Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-23

minority ?-Ncver. On the contrary, through
life he has carefully watched the current opinion
and invariably has waited to ascertain the strength
of party, before he has ventured to avow his prin-
ciples or to give his vote. Call ye this independ
ence; if you do, such the independence of ELISHA
r. Porter. The exceptions to which we allude
were questions Of some magnitude;-the one
was the Presidential Election, and the other the
War Bill. GA the latter. he voted in the mega
tive with very strong minority, and with perfect
safety, for he knew full well that a vote given in
the affirmative would cost him his scat in Con-
gress. On the former, he voted with the minority
in compliance with reputed contract, which pro-
missed him seat in the United States Senate ifhe
faithfully performed the task assigned him, by the
opposite contracting party. So much for the boast
ed independence oil ELISHA r. Potter
The portion of this letter, however, which comes
more particularly under our consi leration is thai
| which makes an oblique attack on the private and
| political character Of the Hon. ASHER ROBINS
| and as il is that part which has caused some little
excitement, and it may be considered the climax
| OF the production, we insert 1t entire:-
"ls it possible for Mr.. Robbins to feel friendly 10
Mr.. Adams, when he knows that Mr.. .4dams knows
| much about him; that Mr.. Adams, while Secre,a-
ry of State, informed Mr.. Hunter that there ere
many serious charges against Mr.. Robbins, in mis-
ofhcial conduct, as District Attorney during the
war; and if he did not clear them up he must lie dis
| placed, and of which Mr. Hunter informed Mr.
| Robbins? Did Mr.. Robbins defg them attempt to
| clear them up, or inquire what they were No, he
knew as well what they were as Mr.. Adams did
and that the one half was told, willing if Mr.
AHa1 Oh AZ
ing himself His four years were nearly out and
as the lawyers would say. he was defau ted Tor not
answering and another man appointed in his ROOM
lie was not left out for ncompetency poit os as
his successor was OF the same political faith which
he professed. What confidence can Mr.. Adams
have in this man, or in any man left out of office
Tor such conduct, and by an administration in which
he held the first place? Will he trust him with the
secrets Of his cabinets? Will he rely on his repre-
sentation Will he put confidence ia his promises
When he stands before Mr.. Adams, will not the
tales OF the African tradethe license trade of Com
modore Hardy-and the sound Of libel and compro
mlse-of acquital and appeaidiscontinued-ofsu suits
for smuggling settled before Court-and thousand
other thugs, recur to his recollection and depict in
the coun'eEanee OF the latter scoin and contempt ;
for scorn and contempt he nusi fS,! II is not IN
the power Of an honest man. kAowins what he
knows, TO ieei otherwise and is Mr.. Robbins,
der all these circumstances, suitable unn to repre-
sent this State in the Senate Of the United States "
The implied charges contained in this extract
have, for more than year, been zeaousy and bus
lily circulated by Mr.. Potter, wherever he could
find man to listen to them, and he employed them
at the Oct session, 1875, with expectation that
they would defeat the election of Mr.. ROBBINS ::
how far he succeeded in his insidlous and mise.
rable designs the result fthe told in Ian
guage not easily perverted. An intelligent Legis-
lature were not TO be wheedled by the naked as
sertions of a reckless Office hunter. MIR. ROBBINS
triumrhed over his vindctive and malicious as
saIlant-and he who sought not only the ruin of
the political but the private fame of citizen distn
gushed highly among Others, for the brilliancy OF
his talents and tho purity Of his character, retired
from the Legislative Hall, defeated, disgraced and
condemned, by every honorable and liberal mind.
The public, it is believed, will not readily listen
to the unauthentcated statements Of ELISHA r.
Porter. or withdraw their confidence from Mr..
ROBBINS, simply because he has been nssailed bya
personal and political foe, who, TO attain his private
ends, and to crafty an unhallowed ambition, would
sacrifice his neighbor at the altar Of the assassin.
Iii asked with soberness, with seriousness If the
hnoue-lslanc puDllc Will listen TO the charges OF
ELISHA X. PoTTER, unless they he authenticated?
Unless he produce documents to prove their verify:
IL they be true he can unquestionably substantate
them. and until his proofs produced the people
should not heed them. II Mr.. ROBBINS is the cor
rupt man here represented, Mr.. PorTER is bounc
in duty to himself, to his country and his God, to
expose him -and if he shall satisfactorily establish
the charges our word for It, the Rhoje-lsland Leg
isature, if it be upright body. nerer pW sup
port him for the United States Senate.
But they groundless as the baseess fabric
of vision !" they were manufactured in and emit
ted from the political workshop al South Kingston,
conducted by the firm OF ELISHA r. PoTrER e.
Goa firm, bankrupt in political veracity, in hon.
or, and in truth.
MIR. Potter could have well spared himself the
trouble of adverting to the Slave Trade, Commo-
dore Hardy &c. for tales could be told of himself,
in which the name of the invader Of Losg g-lsland
Sound and its shores could be used, in a manner
which would not particularly delight his fancy or
his feelings. lie might be told something about the
capture Of the hampoa by the British soop of war
Nimrod, within a few miles Of his residence, aud
what his feelings were on that occasion and what
his conduct was when the exsencies OF six and