Republican Herald

RHODE-ISLAND LEGISLATURE.

Wednesday Morning, January 18—Mr. Pratt, from the committee on the Judiciary, reported on the subject of the bill offered by Mr. King, for appointing a Guardian over the Narragansett tribe of Indians. He stated that the committee were unable, for want of information, to agree upon any mode which would be likely to satisfy the House. Mr. King wanted a committee appointed to visit the tribe, and ascertain their real situation. Mr. Potter was opposed to it, as he said committees for the same purpose had been several times appointed, and then the lands of the tribe were obliged to be sold to pay their expenses, without any good resulting from their investigations. However, he thought it would be well enough to appoint Dr. King, he living in the town and being better acquainted with their situation than any other member, to inquire into their affairs, and report at the next session. Messrs. King and Thurston were finally appointed.

Mr. Potter called up the bill in addition to the probate act, in relation to the manner of giving notice, the bill providing that all probate and other official notices in settling estates, should be published in some newspaper printed in the county. It was objected to by members from Westerly and New-Shoreham, no newspaper being published within a great distance of them. The bill was postponed to the next session.

Mr. Simmons, from the committee on corporations, reported the bill in amendment of the charter of the Providence and Boston Rail Road Company, which was under discussion until the hour of adjournment.

Afternoon.—The committee on the Judiciary were discharged from the further consideration of Indian affairs.

Mr. Cross moved that the committee on the Judiciary be directed to bring in a bill authorizing Courts of Probate to grant power to executors and administrators to sell so much of the real estate of deceased persons as would be necessary to pay their just debts. After a few remarks from Mr. Potter and others, the resolution was rejected.

Mr. Potter was authorized to draw on the General Treasury for the sum of $150 for repairs of the State-House in South Kingston.

The House were occupied the remainder of the afternoon in discussing the amendments to the Rail Road charter, which were finally referred to the committee, with instructions to report the same.

Thursday Morning—A resolution passed requesting the Governor to inform the Governor of Massachusetts of the resolution of our Legislature, directing a bill in equity to be filed in the Supreme Court of the United States, relative to our Northern Boundary.

The militia act, offered by Mr. Haile, was called up, and after a few remarks, laid on the table.

Mr. D'Wolf offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

Resolved, That our Senators in Congress be instructed to use their exertions to secure for our citizens all the compensation for French Spoliations which by treaty with France or otherwise may be constitutionally provided or decreed.

The petition of Sullivan Dorr and others, for an act of incorporation, was granted.

The engrossed bill, to amend the charter of the Providence and Boston Rail Road Company, was passed.

The committee on Corporations reported an act of incorporation for the New-York, Providence and Boston Rail Road Company, to run from Providence to Stonington. Mr. Hazard moved it be postponed to the next session, with order of notice to the parties interested, which was adopted.

The Committee on the resolution of Mr. Potter, relating to Wool, reported an amended resolution as follows, viz:-

Resolved, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested to use their exertions to procure the passage of such acts as effectually to provide for the protection of national industry, in relation to all articles of the growth, produce, or manufactures of the United States, and especially to prevent the reduction of the duties on any kind of wool and woollen goods, and to increase the duties on every kind of Woollen yarn imported into the United States.

Mr. Simmons, in a speech of some length, moved that the following resolution be adopted as a substitute:-

Resolved, That the Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to use their exertions to procure such modifications of the tariff, as effectually to provide for the protection of national industry, in relation to all articles of the growth or proceeds of the soil or mines, or of the manufacturer of the United States, and especially to prevent the reduction of duties on any kind of wool and woolen goods, and to increase the duties on every kind of woolen yarn imported into the United States.

On motion of Mr. Potter both resolutions were laid on the table till afternoon, and the House adjourned.

Afternoon—The petition of John Paine and Daniel Burgess, for lottery; being recommended by a report of the committee to whom it was referred, was granted. They to give bonds with sureties in the sum of $50,000.

The report of the committee on the petition of Asa Pike and others, relating to the survey of lumber, was read a first time and laid on the table for consideration.

An act incorporating the City Fountain Company was read and passed.

An act from the Senate repealing an act in addition to an act for the relief of poor prisoners confined for debt, was read and after consideration, and being supported by Messrs. Pratt and Potter, the House concurred therein. This act restores the 9th section of the act of January, 1822.

The House then on motion of Mr. D'Wolf, took up the resolution, reported by Mr. Potter in the morning—Mr. Simmons' substitute being under consideration.—After an interesting debate in which Messrs. D'Wolf, Potter and Simmons expressed their views upon the resolution substitute and in favor of the protective system generally, the resolution was by consent amended so as to substitute the words "or proceeds of the soil or mines, or of the manufactures" in place of the words "produce or manufactures." Thus amended, it was passed and the House adjourned.

Friday Morning—Mr. Fowler called up a bill offered last session, providing for two sessions of the Assembly at Newport and two at Providence, shutting out the sitting at South-Kingstown. Mr. James moved it lay on the table till all the members were present. Mr. Potter said that when the bill was acted upon, he should move an amendment, that the Assembly should meet at Newport, South-Kingstown, Bristol and Kent, and not in Providence at all. The bill was laid on the table.

Mr. Pabodie called up the act relating to lumber, which was read a third time and passed.

The engrossed bill relative to insolvent petitions was then read and passed. The House receded from a former vote, and granted a stay of proceedings to C. Mosher, Jr.

Mr. James called up the militia bill. Mr. Potter moved it be postponed to the next session, as there was not time enough now to consider it. The motion to postpone was negatived. The bill was then read a third time, and passed. The bill provides for a Company training in April, a meeting of officers for military discipline once a year, and a grand regimental review every two years.

The Speaker submitted an act according to the instructions from the committee, providing against the non-election of civil officers at the annual election. It provides chiefly that in case of no election of Governor and Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall issue his writ to the several towns for a new trial, previous to the next session of the Assembly, the present incumbents holding their offices until others are appointed in their stead.

The Senate concurred with the House on the insolvent law.

Yesterday afternoon the Committee on the Anti-Masonic Memorials, by their Chairman Benjamin Hazard, made a long and elaborate report upon the facts which they had elicited in their late investigation. After which, an able and interesting counter report was presented by Mr. Sprague, one of the committee, which occupied upwards of an hour in reading. This second report produced a heated discussion, in which Messrs. Hazard and Simmons participated. Before the debate was concluded the House adjourned.