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Max Session—Newpork, 1834, Wednesday Morning, May 1th.—The General Assembly, consisting of the Go vernor and Senate of the last year, and the newly elected House of Representa tives, convened at the State House this morning, at a quarter past 10 o'clock, after escort of the Newport Artillery Company. Mr. Benj. Hazard, the oldest member from Newport, called the House to or der. The credentials of the members elect were then presented, as the sever al towns were called over by the Secre tary, with the exception of Mr. Job R. Greene, of East Greenwich, who was absent with his certificate. The following gentlemen were return ed from the several towns, to serve in the General Assembly , Newport.—Benj. Hazard, Nathaniel S. Ruggles, Henry Y. Cranston, John Stevens, Geo. G. King, John V. Ham mett. Providence.—Joseph L. Tillinghast.— Josiah Whitaker, Bear. Hoppin, Thom as W. Dorr. Portsmouth.—James Chase, Abner Chase, Borden Slocum, Parker Lawton. Warwick.—Wm. Sprague, Jr. (Speak er,) Bennet Low, Thomas Remington, (s. n.) Eben Arnold. Westerly —John H. Cross, Lyndon, Faylor, New Shoreham.—Geo. C. Sheffield, Jeremiah M. Currie. North-Kingstown.—C. Allen, James Alen. South-Kingstown.—Elisha R. Potter, Wm. T. Browning. East-Greenwich.—Daniel Greene, (no return of 2d rep.) Jamestown.—H. K. Carpenter, An drew F. Potter. . Smithfield. —Arnold Spear, D.G. Har ris. Scituate—Jonah Titus, Elisha Ma thewson. Gloucester.—Amasa Eddy, Jr. R. B. Smith. Charlestown.— Dan King, Caleb Ken a West-Greenwich.—Robert Hall, Tho mas T. Hazard. Coventry.—Oliver G. Waterman, Jas. G. Bowen. Exety.—Thomas J. Hazard, P. T. Greene. Middletown.—John R. Peckham, T. G. Rogers. Bristol. —James O’Wolf, Benjamin Norris. Tiverton. —Joseph Durfee.—Robert, Jay Little Compton.—Jediah Shaw, Na thaniel Church. Warren.—Levi Haile, Haile M. Sis son. Cumberland.—J. Whipple, Otis Ma son. Richmond.—Jonathan James, J. G. Sisson. Cranston.—Isaac N.Sprague, George Field kinton.—Benj. B. Thurston, E. W. Hatcock, Johnston.—Benj. Kimball, E.E. Man ton. North Providence.—Stephen Randal, Jr., John H. Weeden, Barrington.—Josiah Kinnicutt, J. S. Crown. Foster.—J. Brayton, Stephen Wil marth. Burrillville.—Sam J. Ross, Duty Lap ham, ‘The members present then took their engagements, administered to them by the Secretary. All present excepting Mr. Job R. Greene, of East Greenwich. The Chairman, (Mr. Hazard) then called for a nomination of Speaker. Mr. Wm. Sprague, Jr. of Warwick, was nominated and re-elected without opposition. On taking the Chair, the Speaker begged the gentlemen of the House to accept of his sincere thanks for this con tinuance of their confidence in calling him again to preside over their delibera tions. Messrs. George Turner, and Elisha R. Potter, Jr. the former Clerks, were re-elected without opposition. The House being thus organized, the Governor, as presiding officer of the Grand Committee, called for the proxy votes given at the late annual election. A committee to count the proxy votes, consisting of three from each county, with the addition of the Secretary and Clerks, were then appointed. Mr. Tillinghast presented certain cer tificates of votes rejected in West Green wich and Coventry, which were read and referred to said committee. The Grand Committee then adjourn ed to 5 o’clock, P. m. Wednesday Afternoon.—The Grand Committee assembled at 5 o’clock, pur suant to adjournment. At a quarter be fore six, Henry Y. Cranston, from the committee appointed to count the proxies for Generals, reported the follow ing gentlemen to be elected: — 8. Chris, Spencer, Warwick, 9. Thomas Cory, Jr. Portsmouth, 10. Isaac Wilkinson, Smithfield; Henry Bowen, Secretary; Albert C. Greene, Att. General; John Sterne, Gen. Treasurer. The following is an abstract from the Report of the Committee appointed to count the votes for General Officers. That the whole number of votes given in for Governor, was 7202 ; of which J. B. Francis has 3676;—N. R. Knight 3520; seat. 6; maj. for John B. Francis, 150. The whole number of votes for Lt.Go vernor was 7202; of which Jeffrey Haz ard has 3654; George Irish 3100; Joseph Cross 442; scat. 6; maj. for J. Hazard, 106. For 1st Senator, whole number 7152; of which Alpheus Billings has 3633; T. Whipple 3515; scat. 4; maj. for A. Bil lings, 114. For 2d Senator, 7123 votes; of which Byron Diman has 6682; Charles Col lins 429; scat. 12; majority for Diman, 624?. For 3d Senator, 7165 votes; of which George Engs has 3080; Wm. Brown ing 2495; Wm. Brown 1150; Paul Ware 437; seat. 3; and no choice. For 4th Senator 7189 votes; of which, Sanford Almy has 3643; S. W. King, 13543; seat. 3; maj. for S. Almy, 97. For 5th Senator, 7191 votes; of which S. Weatherhead has 3636; Levi Cooke 