The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-31
70. The Union.
For Union
rhode ISLAND REGULATION OF HER REVOLT
TJONARY DEBT


RHODE ISLAND REPUTATION OF HER REVOLT
< . TI0HARY DEBT.
The undersigned and many others have long been pc
iOaers TO The legislature Of hods Isasd fer taytnent Of
notes held against the State issued by the general treas
er under special acts OF assSbly at divers times from
January 1885 TO June 1912 founded full and vaIuaus
considerations for services and supplies during the reyolu
tonary war all Of which paid the State by the mi
ted States the uttermost rthng There are also other
claims due from the Star with which the United States
had never any interest concern responsibility whatever
70 both Of these we will hereafter refer.
Ina published history Of Rhode Island Reputation de-
tailed statements Of the important facts in the financial a
fairs of the State during the of the revolution the ORR
gin of obligations given individual creditors and the
considerations which they founded. Volumes OF
this history placed in the bands of many members OF
Congress they TO be found ia the bookstores in
this city, 1t will there be that given sub
sequsny called In large portions of each of them paid
and balance notes given these again called in other large
portions paid and other balance given for the
naming s1m due These last balances were again fully
recognised BY of years interest on all thus
ousandng and strange to say the State refuses pay
these notes. although again and again petitoned by the
holders 80 to do.
The creditors after great labor have been able divers
times to have their claims referred to special committees
Of the legislature viz first Z. w. Lawson s. Hutch
ans and w. Updike second, to s. Dexter J. II. Weldon
& TourtelotL A. Bosworth and W. Updike third, to G.
Turner A. Everett and J. r. Bullock; fourth, to Fl.
Crsnston r. Brown, and W. p Bateman; fifth, to s. w
Macy and L. Hawks Every member of those five commit
tees afs the debt except w. Updike and his position in
relation his official duties and his false statements made
when sworn member of the legislature fully exposed
in the History of Rhode Island Reputation from page 81
to 90.
That history also shows that the State dsregarng the
reports of all committees planted herself her
as could not be her Indebtedness to In
diyidual citizens To this difficulty the undersigned
made himself indebted the State provoke suit agans
himself The bait swallowed, and an action com
menced The general assembly after finding that BY
her collection laws the undersigned could defend with M
State obligations as set off directed her attorney
to discontinue her suit paying costs and abandoning al
acknowledged claim held by the State against citizen
fearing the individual claim Of the citizen would be
tanned by the supreme court of he State Thus now stand
the the State and the undersigned whit
always has acknowledged and Acknowledges that
ia indebted for the goods by him bought OF the State
there nothing remaining for him but to publish tn
aamy of the State proving her fit object to be pointed
at by the finger Of scorn.
Portions of the unpaid claims against the State wer
for services and supplies during the war; from ITS to 1888
some were for gold and silver leaned the State in TIL
hour of her need and oilers now due the heirs
those who were slain on the battlefield There are also
two other classes of CLAIMS founded considerations i'm
posing the strongest Obligations the State to make i'm
mediate payment
At the commencement of the war, many who wer
owners of large real adhered to the Crown. Tn
estates Of all such by act of assembly coDscated
and for the use of the But the of con6scatio
specially provided that all debts due from those who's
estates were conscaed should be paid of the proceeds
those estates The estates in the possession Of the Stat
as TRUST for the specific purpose stated in the
of con6scaon aud the State has failed perform he
TRUST The individual who is guilty of like embezzle
ment is by the law of the State made guilty of felony
and punished by fine and Imprisonment These debts du
from coniscated estates solely against the State
in no manner or form of consideration in the
Element of war-debts between the State and the Unite
States History of Republication, page 81
Slaves were enlisted in the revolutionary army an
State given the for the estimated vslu
Whatever payments made by the State for army SUI
port and whatever assumptions the State made for Ii
general or particular defenceaIl charged to III
United Sates In the general and final settlement in l7e
all these charges allowed and the whole balance
the State was paid in full January 1895. But sad
the State now repudates portions of the notes due Ii
heirs of those whom they given for the slaves VIII
enlisted in the of the country The money paid Ii
State for these SLAVES is in her STATE TREASURY
has been by her appropriated TO Legitimate purpose
Who then, can say that Rhode Island is not sAv
SrATE She has pro6ted by the sale of the FLEsH the
and the HOOD Of the SLAVE and has not honest
enough to pay the heirs of those from whom the SLAVE
purchased History Rhode Island Reputation page 81
JOHN W. RICHMOND
p s-The whole Of the State debt above referred to
S43g17 49, with interest at four per from January
1901.