Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-04-03
nBRiLD OF THE Times
~ nLIsHHp RvERY rHURsDAy hoRsisG, AT
No. l97 Thames Street.
CRANSTON & NORMAN.
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at the end Of the year.
Ma. EDIr ron -

bSS JOuI paper
OF this day, an extract from the letter OF
MIR. Lawrence, which have not before
seen, and wherein, Mr.. Lawrence says,
,.t is unaccountable that his name should
not have been returned by me 10 the
Board Of Canvass,rs, Of this town in
February last, which, however unac-
coun,able it may be TO hum, is easily ex-
.,plained. The law Tres Collectors
of Taxes on or before the I'd Moniay
in February IN every year, TO furnish
the Town Clerk lists Of all persons reg
is cred on or before the last day of De.
+ cember next preceding, i'll their respcc-
tive towns who shall have paid, Oh or
before the last day OF December next
preceding, their taxes assessed within
said year preceding &c, aud il requires
Town Clerks, on or before the last Mon
day in February in every year, TO fur
nish the Board OF Canvassers, with n
list OF all persons registered in their sew
cral towns on or before the last day Of
December next preceding, for the pur-
pose of voting and separately there
from, lists OF the names OF a ! persons en-
title | to vote under Article 2d, Sec. l..
OF the Constitution; which article and
section reads thus, EVERY male citizen
OF the United States Of the age OF twen-
ty-one years, who has had his residence
and home in this State, for one year
and in the town or cty in which he
? nfay claim right 10 vote SIX months
next preceding, the time # voting &c
Now how was TO know that Mr.. Law
renee had his rtsiden aHd home in thls
Stae for one year lie never Informed
me oft, and only knew hlm us sum
mer visitor. 1t would have been my
duty TO have returned his name, on cvi-
dence that he had paid personal tax
according to law. had he been duly reg
isteret. In the Town tax Of this town
for 1850, MIR. Lawrence is taxed OH per-
sona property, sufficient, if othcrw isc
qualified. to make him Il voter, but |
had no evidence at the time, nor have
lany at this time in my office, to show
that he has paid that tax. The Co =
lco,or of Taxes did not return Mr.
Lawrence as having paid hls tax. ior
the reason that he VAS not registered
the law, as above requir ny him 10 re-
turn those only who were duty regis
tered. Therefore | could not, accordi q
W Jaw. iClulh hoiiie VI Ni'' 'Se
renee 10 the Canvasscrs. No doubt al
ter it was known that Mr.. Lawrence
had become tillZen Of Newp ri, his
name ,ould like all other inhabitants
who have gained IA lc gal resldenc,
' have been returned, whether registered
or not, as IA lrecholder But not belng
possessed of the power of dirindt on
have omitted to return il To The Board.
In the large number of names have
yearly TO return TO the Board, it is n"l
very wonderful that should omit some
especially the names OF those who have
recently come among us, but | believe
my OMISSIONS have no, been confined to
eIlher Of the olncaI parties VI here =
person has the requisite qualifications
and his name is omitted, it is only ioI
him 20 apply to the Board OF Canvass.
aers, who will add his name, and the
reason the Legis ature in their wisdom
supposiug that eren Iopn Clerks ar,
but .ialllble men. order the lists TO bt
posted up for weeks before the Tow
meeting, is that errors may be correc
ted.
As 10 my intention, | can only say
=. that | have always endeavored TO dis
charge the duties Of my flee withou
paruality to either OF The political par
ties had they at this me heen other
wise, certainly did not know when
made out the lists, what the politica
views OF Mr.. Lawrence were, aiiu shoul,
/, no have known which party ] shoul,
injure by oml,ting his name. II 4 huo
thought about Mr. Lnurenct at The time
and could have legally returned h
name, he may rest assured that ! shoul'
have done ii. L.. IL. ROWLAND.
Newport, March 26 1851.