The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-24
need only give the form Of the certificates to put these
declarations al rest forever:

declarations at rest forever
.sr4rE or RHoDE ISLAND PsovIpEsoE PLAsIAIross,
| mo. General Treasures Office.
the State Of Rhode Island. Ne. -. dollars, Gents. be
ing balance not provided for By the transfer Of the funded
assembly this STATE, At their January session. b. 1s6
carry an q four per- cent psr ' snnum om he
day OF January one thousand seven hundred and ninety
"--- $500, General Treasurer"
The parts Of your speech express the Lead
ing points on which you relied in forming your legal
August 90, Is49 said; ~ have full confidence OF
demonstrating that your legal positions be overhrown
py the ordinary reasoning powers Of any ordinary man
not clearly shown that every position taken BY you in
your argument s faacous, what is still stronger is
false position Hthat has been shown the legal opinion
here given the full perfect and unanswerable "demon'
stration!" At
IN your speech you further expressed legal opinion in
the following terms .The claims are lost By the statute
OF limitations" Is il possible that such an opinion
should be given BY educated at the law schools OF
Yale and Harvard" Was he there taught that statute
OF limitations was good plea against claim held by
one who could not bring suit to enforce payment
Can statute OF limitations operate against claim held
by an individual citizen against sovsrsiga potosr?
leave this to such learned in the law than
myself not having been instructed 10 that science II
they decide against me, 81 give il up" II they decide in
my favor, it follows that your law is fallacous on this
point also. s
Your confession in your speech that nterest had been
paid, and appropriations have been paid for what reason
You an educated lawyer and have acquired an ex
ensve practce is therefore TO be expected that you
familiar with the investigation and bearing Of facts
directly remotely presented for your consideration
subjects Of controversy Your position as member Of
the Legislature made you arber between the State and
the creditors Of the State. You were sworn impaally
erest payments all certificates issued, the 1--WE appro
praons for the redemption OF claims, were great and
important facts in the case, being so many renewed
State fully and clearly explain the object and nten
ton OF the legislature which ordered the payment Of both
and the records of the treasury distinctly show to far
thing how, when, and to whom the payments were
made. They are all readily understood by all men Of
common intelligence; and yet you, who had official and
sworn duties to perform have not sought or. il sought
have not been able to know, the plain and simple
reasons why these payments were made. Had you
made the investigations which it was your duty TO
have done, you would. with other facts. have found
tcae, issued under the Of 1897 that the day
he received his certificate for interest from January ls
l595 to January st 1897 which was paid him in full in
silver god the proceeds Of direct tax ordered for
that special purpose; and that the principal sum was re-
deemed under appropriation made February 1909 and
that he member Of the legislature in 1890 when an
appropriation OF $4,000 was made for redeeming part
Of the registered State debt. in conformity to the rec
report by Benjamin Hazard chairman Of committee
the governors message Had you further pushed your in
ques you could have learned the history OF every
hfcate, when issued, and to whom-whch had been re-
deemed. and which due. The whole records in
the treasury plain, perfect and complete The State
Justly owed your father His certificate has been redeem
ed. The State justly owed and now. owes the petit
TONER'S certificates unpaid Yet with all these
facts plainly set down in the records OF the State, you
have again and again raised your voice your the
Rhode Island legislature not only against the payment
but against all inquiry and all investigation on the merits
OF claims Such opposition, and under such circum.
stances places your shoulders fearful responsibility
have, briefly as possible, here commented on the
prominent points Of your speech, hoping to complete the
review in one other short letter.
Respectfully, &C.,
JOHN W. RICHMOND.