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


cur paper Of to-day, has necessarily excluded
from our columns several political articles
which wc were desirous Of presenting 10 our
RAIDERS this week, besides considerable num-
bcr Of advertisements, and our usual quota OF
domestic and miscellaneous matter.
To remedy this inconvenience, we shan,
during the time we are 20 publish the Docu-
ments, after this number, issue them on u sup-
elementary sheet with the paper
-.~ses-+-
Agrecably to promise we this day pub.
lish Mr.. IIullett's answer 70 the Honorable
Elisha X. Potter's. attack upon that gen.
tleman.
10 THE HON. ELISHA r. POTTER
When a man of elevated standing, pos
gessing political and personal influence in
an extensive community, descends to an at
tack, through the public prints, upon an in.
dyidual Of vastly less consequence than
himself, and by his mode and yehemence
of attack evinces degree Of irritation APP
parently altogether disproportoned to the
supposed offence committed by that indi-
yidnal, as the conductor Of newspaper
press, he may rely upon it he not only COM
promises his dignity, but lays himself com
pletely at the mercy OF the person he has 30
assailed.
So far as il respects myself have no re-
grets that you have thought proper to bring
my name before the public in the manner
you have done in your communication to
the Editor of the Microcosm. But although
1 might be justified, under such circun-
stances, in forgetting the relations between
us, or even the respect that should always
be awarded by youth to age, Though II be
a respect founded on the very infrmities
and irritabilties Of that age) still TRUST
shall address you in a manner that must in
ternally convince even yourself, that true
magnhnimlty Of mind, and GOODNESS of self
possession may make an individual OF in
considerable influence and distitutc OF
worldly possession, superior TO u man for
getful Of self respect and the decoium due
TO the public; who may have been almost
omnipotent" in the first, and who is es-
tccmcd unbounded in the last. Yeti do re
gre., for the honour ofmy adopted state thar
one of her most distinguished citizens, who
has held high stations in the national aud
state councils should be left 10 exhibir1im-
self in the posture you have thought prop
CIR 10 assume in the introduction of your
newspaper essay, an essay whose gross
grammatical imperfections and uniform
coarseness oftexture do not more offend a.
gainst good taste, than the disposition and
temper il evinces, betray want Of gene
rosty and of discriminating moral pescep
ton.
am surprised that q person of your ac
knowledged good sense and long expert
ence in human nature as well as politicAl
management, should not more deliberately
have considered the probable tendency Of
q personal attack upon an individual whose
consequence you affect 10 deride, while
BY that very act you give 10 him conse-
quence injurious TO yourself, and in a. de-
gree, perhaps, make him the object Of that
generous sentiment in the public mind
which invariably rises against the over
bearing attempts Of the wealthy and pow
erful to crush humble individual. Sure.
ly if | am what you insinuate, destitute Of
moral principle, a mere "siclndiing inter
toper" worse than Barnabas Bidwell, can.
didate for your newly discovered Botany
Bay, must be altogether beneath the for
nal newspaper notice of person hitherto
elevated like yourselfin in public estimation-
III am ofsufiiciont Importance to be wor.
thy of tho distinguished labour YOU have
bestowed upon me, then manifcstly you
must have done me injustice by the con-
temptuous opinion you affect to entertain
of me. In either case you have been lack
ing in Judgment by giving unrestraincd ut
terance to the effervescence of your disap-
pointed ambition.
You say Sir, you are incapable ofbeing
the personal enemy ofany man." For my
own sake trust II is so yet the singular
commentary you have yourself given upon
this magnanimous text, by a personal invec-
tive founded on the pecuniary misiortunes
and place of birth of one individual, and
the supposed natural in6rmities and pre-
tended disabilities ofanother, affords but n
feeble illustration of the influence Of such
sentiment upon your conduct.
The amount of your charges or insinua-
tons against me, is that was once un.
fortunate in business truly honest and high
minded men have believe been equally 80
and yet outlved it, and that have no
right to express an opinion upon the political
affairs ofthc State, because was not born
in Rhode-Island. 1t may be consistent
with your views Of generosity Of conduct
and magnanimity Of mind, for man ofage
rank and ability, like yourself, TO attempt,
by coarse illusions and unionnded msinua-
tlons, to depress or destroy the future pros
poets ola young man, depending alone up-
or his character and excrtions to bring him
forward in life, and who is but just rocov.
erng, by his industry, from the effects of
mlsiortunes brought upon him by circum-
stances beyond his control. IL so l envy
no man the prospects of enjoying such a
triumph, ifwithin his reach.-I envy less
that man who thus acting falls in his de-