3115; S. Clarke 437; seat. 3; majority for S. Weatherhead 81. For 6th Senator, 7172 votes; of which Robert F. Noyes has 3632; Wm. Peck ham 3538; seat. 2; majority for R. F. Noyes 90, or 7th Senator, 7182 votes; of which W. Arnold has 3627; J. Chadsey 3033; D. Remington 466; scat. 6; maj. for Ar nold, 72. For 8th Senator, 7187 votes; of which C. Spencer has 3645; R. Whitman 3067; E. Knight 470; scat. 5; maj. for Spen cer, 103. For 9th Senator, 7188 votes; of which Thomas Cory, Jr. has 3648; J. Brown, 3069; B. Smith 469; scat. 2; maj. for Cory, 108. For 10th Senator, 7158 votes; of which {. Wilkinson has 3637; Z. W. Holden 3080; J. A.Scott 437;seat.4;majority for, I. Wilkinson, 116. The Secretary and Attorney General were unanimously re-elected; the Gen eral Treasurer being on two tickets, was re-elected by upwards of 1000 majority. The votes given in on the four tickets for General Officers, were as follows: — “Liberty Union,’ 3100; Constitution al, 437; Administration, (Jackson) 2495; Anti-Masonic, 1150. The Report having been accepted by the Grand Committee, the Secretary then administered to the Governor, Lt. Governor, each of the Senators, the General Treasurer and the Attorney General, separately their oaths of office. The Attorney General then administer ed the same oath to the Secretary. On motion of Mr. Tillinghast, of Pro vidence, the proxy votes were ordered to be delivered to the Sheriff of the county of Newport, to be burnt. Agreeably to ancient usage, the elec tion of each General Officer chosen, was then proclaimed at the door of the State House by the Town Sergeant of New port, under the direction of the Speaker of the House, which ceremony was ac companied as usual with the discharge of Artillery in Washington Square, near the State House. The Grand Committee then rose, and each branch of the Legislature immedi ately adjourned to 10 o’clock Thursday morning. Thursday Morning, May 8th.—The [House met at 10 o’clock, pursuant to ad journment. As soon as the House was called to order by the Speaker, Mr. O’ Wolf, of Bristol, rose and remarked, that it was now at the commencement of the session; yet, he considered it impor tant for the Legislature to act upon the subject which he now presented, at the commencement of the session. He had now the honor of presenting certain pa pers on the momentous subject which now agitated the country, and in which Rhode Island had as great an interest as any other portion of the Union. He hoped there would be an unanimous ex pression of the voice of the Legislature upon it. The question touched the vital interests of this State. The Legislature meet here as the guardians of the public welfare, and for the public good. They had seen, during the last six months, portentous clouds hanging over our coun try, yielding nothing for our good, but causing a blight to all our interests.— The subject has produced an altercation between two branches of the Govern ment, the President and the Senate, in relation to their respective duties and oo It was known to all, that the resident had signified his desire to hear from all the people. The Presi dent had told them that he should not al ter his course until he had heard the voice of the people. He hoped that this General Assembly, as the organs of the people of Rhode Island, would speak in a moderate language, but in a language that could not be misunderstood. He wished to have the papers received and referred to a committee to report on the subject. He thought the people of this country preferred an energetic character at the head of the Executive Depart ment, but when he saw that energetic character exerting his energies in pur 'strong measures, as well as right, he thought it was time that something was done. The Speaker suggested to the gentle man from Bristol, if it would not be best to have the Rules of the House read and adopted, and the Standing Commit tees appointed, before acting upon the papers. Mr. D’Wolf stated that he had no ob jection. ‘The Standing Rules were then adopt ed. The House then proceeded to the ap pointment of the Standing and Joint Committees, after which, the papers pre sented by Mr. D’Wolf, including two sets of resolutions in relation to the Uni ted States Bank, Removal of the Depo sits, c. were taken up. Mr. O’ Wolf moved that they be re ferred to a Committee of ten, who should take the subject into immediate conside ration, and report as soon as may be. They were referred to a Committee consisting of two from each county, viz. Mesars, flazard and Ruggles, of New port; Tillinghast and Titus, of Provi dence; E. R. Potter and C. Allen, of Washington; O’Wolf and Haile, of Bristol. Mr. Whitaker, of Providence, pre sented a Resolution of the Grand Lodge of Providence, surrendering its