Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-11-22

| that they ever had any such Information,
and challenge them to produce their inform
ant The facts in the case are these, at
the time Of the removal of Miss Heath to
the Asylum, Mcssrs. Cott.ell & Bryer
having bill Of sale Of her furniture, took
\ possession of it, and had it rcmoved ard
her carpets, crockery and clothing were by
my order stored by Mr.. Hazard for safe
keeping. Her house was entirely cleared
and not even the key left in her poss ession (;
and yet these Commissioners publish to the
community as Jact" that "her house was
open as usual during the night
But let us follow out this truthful mar
rative. s"Again, the Commissioners believe
that il is exceedingly delcterious to the
public morals, and is calculated to deuact
from tho character of our city, for the chiet
Magistrate of the city to Withdraw u nolori-
Gus bawdy-house keeper, by such extraor-
dinary means from course Of discipline
and send her om intO The community under
the coUKTEsANcE OF THE MAYOR, 10 enter
again upon her cOrk of uice and demorali'
zation." This is specific charge, affect
ing not only my official, but my moral
character, and, therefore, devolving upon
me, not only as the chief Magistrate of this
city, but as man, The painful duty of
reply. SO foul an aspersion would seem
| IN p,np1 atlino, fb,,
denial, and would receive something more
could persuade myself that any man of
common sense in the community could, for
a moment, believe that sent her forth
again for such a purpose. But men who
had not self-restraint enough, even while
| pretending TO act as the Commissaries of
the public morals, and while prating of the
"deleterious effect" of my conduct thereon,
to prevent their being guilty of vituperation
snd malicious aspsrtions on my character,
are much filter subjects for pity than for
either contempt or argument; "'tis true and
pity lis, It's true"
l cannot in this connection resist the
temptation to exhibit to the view OF the
public, the marvellous consistency of
these men. Upon this same Asylum, to.
gether with Miss Heath by my direction,
was placed young girl, her companion in
vice and misery. If there was any differ
ence between these two fallen girls,
it was that the one to whom now allude
had sank deeper in the mire Of polu.
ton than her companion. Gradually from
the path OF virtue had this poor girl wan
dercd, until she had become utterly lost to
its influence, and, homeless, clolheless,
and diseased, her abandonment had become
so entire, that her presence in the commu-
nifty did not endanger the public morals
mo 0 than III did the public health
With full knowledge of these facts, the
Commissioners set her at liberty in our
midst, to corrupt and destroy. If "consis--
tency is Jewell" it is not one
which shines in the coronet of their CON-
missaryship. How pitiablc an inconsistent
cy to behold these goOd and wiSe men lift-
ing up their hands n holy horror, because
|, as the chief Magistrate of this city,
should have cause to be discharged from
the Asylum, Elizabeth Heath, who had
dition Of release wa. a promise to leave
the city, as we'll as an assurance never
again to open house of l-iame, and at
the same tine to behold them setting at
large in our midst miserable creature-a
walking pestience! How pitable to be-
hold men allowing themselves TO step 30
lar aside from tho truth, and deliberately
Nlarge me with sanctioning houses Of i'll
fame, while at the sam) time they were
aware of the fact that had broken up
more Of those houses than all the munich
pal governments Of Newport in its cnpaci-
ty, either as town or city, for tho last five
years. In conclusion, lot me ask what
is the real cause of tho collision between
the Commissioner of the Asylum and my
self 7 Does any one suppose, for mo-
ment, tha BIT sarose from the fact Of my
giving Heath permit to visit his daugh.
ter at the Asylum If any one does think
so, let me say to him that he is in error.
This was not tho cause. The real cuase
is more remote. 1t dates from my first
entrance upon the duties OF my Office, and
arises from tho tact that in The discharge
of those duties, have dared TO endorse the
sentiments Of my predecessors in office,
(sec Mayor Calveu's commune alton, April
ls, 1855, city doc. 1884, page II, and
Mayor Cozzcns' commun ication Feb. 8,
1855 city doc. l95i-5, page 34.5) That
the government of the Asylum should be
80 modified as to conform TO the existing
city government, and add thereto that tho
power Of removal OF such inmates as arc
confined there a. matter Of police, ia, and
Of right should be vested in the Mayor
and Aldermen, as well as tho undisputcd
power Of commii,al. Here let mo say
that dlsclaim any though, or wish on the
part OF the executive to interfere with tho
internal administration Of the Asylum, in
any manner whatever; but do say that
the Commissioner. should b, held respnn-
siblc 10 the city council, aud iha, they
slUul present their bill. Of items to the
city government for auditing snd payment;