Republican Herald

Mr. Simons—Nothing but the deep interest I feel for the welfare of the State, could induce me to write another letter for publication. It is painful to me to sit so long; and it is great labor to hold the pen steady, as age and the manual labor of my farm have stiffened my fingers, which were once elastic. I cannot view with indifference the present aspect of our political horizon. I am sure I perceive unholy designs in those who now control the destinies of our State; I cannot therefore refrain from mentioning the result of a train of reflections which have passed through my mind, on reviewing the acts of the present political dominant party.

Gov. Arnold's reign should be styled "the Alpha and the Omega;" for, as I shall show in the sequel, one of the first and one of the last acts of his administration were innovations upon the laws of the land, as flagrant and obnoxious as they are shameful and disgraceful.

As I had much to do in this town, in promoting the election of Mr. Arnold, it must be allowed I have some knowledge of the manner in which matters were conducted. Money, money, Sir, was at the bottom of it. I acknowledge, with mortification, my participation in the transaction; and if unwearied exertions to wrest the power from the unworthy hands into which I aided to place it, will be any atonement for my folly and delusion, be assured I will obtain full pardon next spring. The runners from Providence and Newport assured us Mr. Arnold's majority would not be less than 1500. My surprise was indeed great when it proved to be only about 300, notwithstanding the tremendous vote in your town. I have been informed about 900 CERTIFICATE votes were cast throughout the State in favor of Mr. Arnold. Can any one contradict me when I say this was done by the aid of money? No: for it is well known that in every town where it was ascertained a citizen could vote if he had a certificate, that straightway a horse and rider were procured and the certificate obtained. The distance and the expense were of no moment, if the vote could be secured; and it is a fact, as I have been told, that on election day an express was sent from Providence to Newport, for one single certificate. The voters themselves could not afford the expense, nor the time to go home and vote. May it not then be truly said that Mr Arnold bought his election? For if there were 900 certificate votes cast, and his majority was only 300, without the 900 bought votes, would not Gov. Fenner have been elected by a majority of 300, including the large vote against Gov. F. in your town? There is no mistake in this statement. Has it indeed come to this, that our freemen are to have a price set on their suffrages—that money is to decide who shall be our rulers? I hope not.

The Alpha of Mr. Arnold's career was the passage of an act in the Senate which originated in that body," permitting certificate voters, to vote for members of the House, as well as General Officers; and of consequence to vote for Members of Congress and Presidential Electors." I was at Newport when this was done. It alarmed me—I went home, and the more I pondered on it, the more inquietude I felt. I was restrained from expressing my apprehensions, for I had been so zealous and so active, in supporting Mr. Arnold, that my pride would not allow me so soon to express doubts; but when I heard of the Omega of Mr. Arnold in the late act of perpetuity, my pride could no longer suppress my principles and I have publicly avowed to do all in my power to have Mr. Arnold defeated; So much has already been said about the Omega, that I will pass that over for the present and notice the Alpha only.

By Statute, each town regulates its own Government, and chooses its own representatives to the General Assembly. This provision is wise and just because, only under such a law could the different interests of the different towns be properly and fairly represented in the General Assembly. The citizens of Newport might urge the passage of an act which would be highly objectionable and oppressive to the town of Tiverton. But if this aristocratic act, which had its origin in Mr. Arnold's Senate, should take effect, a little maneuvering could force our town to send Representatives to the General Assembly, who would favor the views of the town of Newport to our injury or ruin. Suppose, for instance, a tax is to be levied on all the farms in the State; and that parties are pretty equally divided in the town of Tiverton; it is known that our town is opposed to the tax, because we have nothing but farms; while Newport has many merchants and banks and lawyers, who must be taxed to raise the money required, if it cannot be got from the Farmers. It is only necessary for Newport to send ten or a dozen idlers to reside in Tiverton a few months, and when election comes on, with their certificates in their pockets, they go to town-meeting, and parties being warm and nearly equal, they decide the election. The same could be done in Bristol and Little Compton, in Warren and Barrington, in Providence and Johnston: and in this way the towns could be made to send Representatives who would be actually opposed to their own interests. As before remarked the statute wisely provides that each town shall have its own interests properly represented, and this can only be done by allowing those to vote for their Representatives who reside in the town, and whose interests and farms are in that town.

Congress could with as much propriety pass an act permitting the citizens of Massachusetts to come into Rhode-Island. & vote for members of Congress, as could the Senate and House of our State Legislature pass an act authorising the citizens of one town to vote for representatives of another town.

Do not think I am old and visionary and that my hypothesis is wild and improbable; for men who will endeavor to perpetuate themselves in office, because they have the power, would not hesitate to exercise the power if it could be done, to control our town elections. They would not be satisfied with the general Government of the State, but they would rule, regulate, and direct all the movements of the different towns. I have something to say on the subject of anti-masonry, but will defer it until next Saturday, when you shall hear from me again.

AN ANTI-MASON.