charter, accompanied with a memorial, which papers he moved to have read. On motion of Mr. B. Hazard, the sur render of the charter of said Lodge was accepted. Similar resolutions and memorials were received from the Manchester Lodge, in Coventry; King Solomon’s Lodge, in East Greenwich; the Royal Arch Chap ter, in Providence; the Mount Vernon Lodge, in Providence; and the Wash ington Lodge, No. 3, in Warren—which were disposed of in the same manner. Mr. B. Hazard stated, that at the last session of the General Assembly, the ergs of the Boston and Providence air Road Company was referred to a Committee, and returned by them to the House for want of sufficient time to act upon it. He now moved that it be refer red to another Committee. Messrs. B. Hazard, E. R. Potter, Dorr, Daniel Greene, and O’ Wolf were appointed for this committee. A Communication from the Governor was received, enclosing certain Resolu tions adopted by the Massachusetts Le gislature on the subject of the Removal of the Deposites,c., forwarded by the Governor of that State, and the Resolu tions were received and referred to the Committee to whom were referred the resolutions presented by Mr. O’Wolf. On motion of Mr. E. R. Potter, a Committee was appointed to take into consideration the present Lottery sys tem of this State, and to ascertain what had been done on this subject in other States, with a view to adopt some mea sures for putting an end entirely to the sale of Lottery tickets in this State. The subject was referred to the fol lowing committee:—Messrs. Jas. Allen, D. Harris, and T. J. Hazard. On motion of Mr. E. R. Potter, the House voted, that when they adjourned, to adjourn until tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, in order to give time for the committee on the subject of the Uni ted States Bank, to meet this afternoon. A number of petitions was received and referred. The Speaker said before the House the resolutions passed at a Town Meet ing in Warwick, instructing the repre sentatives from that town on the subject of the removal of the deposites. On motion of Mr. B. Hazard, they were referred to the committee on the subject of the United States Bank. The House then adjourned to 9 o’elk. Friday morning. Friday Morning, May 9.--The House met at 9 o’clock, pursuant to adjourn ment, Mr. E. R. Potter stated that it would be recollected by the House, that this morning had been assigned for the re ception of the votes on the State Prison question. He therefore moved that the Governor and Senate be now invited to join the House in Grand Committee, for the purpose of receiving the votes on this question, and also for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year. _ Mr. Cranston presented a bill in addi tion to an act in relation to chartered Military Companies attached to Regi ments. The Governor and Senate having joined the House in Grand Committee, Mr. E. R. Potter moved that the State Prison votes be now received, and a Committee appointed to count the same, composed of two members from each county. Votes on this question were then handed in from all the towns in the State except New Shoreham, James town and Richmond. The Committee appointed to count the same were Messrs. STeneantt and Lawton, of the county of Newport; Dorr and Whitaker, of Provi dence; James Allen Jonathan James, of Washington; Crown and Kinnicutt,of Bristol; and Hall and Low, of Kent.— The Grand Committee then proceeded to the election of officers. The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court for the last year, were re-elected without oppo sition. Also, the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of New port, The present Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Pro vidence, were re-elected with the addi tion of Daniel Howard of Foster, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the decease of the late Judge Hopkins. ‘The election for the Court of Common Pleas,for the county of Washington, was postponed to June. Wm. Throop, John Scott, Ephraim Gifford, Paul Ware, and James Bowen, were elected for the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Bristol. For the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Kent—'Fries. W. Greene, Robert Hazard, John Shippee, John Wood, and John Whaley, were elected, Clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court. For the county of Newport—Levi Tow re, of Newport, was nominated by Mr. Cory of the Senate. George G. King, was also nominated for the same office by Mr. Cranston, who stated for the in formation of the Grand Committee, that Mr. King now discharged the duties of this office, by appointment of the Su preme Judicial Court, made to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Mason. A vote by ballot was then taken of which the result was as follows: For Mr. Tower 46; Mr. King 30; majority for Mr. Tower, 16; County of Washington.