Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-01-31

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fore the legislature praying for the pas
slge of a Pilot Law and ,ha, it has been
got up and is signed by those who are in
terested in the Pilot boat which has recent
! " been put in Sc. vice ,--and by number
of Merchants in Providence. We know
nothing as to the nature of this Petition, OF
what i, specifically prays for, bu, we
should judge, from an article in the Provi-
dence Transcript on the subject, ,ha, it
asks for exclusive Pilot privileges TO this
Company. lfihis is the case, We trust that
the prayer of the Petition will not be
granted and our reason for it is this
II is well known to every one in this town,
and TO all ship-maslers who have ever en-
tered this port, that there are some twenty
five or thirty very worthy men ic this town,
who mostly reside on the Point, who earn
their livelihood and obtain support for
their families, by Plotting; they have FOL-
lowed the bus uess for years, and ,hero is
not foo; Of The coast anywhere in this
vicinity from as far out as vessel ever
takes pilot, into this port and to all ports
North of us, that they are no, perfectly ac-
quainted with they are also equally lamil.
lar with other ports along the coast, and
up the Sound, and they are constantly out
side with their boats, in all weather, look.
ing for vessels, and there has never an &C.
cidrnt Of any kind occurred to any vessel
VIII one Of these pilots was on board
In 1893, We saw one of item take tho
French f-iga,e Ierrul.s, over 5000 tons,
out q this harbor, against dead head
wind, in mos, gallant style, and in such II
manner ss 10 cal! forth the warm commcn-
dation of Commodore Casey, who was in
command of the Freuch feet. These New.
port Point Pilots are universally known TO
he the very best in their protesslrn, and
they rank very high among all nautical men
who know anything Of them. Now if it is
proposed 10 pass a Pilot Law giving 10 any
small tody of men any exclusive plivileg-
es as Branch Pilots, we know that a large
majority Of the people of Newport will enter
strong protest against any such action, as
manllestly unjust towards a number Of our
most honest, hard-w worhing and useful citi-
zens it is taking the bread out Of the
mouths of these men and their families,
without any kind of cause. We ask Of tie
Legislature to act deliberately on this sub
ject, and if this Petition prays fer ey yclusiva
grants, i, is tut Justice for the Legislature
to continue il, with ali order Of notice, to
The next session, as it will be seen, from
what we have said, tha, there is manif silly
an adverse interest in this matter, and that
these worthy men, in behalf of whom VIC
speak, who were ignorant of The tendency
OF this Petition, unu! within ,wenty-fou
hours, should have an opportunity to enter
their memorial and to sci forth their rights
before the Legislature. We speak Of this
matter now for the purpose of ealing the
attention of the Legislature to it, in order
that they may act somewhat advisedly up
on 1t at the present time, and postpone any
definite action, until all parties interested
can have an opportunity ofbeing heard
Ii 1t is continued until the next session,
which will be in this town, those " no have
an adverse interest " il! have fair chance
Of being heard, and OF presenting their
rights and claims frly to the consdera.,
ZION Of he Legislature.