Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-04-18
Ma. EDITOR

mess transacted on Wednesday last, | per-
celve that very important change, in our
Municipal poity, is contemplated by the
Citizens Of The Town. / trust, sir, that
/ many Of those who voted for this sever
| en:e OF the Probate business from the ad-
mnistrauon Of the Town Council, did not
intend that the proceedings on Wednes-
day should be final action Of the Town
upon this subject. II this action OF the
Town is considered 10 be final, then many
voters have right to complain that a dis
tlnct notice of the contemplated changes
had not been previously given to the citi-
Ems Of the Town. 1t has not been a usu-
al course Of proceeding in this town, TO pro-
pose changes OF great importance, and to
adopt them at one and the same meeting,
or on one, and the same day. In the
morning of Wednesday last, it would seem
that the town were not prepared to vote
on the question and they appointed a
Committee to rerorl to them on the sub
ject. But what does this Committee re-
port. LIST, that there is no necessary con-
nexon between financial, prudential and
police concerns and the buslaess of Courts
of Probate. 81, that those distinct powers
and duties are not vested in the same body
Of men in the other States. 81, that on
The one hand, individuals, in many instan-
ces, are 10 be found, qualified for the man
/ agemen! Of town affairs, and unqualified for
! deciding Probate affairs aud on the other
hand, individuals are TO be found, qualified
for the discharge of Probate duties, and un-
qualified for the details of,own affairs. And
that from these circumstances together
with the indisposilon OF men to act in Of
town will sometimes lose the hes, qualified
men in both capacities. In regard to
the comparative expense Of the change,
the Committee report that they have no
certain means Of calculating it. AMI, fin
ally, they recommend a Comml tee to be
1 appointed to draw up Bill to be present
ed to the General Assembly for an Act to
carry into effect this change in the Const-
tuition of our Town Council. The town,
il would seem, received, and adopted the
Report, and appointed their Delegation in
the General Assembly to draft a Bill in
accordance with the Recommendation of the
Report, and to procure its passage through
the General Assembly.
Now it strikes me, Mr. Editor, that we
have acted more precipitateIy, than usual,
in eilccing this revolution in the Town
! Government. In the la:e Charter move
ment, no one had a righi to complain of
due and sufficient notice. But here, with
1 olt sufficient and substantial reasons, we
are asked to make an important change in
II the Constitution of our Town Council
\ Let US take the reasons of the Committee
/ in order. What has the want of a neces-
\ sary connexion between Probate duties and
Town tuties to do with the subject! Ac-
cordlng to Philosophers, there Is no neces-
sary cOnnexion between one event and
another. They might have been differ
emily constituted. A truism Of such ge..-
eral nature affords no light for the guidance
Of the town in this matter. Again what
have we to do with other States, or Towns,
iG relation to our Municipal affairs
Il 1t is the pride OF Rhode Island to orig
4 nate, not to borrow. Let II be peculiar 10
Rhode Island, or, if you will 10 the town
| OF Newport, that she originated this Con-
/ stitution of the Town Council-a Cons,i-
! tn ion VIII ch shs has maintained for two
/ hundred wears, which she has preserved
/ unal cred. ami variety of changes of
! fortune, and succ SIS on Of events. This
! Constitution was framed at the first settle
/ mcnt Of the town, has been transmitted
/ trom generation to generation, down To our
own time for the slug'e satisfactory reas-
, on, that it has ever fulfil cd all the purpos-
es of It's institution. And II has ever full
filled all the Purposes OF lis institution, be-
cause We have, always, had IN our Town
d
the duties imposed upon them. Why,
then, should we change this form of poll
ty, on the suPposlion, that time will
arise when Newpor, will no, produce men
ouaIlfel for the duties, and willing to ac-
cept of Il office OF Town Councilman.
II let,he cxgency, assumed IN the report OF
the Comm uee, actually arise, and then the
town can be guided by the circumstances
Of the case. We are accustomed TO the
present form Of polny. We know the
renglh Of the machinery. We know how
Il works. We know tho expense of its
working. It's for these reasons we wish
to have this machinery preserved, because,
heretofore, it has worked well, and be-
cause no substantial reason occurs to lead
us 10 conclude that it will not continue to
work well hereafter. A CITIZEN
Newport, April OH, 1850.
0r,-A movement has been made in Eng