Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-25
Hon. Robert Il. CrNnstOn md
GOV. William Beach
Lawrence,

The following correspondence will
speak eor itself. In order, however, TO
hGderstann more fully The proceedings
before the Board OF Canvasseis OF New.
port, referred to by Gov. Lawrence,
friend OF MIR. Cranston, resident III New
port, who was present al the Board, du-
ring the pendency of these proceeding,
hns furnished the following abstract oI
them, which MIR. Crunston believes TO
be correct:
Al the time the Hon. William Beach
Lawrence was nominated for LIcutcn-
an Governor, in February, 1851, his
name was not on the registry list OF
the town Of Newport. This fact Was
stated in the Newport News, and ground
taken in that paper, that Lawrence was
not Il citizen OF this Stale according To
the requirements of the Constitution and
Of our Election Law. Mr.. Lawrence,
or his friends, immediately thrrrupon
proceeded TO the town clerh's office and
caused his name 10 be entered on the
rcgistry. AT the first meeting Of the
Board of Canvass ssers in March. 1851, 10
correct the list, when Lawrcncc's name
was reached. MIR Il, Is. Cranston NOV
ed that it be stricken oil, as MIR l.. was
a citizen OF New York ; that he (L.)
owned property in Newport and passed
his summers there, as many other gen
tleman did, but that his actual legal re
sidencc was in New \ ork. MIR Cranston
further stated, that he had converscd
with Il gentleman, who had seen re-
cord in the Office Of The Surrogate of The
city oil New York, wherein Mr.. Law
renee made oath, the July previous, tha,
he was a resident of New York, aud
that he (Mr e.. understood that proper
evidence of this tact would be obtained
aud presented at the next meeting of
the Board. After Mr.. Cranston had
made this statement, Mr.. Lawrence
made oath that he had resided in New
port since November, lS49 and here,
at that time, the proceedings before the
Board terminated.
AT the ncxl meeting OF the Board for
canvasslng the registry, MIR. Cranston
presented a copy ol,he record TO which
he had alluded 1T the previous meet
ing, showing that MIR. Lawrence had
made oaths, TO his residence in New
York the July previous. In The dis
cusrion which ensucd upon this subject,
Mr Grams on said that Lawrence and
his counsel had attempted to iDtmidatc
the Board in that Hall, by threatening
them with n prosecution it they struck
his (Mr. L.'s) name from the list and,
further, that tie friends OF Mr. Lew
renee had made improper efforts out-oi
doors for the same object, and had oh
tanned letter from the President Of
the Board, declaring that he and his
fellow members had seen the documents
presented 10y MIR. Cranston, and found
nolhin. il them to change their opini-
ons tha, the loitcr from the President
"a gentleman, by the way, Of Locoioco
poitics) had been published also, in
the Providence Post.
" hen this statement was made by
Mr.. Crdnston the other members Of the
Board, severalIy. denied that they had
ever 70 expressed themselves, or that
the President had any authority for i'm
putting To them any such opinions.
hf,cr this, some friends Of MIR, Law
renee having demonstrated with Mr.
Cranston, that he ought not 10 charge
Mr.. l.. with resorting to out-oi-door IN
nuence 10 elect his object. MIR e., IN
tie presence aud hearing Of Mr.. Law.
renee, reiterated 10 them tie above
statement, adding, That lie appeared
thers az he had r.glt 10 DO ns Il cilIzen
or ihi. State. aud that he held himself
re,pouslble Tor all lie Lad there .nid.
This is what Gov, Lawrence alIudrs TO,
IN III. letter TO Mr.. Cianslon, where he
spea,s of Mr. &. as h1,ing submlHsd 10
s'rhlse, de