The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-09-28

honorable Elisha r. Potter, first wrote aud
sent to the press his splcnetic attack upon
Mr. Robbins, and afferl1drds busted himself
in running all over the country TO collect
evidence to support his ungenerous insin-
uations. All this trouble and expense was
no doubt incurred purely for the public
good and after letting the matter rest a
dozen years, and extending to Mr.. Robbins
every confidence while he could hope TO
obtai his aid in advancing his own views,
this disinterested patriot, having failed TO
crush his rival in an attack upon him be-
fore the Representatives Of the people
when he found 10 other means left to de-
feat his election, now comes forward in
newspaper and assails his character, trust
ing to circumstances for the support of his
insinuations, or to the " forbearance" of Mr..
Robbins in disregardiDg his ISLANDERS from
the known incompetency Of the witness a
gainst him.
We have before us letter from highly
source detailing transaction
in reference to mr. Potter, calculated to
make native, as well as adopted citizens, of
Rhode Island, blush that man who boasts
Of having been born in this state, should,
while candidate for the first office in the
SldlC, fCHuCi uIui5Cii SO COilttllptiuiS VIC
eyes of the citizens Of a neighbourlng state.
The successwhch attended mr.P Potter's ex-
cursion to Stonington, will doubtless follow
him through all his windings to blast the
character ofa man, who whatever may be
his faults is in no respect inferior to his
gratutous defamer.
We proceed to the extract from the letter
which has occasioncd these remarks.
.Stonington Sept. 2lst, 1896.
Benz. F. HALLEfT, Esq.
Sir-Our town has recently (the week past)
been honored by visit from mr.. Potter-Ils
particular, and so far as discovered his sole
object, was an interview with Gen. w. W.
*'S., a gentleman of this town, who during
the restrictions upon our navigation, was
largely engaged in foreign commerce during
the period that mr.. Robbins was u. s. District
Attorney. His ship the Trio was seized at
Bristol U. I. for an alleged breach OF the laws
of the IT, s. and afterwards released on bond
for 40 900 dollars or there abouts.----The
prosecution which ensued before the u ).
Court, was afterwards discharged and Gen
w. saved from the penalty on payment OF
costs. Mr. Potter's object, as stated by him
to Gen. W-'ss"'r was to demand of him TO
name the sum which he paid to mr.. Robbins,
TO induce him 10 suspend his prosecution, hav-
ing been credibly assured that. douceur ur
bribe was so paid, and asserting that this in
formation was necessary to his (nr. P's) JUS
tifcation, by duplicating mr.. Robbins.---
Gen w frankly communicated to mr. Potter
the facts which preceded and produced the
discharge of his bonds, which completely ex-
culpated mr.: Robbins, and were honorable to
him as an efficient and vigiant officer Of the
U. s. Cours 1t appeared that the case was.
struck from the docket on the suggestion or
req,isition Of mr.. Dallas, then Secretary Of
the Treasury, made directly TO the Judge
having Immediate jurisdiction (HowelD with
out the agency or even concurrence OF the
District Attorney Although mr. Potter had
waited considerable part of the day tor Gen
Ws return from n temporary absence from
home, he was compelled to depart with this
slender accumulation of testimony to blast the
| reputation Of mr.. r."
The following letter from the Hon. ASHER
ROBBINS, was intended for the Providence
Journal Of Monday last (; but the Steamboat
having beer dssaincd, by the inclomency of
| the weather, it did not arrive in time for in
sertion in that paper: TWAS however, issued
on an extra sheet the same day, and from
which we are happy to furnish our readers
with copy
To the Editor Of the Manufacturers and
Farmers Journal.
SIn-Some anonymous pieces in the
last Microcosm, make it proper that
should address you again.
If Mr.. Potter, in his letter published in
the preceding Microcosm, had naade any
specific charges against me Of a libellous
naturo, would have Immediately prose-
cuted him for the libel, and if he shall
make any such hereafter, l shall pursue
this course with respect to him. But
while he confines himself to vague insinua-
tions, how is it possible for me to meet
them? BY his mode Of making them he
shelters himself from any legal response
bility for his conduct. deny that those
insinuations have any foundation in fact,
aud this is all of which can say Of them
How can / explain what is unintelligible to
myself? Those insinuations are as much
so to me as to any one else.
With respect to the anonymous writer's
in the last Microcosm, have the same re-
mark to make they too confne them
selves to insinuations. Not one Of them
ventures to make specific charge against
me Of libellous nature. Had this been
done would have Immediately prosecuted
the libeller. Their insinuations aver to
be without any foundation whatever in
fact. They enumerate certain cases and