—Postponed to June. County of Bristol.—Wm. Bradford in place of Mr. Wardwell, who declined a s re-election. Clerks in the other counties re-elect ed. Clerks of the Court of Common Pleas. County of Washington.—Postponed to June. (Clerks in the other counties re-elect ed., Suemors.—Sheriff for the county of Newport—Nichols Hassard, the incum bent, was nominated by Mr. Cory of the Senate, and Erastus P. Allen by Mr. Cranston, Mr. Corr, of Providence, then pre sented a remonstrance from citizens of Providence, against Mr. Hassard, ac companied with the affidavit of George W. Danforth, charging the present Sher iff with oppressive conduct towards the affiant while confined in Newport Jail. The facts stated in the affidavit, Mr. Dorr remarked, required an explanation from the Sheriff, and unless they were satisfactorily explained, it was obviousl improper for this officer to be re-elected. Imprisonment for debt, he observed was bad enough at its best estate, and should not be permitted to be made worse than it was by the severity of officers. Mr. C. Allen thought that charges of such a serious and important nature a gainst a most respectable character, ought to be inquired into before they proceeded to act upon them. Mr. Hassard, the Sheriff, being cal led in, made a statement in detail of his proceedings in relation to said Geo. W. Danforth, and expressed a wish to be permitted to offer testimony in exculpa tion of himself, and requested that Mr. Oman, the keeper of the Jail in New port, might be sworn, and this witness was then sworn, and examined at length on this subject. Mr. Tillinghast of Providence, thought the witness an unfortunate one for Mr. Hassard, and one whose testimony went to corroborate the charges made against him, rather than to exonerate him. He entertained friendly feelings towards Mr. Hassard, with whom he had been ac quainted for some years, and if he desir ed time to procure further testimony in his behalf, he (Mr. ) would move that the question for his election be passed for the present. If Mr. Hassard did not desire this delay, he was perfectly willing to proceed with the election. _ Mr. E. R. Potter did not consider that there had been anything made out against Mr. Hlassard, whom he had known from a boy, and a more humane man never breathed. The election for this office was passed at the request of Mr. Hassard. Sheriffs for the other counties all re elected. The Grand Committee rose, after pro ceeding through the list of Civil Officers, Ix Grann Committee—~Election of Public Notaries. The public Notaries for the county of Newport, for the last year, were re elected. The election of Public Notaries for the county of Providence, were passed for the present. Public Notaries for the counties of Washington, Bristol and Kent, were e lected. The election of Justices of the Peace for Providence, Portsmouth, Westerly , Glocester, and Coventry, were passed for the present. The election of Justices for Charles ‘town, Tiverton and Barrington, was post poned to June. Those for other towns in the State were elected. Nathaniel Bullock, Thomas S. Tay lor, and Burrington Anthony ,were elect ed a committee to inspect ferries. _ On motion of Mr. C. Allen, it was on to proceed no further in the elec tion. On motion of Mr. E. R. Potter, the Grand Committee then rose. _ Mr. E. R. Potter called up the act re lating to chartered military companies, resented this morning by Mr. Cranston. He provides for the exemption of mem bers of those companies from military du ity, after service for seven years in suc cession in said companies. After some discussion, Mr. Hazard ‘moved that the subject be referred to a select committee, agreed to, and Messrs. FE. R. Potter, D. Greene, and D. G. Harris, appointed on said committee. On motion of mr. E. R. Potter, the House then adjourned to 3 o’clock, p. m. Friday Afternoon, May 9.The House met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. E. R. Potter presented a bill en titled “an act to provide more effectual ly for the security of creditors in assign ments of property”—read and laid on the table. Mr. Cranston presented the memorial and surrender of charter from the Royal Arch Chapter, of the town of Newport. Also, similar papers from St. John’s Lodge, in Newport.