The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-09-21

dence IN this transaction, those who had
the most TO do in it ought to have the great.
est share of II. What would you think Of
legislature which beng about TO elect q
court should require Of the persons pro.
posed TO be elected, TO determine Ger.
tain question that was to be brought before
them, ss the legislature should direct be
fore they were appointed, and before they
knew the cause, the law or evidence, tha,
should be submitted to them-and wba,
would you think of a court that would ac-
cept their offices under such degrading
conditions.
AS Mr.. Robbins is candidate, and the
town of Providence having acted on the
presumption that was one, il would seem
this act Of theirs was an unqualified appro-
baton Of all Mr.. Robbins conduct, while
IN Office, and an uBprovoked declaration OF
war upon me. BE it so, have always had
the greatest respect for the town Of Proy-
dence, and when out of the state have al
ways spoken Of them with pride and plea
sure, as the most intelligent, industrious,
enterprising people that ] had ever seen,
aud know have among them many valu-
able personal friends, and shall at all times
regret very much doing any things that
would hurt their feelings or their intesest.
1 make this observation in Justice to myself,
not from hope or wish that they should
change their conduct towards me. have
been elected at fifty elections in nv native
town, without an opposing ballot, hand or
voice, and once with an opposition, and for
advocating what considered their inter
est (Which shall always do regardless of
consequences have been held up as an
enemy to the town Of Providence, and very
frequently when doing many things to gra-
tify them as far as could consistent with
my duty to my constituents and preserve
my own standing, ! have been charged
with abandoning the interest of the coun-
try part of the state for them. The town
OF Providence must recollect that when |
came into the Legislature Of this state, that
the town ] represent paid much more tax
than they did, and had done nothing during
the revolutionary war and long after, and
1t was with great difficulty and exertion
that we bad any thing like justice done us
in future and nothing for the past my sit
uation has frequently been unpleasant, but
feel perfectly satisfied with every thing
that may have done as it respects them.
l have been advised by my friends to take
no notice Of those publications holding me
up as an enemy to the town of Providence,
as personal enemy to the President, and
an opposer Of the instituted authorities Of
my country, but l cannot in justice TO my
self, my family, and friends, suffer them to
go uDdenied and unanswered any longer.
never for moment entertained an un-
friendly feeling towards the town of Prov
idence. l never had a personal hostile
feeling towards the President, and have al
ways been perfectly satisfied with his ad-
ministration. If these publications were
confined to the state where the authors of
them are known, and where l am person
ally Known to almost every man in it,
should not have given myself any trouble
about this business ; bnt as have family
OF sons to educate, who cannot take up a
newspaper edited by certain description
ofmep, for months past, without seeing me
held up as an enemy to the country that
gave me birth, and to government from
which l expect my person, family aud pro-
perty protected, have thought that in JUS
tlce to them would make this explanation,
holding at the same time the prime mover
OF those publications, and for whose par
ticuiar benefit they are made, accountable
for them all.
have been long time tired of public
life and have wished for an honorable op-
portunity to have retired, but have been
denied that opportunity. / in early life
resigned being representative in Con-
gress when had two winters to serve at
another time declined reelection when
Mr.. Boss succeeded me, when could have
been reelected. Ihave been kept in pub
lie by my enemies and not by my friends,
as mans enemies can drive him, where
his friends cannot persuade him. have
lived long enough TO know that aman may
serve his country with fidelity and zeal as
ever christian served his God, and in do
ing this for thirty years, if he should offend
only one man in acting fomtbe purest mo-
tlves, whenever he may be at stake before
the public, the enmity of that man will
more than overbalance the gratitude of
whole community. In this business have
made no uttack, and have long suffered the
most infamous abuse without the least pro-
having in early life adopted the !
that it was better to suffer wrong |
than to do it. | am now compelled to q |
dopt another course, and am prepared TO
meet any thing that may grow out of il. |
and shall shrink from no responsibility.
ELISHA K. POTTER.
ProriGeace, September Z, 1926.
-..eNe.---
HON. ASHER ROBBINS.-Tho differ.
ence between this gentlemans character and |
that of the man in answer to whose abuse the |
letter was written, is no iess clearly
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