The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-05-15


By gentleman who was in Newport at the
late election, and documents, copied from the
originals III the Office of the Secretary OF State
by one of the editors of this paper. We have
thought il our duty, as advocates of the Cause
of truth and justice to collect and publish
them : Col. Gardner knows nothing of this;
had he have been applied to, complete ac-
count of the whole affair might have been OBJ
tanned; the following, however, We consider,
amply sufficient to dissipa,e, the calumnics
propagated by sham; less partisans.
The following article, which originally
appeared in the .aeuaori Mercury, and has
since been extracted into the common reser-
Siour of fifth and falsehoods the Providence
.d'neric0n, ought not 70 DC suffered 10 pass
without a comment.
Jonathan Nichols, ESQ. elected Sd justice
OF the court Of common pleas for the county
Of Kent, is federalist, and was chosen by
majority Of four votes, in opposition to Sam
uei Gardner, the dcmocratick candidate, who
Few years since was convicted of the atroci-
Gus crime of arson, and was sentenced TO be
publicity whipped at the carts tail, on the
bare back,whicn sentence was duly executed.
These facts we're stated and admitted, and
yet the election of this culprit was strenuous
iy advocated by His Excellency the Cover
nour, and by Nathaniel Hazard, Esq. and fin
ally received the votes of 50 democratick
members, in opposition to an honest man J"
II is false, that Mir. Gardner was ever con-
victed of the crime of arson, or that he was
ever gully of any crime. What was the re.
al nature OF the cline OF which he was un-
Justly accused will presently be shewn. l;
| is likewise false, that his election was siren
uonsly advocated by His Excellency the Gov.
When the objections to the election of MIR.
Gardner We're st~,ed, tac GoyclnOur arose
andEicreiy communicated 20 the two Houses
waa; :, I'D heard several years since from
the late Judge Bourne, who was one. of Mr..
Gardner's council at the tri-l alluded to, and
who expressed TO the Govcrnour his firm per-
sua,ion, that the conviction was an erroneous
one, and that Mr.. Gardner was entirely inno-
cent of the crime with which he was charg-
ed. But the Governonr went no further than
To vindicate a fellow citizen ftom calumny
and OH that occasion, nor on any other which
occurred al the late sc ssion Of the C.nerai
Assembly, did he advocate the election of any
OF the candidates for office, H
! The foiirying document will shew how
much credit the statement in question merits
i'm other RESPECTS, anh low weII-fuundcd were
the objections 10 Mr. Gardrer's election.
estate OF RRoDR-lsl.ANB.
TO the Hon General .assen,by Of fhe State aforesaid
roai'enrd at Newpcrf, on a,e ~ .Mondsy of Jf7,e,
1.87.r '~.tfa ss. Nrt@ t5s.-
osthumhy shewcth Samuel Gar.lrer, Of Er~fer.
in the Coan,, OF Hosiing'on, yecnan that he was
dictcd al Snpc, iomt Couit holden in Easf-Crren-
,uch in the County Of Kcn. for aiding and assisting
&C. Gas in the vote bclow)- bdf ahAoych entirely n
neceaf Of the fact vet nevertheless said Cour Eo-
den III April. A. ID. 1882, Me prejudice IF the people
strong dgsinst him, that he WAS convicted and
sentenced, &c (ss in the vote balox.
SAMUEL GARDNER
1T General .as,esnIly. June 1887.
Whereas Samuel Gardner, of EIefer, in the county
Of Washington. yeo,nen, preferred petition and re-
presented un, his Assembly, that at = Superioui
Court held at Ea,,Creenwch, in the county Of Ksn,
he was indcted for AIDING and assisting in burning
barn bcloning tp O.i,niei Goron, Esq and some hay
belonging to Rufus Spencer, Esq. that at the said
Court held in April, A. ID. 1882, he was convicted
and sentenced to receive corporal punishment, there
by great stigma Was cast upon him That his con-
duct before and since hath evinced to the pcopL at
large, that he has led sober life, and is in
dustrious man That he labouis under very great
disadvantage in having the said judgment Of court
now standing in full force against him |: And that
many members Of this .Asst ulby and other worthy
characters can testify, that his conduct as good
citizen and industrious homes: Mai, cannot be gam
sayed Aud thereupon he prayei this Assembly for
relief: And the premises being daiy considered, II
10 Voted, and Ifesoived, That the said Samuel Gard
ncr be and he is hereby fIly aud amply restored to
all the rights, privileges and immunities Of free cit
izcn Of this State, il the same manner though
such conviction and sentence had been had against
him."
In addition to the above it may be stated,
that Mr.. G lrdDcr has cver bovne q fair and
irreprosc hab,e cbnracter--has been success
sively chosen member Of the General As
scmbly for several years; Licl,onant-Col
Of the Military and Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas iur the County Of Kent |; ali
which Offices he has sus,aineG with boneur to
himself, and advantage TO The State. That
he was no, elected to the office for which he
< was candidate in the late election, IS to be
attributed entirely IN the number OF new
<>.exaha.s rrha xu1.r4. ,lnackii.1inted with the