—Accepted and communicated to the Senate. On motion of inv. Titus, the Report of the General Treasurer was then read,— accepted and communicated to the Se nate. Mr. Dorr, of Providence, presented certain resolutions adopted by a Conven tion held at Providence on the 22d Feb. last, to take measures to procure a con stitution for this State, which being read, he moved to lay on the table. A Report from the Commissioners of the Farmers Mechanics Bank, was received, accepted and communicated to the Senate. Also, a Report from the Commissioners of the Burrillville Bank, which was disposed of in the same man ner. Mr. Hazard, from the committee to ‘whom were referred the resolutions pre sented yesterday by mr. O’ Wolf, on the subject of the . 3. Bank, Removal of the Deposites, Sc. reported the following resolutions: STATE OF RHODE-ISLAND, c. In General Assembly, May Session, A. D. 1834. Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, the Removal of the Public Money from the Bank of the U. States, in which by law and contract, it was required to be Deposited, was a measure unwarranted, ill-advised, and injurious to the public interest. Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, the public interest requires, “that the deposites of the mon ey of the United States, shall in future be made in the Bank of the U.S. and its Branches,” and that the said Bank be allowed to perform its duties to the United States, enjoined by its Charter, viz.—““To give the necessary facilities for transferring the public funds from place to place, within the U. States, or the Territories thereof, and to distribute the same in payment of the public credi tors, without changing commissions, or claiming allowance on account of differ ence of exchange, and to do and perform the several and respective duties of Com missioners of Loans for the several States,” Resolved, That in the opinion of this General Assembly, a National Bank is necessary to the exigencies of the Gov ernment; necessary to the maintenance of a sound, uniform and permanent na tional currency; to the maintenance of the geneal credit and confidence; and to the accommodation of the internal and foreign trade and business of the country. Resolved, That to guard against fluc tuations in the National Currency, to prevent the embarrassments and de rangements in business, which must al ways be experienced and practised be tween the closing of the concerns of one great National Bank, and opening of a nother; and to avoid the speculations, al ways practised upon such occasions, it is the opinion of this General Assembly, that the greatest possible stability ought to be given to a Bank, established as a National Institution, for National uses and purposes. Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, be requested to forward co pies of these Resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Con gress. The resolutions were severally adopt ed by the House with very little discus sion, by ayes and woes, as follows:—On the 1st resolution, ages 43, noes 25; ma jority 18—2d resolution, ages 43, noes 25; majority 18—3d resolution, ages 57, noes 11; majority 46—4th resolution, ages 48, noes 20; majority 28—the 5th passed unanimously. The petition of Robert C. Sisson, an insolvent debtor, was taken up, and after argument by counsel was granted. Mr. C. Allen presented a bill to raise the tax on Bank Capital from one eighth, to one quarter of one per cent—read and laid on the table. Mr. Hazard from the committee on the petition of the Boston Providence Rail Road Company for act of Incorpo ration, reported a bill. _ The same having been read, S. Ames and Geo. Turner, Esqs, as counsel for adverse interests, moved that the subject be postponed to the next session. This motion was opposed by T. Riv ers, Esq. counsel for petitioners. ‘The discussion of this bill occupied the House the remainder of the afternoon. On Saturday morning, Mr. Cranston presented a memorial and surrender of charter from Washington Lodge, No. 5. The committee on the State Prison Question, reported that the whole num ber of votes in favor of a State Prison were 5433, against 502. Nichols Hassard was elected in grand committee, Sheriff of the county of New port, after a further hearing in relation to the charges bong against him. Mr. Hazard, of Newport, introduced ‘a resolution providing for calling a Con vention for the purpose of proposing such amendments to the constitution and char ter of this state as may be necessary.— Postponed to Wednesday, June session. An Act passed incorporating the Bos ton and Providence Railroad company. In the Afternoon, the bill increasing the tax on Banks was called, and after de bate postponed to the next session. The resolution on the subject of the U. S. Bank and removal of the Deposits, passed by the House yesterday and sent to the Senate, came back with an amend ment, striking out the 1st and 2d resolu tions, in which the house refused to con-
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Herald of the Times
Newport, Rhode Island, US
Thu, May 15, 1834
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