Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-02-07
FRIDAY, FEB. !.

III Ii must be cvi len. TO every enc iha,
theie are certain members Of the Iegisla-
lure who are determined TO resist to the
last degree. the payment olthe Registered
State Debt. 1t Is a matter of ,ciH with
them and they are determined to persevere
in their obslinacy, regardless of the conse-
quences, and perfectly Indifferent as TO the
honesty and legality of the claim. If any
man will thoroughly examine those claims,
as we did three years ago, he must come
TO the irresistible conclusion that they are
as justly due as any debt that he contracted
yesterday for the domestic supplies Of his
household. The State, by its Legsla-
tive acts, has more than once virtually ac-
knowledged them, and during the last three
years the Legislature has had them before
all kinds Of Committees composed Of gen
temen belonging TO that body as well as
those who are not its members The most
rigid examination h; 6 beea gone into, es-
pecially by the last Committee, consisting
of Messrs George Turner, J. Russell Bul-
lock and Amhers, Everett they were
satisfied, after examining all the record
and doe mentary evidence, and hearing
counsel most elaboratcly, that The cams
were Justly due, and they so reported 10
the Legislature, last October. AID what
has been the result. The Hou:e, at the
October session, passed a vote to print the
Report Of the Committee, that il might he
in the hands Of tie members, so that they
could carefully examine j. for themselves,
and show it to their constituents. But the
Senate most strangely and improperly non
concurred with the House this was done
solely 10 smother the truth and, IL possible,
put the whole matter ~ ssep,-as IT has
been said by some Of the enemies Of
the Claims, who are most prominent in
their opposition, if the Report was printed
and put into The hands of the people, they
would order it paid " hat is this bu,
full acknowledgment Of its validity! AZ
ter this strange action on The part Of the
Senate, a resolution was introduced in the
House to print the report, for the u.e of
tho House this alarmed the enemi,s oi
the Claims, and drove them TO the mi,cr-
able sub,eriuge Of appointing Joint Com
mittee TO report upon Tie reports already
made. Thus the matter nov stands, aud
its enemies hope 10 worry tie claimants
along in this way during tie whole session,
and thus give it another 2o-by, if possible.
But they will not be able to accomplish
this, as there are men in the Legislature
who are determined that justice shall be
done, and that the wckedness Of those
who are and have been procrastnating
this matter shall be shown up 10 the peo-
pie.
Does any one suppose that the peop'e OF
Rhode Island desire to resist or avoid the
payment of en- honest debt, even though
it be Of long standing II they do 4 ey
have wofullv mistaken Rhode Island char
acter and Rhode Island men. Why then,
has any one objected to the printing Of
this carefully prepared Report Why the
only reason is that the leaders Of the oppo-
nents know full well that if it is printed
and put into the hands Of the people, and
they thus have any opportunity to exaG-
inc it carefully, they would say to their
Representatives,, why have you not voted
for the payment Of this debit This, and
this only is The reason