dis
charged from further consideration of,he
subject. In the debate which ensued on
this motion, it appearing that the intention
of the House had been to refer 70 the
committee the merits of the petition, and
not the accuracy ofthe survey by the pc.
,itioners, the whole subject was recon-
mittea to the same committee, with direc-
tions to report to the House its. opinion
at the January session. At that session
the parties having agreed to dispense with
further hearing of counsel, the COMMITTEES
made their report to the following effect
After stating in the most impartial man
ner they were able the advantages which
would accrue to the petitioners and to the
town Of Warren from granting the prayer
of the petition, and the objections. on the
other hand, entertained with nearly entire
unanimity by Bristol to any dismember-
ment of her territory, the committee re-
commended, that no action be taken at
that time by the Assembly, but that the
petition be continued to its next session,
in the belief that compromise mutually
beneficial might be effected between the
parties, without the Intervention Of the
Legislature, which was 10 be avoided if
possible.
On the question whether this report be
received and adopted, the petitioners and
the town Of Bristol alike demonstrated
against its Recommendations and insisted
on an immediate hearing and decision Of
their controversy for which they were
tbenprepared. The House then refused
to confirm the report oftheir committee
the trial was proceeded in, and the petit
ton was granted. Before the bill which
embodied the object of the petition was
finally acted on in the House, in conse-
quence either of the violent excitement
produced by the measure among the citi-
zens of Bristol and their urgent remon-
strances against it, or from the conviction
entertained by many from the beginning,
that any action by the Legislature was
inexpedient, a motion was made to recon-
slider the vote granting the prayer Of the
petition which motion prevailed, and the
petition was rejected.
This is brief, but we believe, entire
ly authentic history of the proceedings
Of the General Assembly, and its commit
tee, on the petition of Coomer Halle and
others, during the last political year, out
Of which so many misrepreseniat atoms and
misconceptions have been engendered, as
to the course of Mr.. Cranston in relation
to it, and which acted so unfavorably on
the results Of his election.
1t has been alleged, we understand, in
Warren, by those unfriendly to Mr.. c.
that in the controversy before mentioned,
he, both as Speaker and member Of
the House, had manifested an improper
bias and partiality in favor Of Bristol,
which operated to the rejection Of the
above petition, and to the injury Of the
toun oc W orran.
That he allowed himself to be inhu-
enced therein by the representations Of
Mr.. Bullock (Rep. and Mr.. Blake, (Atty
Genl both citizens of the town of Bris-
tol
That he conformed to their advice in
the selection Of the committee, which he
purposely composed ormembers unfriend-
ly to the petition ....l..
That, in the final vote for granting the
prayer of the petition, he used his infu-
cnce with the Newport delegation to vote
in opposition to it and that in compli-
ance with his advice, that delegation so
voted
And that from these and other causes
a measure, SO important and beneficial to
Warren and the petitioners, had been
eventually defeated. ...
Now, we have the best authority for
saying, that each and every one ofthe
preceding allegations, and every item
composing them, is wholly unfounded in
fact, and without the color Of pretence,
or plausibility to justify them.-Mr.
Cranston studiously avoided every mani
festation Of feeling or opinion on this sub
ject, and this, not only from sense Of
propriety as Speaker Of the House, but
from an anxious desire, thata controversy
so productive Of unpleasant consequences
to the parties and the State, should be