The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-03-19
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pRnyInENcE, nAa 19.


we are not actuated by enmiIy TO the man,
who, through much ribuiatioD, has attained
the goal he has been seeking, TO- tweniy6OpS
years--but by motives far more lsudsb,e ave
wish 10 convince the people, thar the isdtSs.
rulers of this Safe stop short OF nc measoIe,
however ineonsisteu, or vie, which viii efset
their object; and. slthoogb they seem now
disposed to make Mr.. Bnfriil the seape-gost
for all their sins, we art disposed 10 urmssk
them, and expose their despieaSle irathein8
and msn1uvring, TO public view.
II is conceded that James Burrill, Jun. is o
ms Of talents, not very brilliant or solid, 10
be sure, but quite respectable. IL Is well
known, that none among the cabal who beyo
ruled this State for the last six years, lDSo
been more defatigsble in their exerticl3 TO
maintain federal ascendsncy, pooe have been
more resuy to subserye the views OF the bos-
ton jun,o, than this same Mr. b. il is also
well known, that 10 his arden, endesvors 10
procure sea, 10 Congress, he has been re-
peatedly thwsrted by the very perscus who
owed their elevation, in q great degree, 10,
his unwearied, though selfish, sBd perhnpa
unprincipled, e1ertions in bad cause. Tho
numerous disappointmenls he experieneee
at length soured him, and at period not vsl !
remote, came near precipitains him into 10
arms of The political sdversaries of those wa
had "kep, the word of promise TO the ear,
bu, broke i, TO the hope" This posture Of
Affairs alarmed the csbai and, unwilling to
lose him, they Showed in perspective, a va
csncy 10 the Senate, which he, they assured
him, should flil, provided his opposition 70
the Represe election was withdraxa.
Fed with new promise, whose iulGimcbe
would place him on more elevated sroanc,
the gentleman continued in The ranks, end
most vigor ously Qheugh not moM honorabIy1
discharged all the duties Of political ssldiee
in the last spring campaign, which fesul,s1
in the renewed success OF HE Harry, bui with
so diminished majority, tha, they hardly
expected to maintain their prepcnd,rance al.
the succeeding autumnsi election. Deprss,
sed with this fear, what was MIR. b 8 aston.
ishment and trepidaton when elected 20 tho
office of Chief Justice 10 May, waeec he was
told he must serve, and which he foressgp
was calculated t. keep him from the Senator.
iai dlgnry he had so long coveted Il 6oiS
stroke was the reforr determined on. At the
June session, Nh. D. insisted on 'hs reward
of his services add, backed BY fee %
had never stuck a, any hing 10 carry point.
who operated on tha many by the Imposing
argument, that the Republicans would assU$-
edly obtain majority in the House of Rep
resentatives at the August election, and ,hus
defeat the choice of a federal Senstor--hS
Obtained the passage of tbs, resolution, apd
the election succeeding it, which so gIaringly
usorped the erogstiye Of subs. que nj leg.
islsture, and trampled under foot the rights
and opinions of the people.
II was hoped, that this violation Of p.inci~
pie would pass unno,iced, and without com.
ment-The federal rulers of this State hs6
so often outraged law, and done violence 10
our constitutional principles and ssages,
without meeting the ftowus Of the people,
that they indulged belief of impuni,y in apy
outrage they might commit. Indignaiion
was, however, aroused, at this monstrous us.
urpa,ion of power the matter WAS freely dis.
cussed; and the consequence was, de,sr.
mination in the perpetrators to rs,isce their
steps. Hero arose new dilemma. AIthoug9
prepared for confirmation at the October sese
sion, Mr.. b. was doubtiai whether che good
friends who had so often disappointed him,
when they once more had the power in their
hands, by his declnation, would not gratifS
some new favorite, TO his exclusion. Tha
October session was therefore suffered to
pass; but the Intervening time to February
was not unimproved; no mean wss left un-
trisd to ascertain the public opinion, at homo
and abroad, respecting the legality of tho
Juno elec;ion--asd finding but one opinion
existed % the subject, TO secure the great
object Of twenty years exerci,a,ion, it was
found, that the humiIiating scene portrayed. !.
10 cur last, must be acted, by the dieniiisd
rulers Of the independent sovereignty Of
Rhodslsiand. Accordingly, the letter Of,
decliDstion was written, and the Hon. James
Burrill, juns was elect Senator, in the room
OF the Hon. James Burrill, Jun. resigned 4!
Let Us now look back intle. When Mr.
B. was elected Senator for six years a, tho
June session, he was Representative from
Providence, Speaker Of the House, and Chief
Justice, neither of which ofhees, slthough to-
tally incompatible, did he see 6t to resign he
returned his thanks to their Honors, for tho
honor cooferred in set speech, very prettily
framed, & tsen proceeded TO the execution Of
his oiaer Offices. In August, Mr.. b. declined
a reelection as Representatives from this
town (ss bo ssid) in consequences of his sp-