Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1805-04-11

candid narrative OF the proceedings
Of a late Convention thar was holden
in Sousl- -Kingitown Cat which, thro'
inadverrnce and accident, more than
from anf other caufe, | was prefcnt)
and the part | cafually took in the
buiinels of that Convention. My abb
fence frsm the State, had rendered
me lefs acquainted with the politics of
the State Soon after my return, I
had heard report that 7bomss HoxEs,
Elquire, had agreed to offer himlelf as
a candidate for Lieutenant Governor !;
which a the time, 1 did hope was not
feriouflr intended by him. A few
days afler had hrlf heard this report,
| faw Major Edsoard Wilcox, who
gave il as his opinion, that Mr.. Hox-
iie would oppofe Governor Mumtord; ;
though the meafure appeared to us
impoliic and injurious to the peace,
and belt interefts of the State. We
agreed with a number of influential
Republicans of Charleltown, to wait
on 7bcmas Hoxfs, and to endeavor to
prevail on him to abandon the Object
and ! was requefed to notify him,
that on the aSth day of March Cbe-
ing the day of difcount at the Waih-
ingtoa Bank) number of his politi-
cal friends, as well as the friends of
Governor Mumford (and confequently
iupporters of the meafures of the Cen
eral and State Government,) would
call ON him and accordingly deliv-
cred the meaage to E(quire Hoxfs.
But he anfwsred, that he was engaged
and could not attend. This was a
day or two previous to the meeting of
the Convention.
In the morning Of the day on
which the Convention was holden, Ma
jor EdsVard Wiiiesx called at my houle,
and aiked me to ride with him TO the
Convention. went with him. The
county of Warrington alone was re-
pretented. When we proceeded to
bufnefs, ! requelfed information par
ticularly refpeaing the refult of the
State Convention (; when l was in
formed there had been but partial
oneL that the fouth part of the State
was not fully reprelented in it--and
that the few that attended from the
fossfh; withdrew. l then obicrved 10
the Convention, that however well
Efquire HoxGe was refpeaed, or might
be fupported in the county of Waih-
ington, he would nevertheless be de-
feated, unlefs he ihould meet with fup-
port in the other parts of the State, del
egates from which were not prefent,
and had not been confnlted. When
the queifion was taken, few of the
Convention did not vote at all.
After palling fsveral refolutions,
relative to the fubjeet (Which have
been publifhed) the Convention dif-
folved.
Having fince had more opportuni-
ty to examine the fubjed, l find it par,
takes, pretty frongly, of the nature
of a third party. Similar parties have
arifen, and been defeated in other
States, particularly the Southern)
where they are denominated the "Nr-
hnm qmds," and are jufly held in de-
teitation, by every found, and well
meaning Republican.
affirm, that 70 far from giving
my humble aid to the oppofition to
Governor Mumford, I have Uniform
ly manifefed my difapprobabation Of
the meafure, and did 70 even in the
Convention; though with degree of
delicacy, LETT l fhould wound the feel
ings of perfons prefent; and particu-
larly the feelings of 7bma5 Hox6e,
Efquire, for whom | have ever enter
tanned the higheR effeem, as worthy
citizen. But local conhderations, and
perfonal attachments to men, however
worthy. ought ever 10 be held in fub.