Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-01-13

Mr.. BURGEs' SPEECH.-On thursday
last, we had the pleasure Of presenting in
an extra sheet, in pamphlet form, to our
friends and patrons, the speech ofthe Hon.
Tristan Burgess, delivered in the House of
Representatives, on the bill to provide for
certain persons, engaged in the land and
naval service of the United States, during
the Revolutionary War.
The deep interest the American people
have in the fate of this bill the noble and
animating principles it involves and the
.olicitude expressed by the Rhode Island
public, On the subject, induced us to pre-
sent the speech at period as early as
practicable, though to do so, we have sub
jected ourselves to very considerable trou-
bic, and have necessarily detracted some
interest from this days paper.
As to the merits of the Speech, it will
be best to let every man Judge for himself;
and without intending to forestall public
expression, we will be allowed to add, that
in our opinion, it is one of Mr. Burgess
happiest and most busness-like efforts.
Though taken somewhat by surprise, when
he rose to express his views on the subject,
it does not appear from the speech that he
was in the least disconnected; but il does
appear, that he was fully prepared for the
contest in which he was about to engage
and that, animated by those feelings which
should always animate man, when he is
certain that he is engaged in good cause,
he fearlessly entered the lists, to defend
the rights of those time-worn patriots, who,
now lingering on the margin of the grave,
ask at the hands Of their country,a little for
charity, to rock the cradle of declining
life, and to smooth The passage to the tomb.
Many Of these venerated men, these he
roes, who bled to secure the independence
of this great nation, are, at this moment,
almost without the means OF sustaining lie;
and are, by their calamities, reduced to the
loves. lines of want.
And shall they, who gained for us the in
estimable blessings ofliberty and indepen-
dence, be suffered to linger out the rem
nant of their days, and dying, in their last
moments of misery, complain OF the ingra-
,itude and cold-hea artedness of their Off
spring--oi those who now ENJOY the bles-
sings which they fought to achieve. and
which we now possess, whilst they look up
on them only 10 deplore, that they cannot
derive the benefits Of that for which they
offered their lives up, as welcome sacrl-
Aces at the al,ilrs Of their country!
We are not among those, who would Of
fer the incense of unmerited adulatlon or
encomium, to crafty the vanity OF any IN
dividual, but we will say, that Mr.. Burgess,
in thus voluntarily appearing as the advo-
cate OF the heroes Of the revolution, has
endeared himself to the disciples OF PHI
lanthropy, and gained for himself a place
in the affections of the lovers OF justice,
which the malignity of aspersion cannot
destroy, and which will be long remem-
bered.
We cannot form any possible conjecture,
as to the fate Of the bill, but we hope in
heaven it will pass, and that the remnant
of our revolutionary sires, may no longer
feel the chill hand Of penury, or like Car
. dinal Wolsey, exclaim-
HadI hut served my God with half the zeal
served my King, he woul not in mine age
Have let me naked TO mine enemies
Mr. Burgess, in this speech, has done
himself great credit he has doubly Sc
cured the confidence Of his constituents,
and they may be justly proud to be repre-
sented by such a man.