Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-01-02

high-handed and summary proceeding
is that he was very poor, and that his
house was dirty,---a most excellent rea-
son, truly: for taking man forcibly from
his home, banishing him for life, and
deprving him of his properly. Did it
never occur TO these functionaries that
poor peoples homes are as dear to them
as are those who are more fortunate
and that TO tear that old man from a
home where he had quietly passed some
seventy years, would be cruel as well
as unjust 7 No one is safe, if such
things are permitted. There are other
reasons, probably, besides philanthropy
which prompted this unieeIlng act
Some greedy speculators may be tired
Of waiting for this old fellows land TO be
sold and this step will force it into the
market. There can be no inducement
for people 10 be economical and save
their little patrimony, if il 10 TO be taken
from them in their old age, and they
thrust into the Poor-house they may as
well spend all, and be Paupers in reality.
G..
We publish the above communication
from highly respectable gentleman, in
regard TO the course recently pursued by
the authorities Of the Town toward Paul
Overing. There is a good deal Of ex-
ctement in the community on this sub
lect, particularly in the South part of the
town, among those who live in his mmc-
diate neighborhood, and who know most
about him. We have known Paul from
our childhood, and have seen him in the
streets almost every day, for the las,
twenty years, and he has always been a
peae cable, inofensive man, never dis
turbed any one, and scarcely spoke TO
any one in the street except when boys
and men, who ought to have been
ashamed of themselves, said things to
irritate and exasperate him. He owns
a small house and lot, in the South part
of the Town, where lie has quietly re-
sided for more than half "A century he
| has always been prudent and industr-
Gus, working whenever he could get Jobs,
such as whtewashing, saving wood,
&c. He has been suddenly placed un
der Guardianship, without there being
any necessity for it his house was for
chilly entered by the Police, who, we are
Informed, stove the door in, and he was
seized tied and carried to the Asylum in
a Wagon, like Il iclon. His furniture
&c. was then sold at Auction. at a great
sacrifice. Now this is all wrong. Pssl
Overng although he is a colored man,
has his civil and political rights, which
are as dear TO him as the rich white
mans are TO him; and they should be AZ
sacrcdIy cherished and protected. His
own ncighbors say that he was quiet
and peacidble, and that he took good
care Of his little property, and there Is
no more probability of his being
charge on the town now than there was
forty years ago. He has relatives in
Boston who are IN comfortable circum-
stances, and who are willing to take care
Of him, should he ever require their as
sistance they have been here since his
arrest. The case is about to he brought
before proper high legal tribunal, and
we hope to see speedy justice rendered
TO Paul Overing; nine-tenths of this
community would say let him be releas.
ed from his cruel bondage, and restored
to his natural rights as a citizen, be-
cause he is amply able 10 take care of
himself and is apcaceahle, wcI-behaved
old colored man, who attends to his own
affairs, and never nolrsts any one. We
question whether Paul would have been
rs promptly taken TO t. e Asy lum. if he
had net possessed little rrol erry.