Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-28
PROVIDENCE.

and wronged, will rejoice, that the Supreme
Court, of the State Of New-York, have quash-
cd the indictments brought against Jacob
Barker! And thus it seems that justice has at
length triumphed; and the innocent has been
'escued from the fangs of the. prosecuting,
anu unrolenting pursuer.
That Jacob Barker, was ever guilty Of the
| offences charg-. against him, we never for a
moment believed and even at the darkes pc
| Rod Of his life-at that time, when the CON-
mon cry Of the prcjudiced, and the malevolent
was cruelty him, cruelty him. we did not
hesitate. to avow our opinion, in favour Of his
innocence, or to hope for his ocquittal, and tri-
umph over his enemies. He has been acquit-
ted, he has ,riumphed, and we rejoice at the
| result.
Throughout the whole course Of the Difficult
ties to which Jacob Barker, has been subject
cd, it has been apparent to every observer,
that a faction, composed Of unprinciplcd men,
Of malignant enemies, of,individuals, who sought
the destruction Of a man, have pursued him,
that they might be enabled to build themselves
up, on his ruins.
OF the merits of his several cases, we have
never known any thing, beyond what we have
been enabled to gather from ewspap per reports,
and they have invariably given a dark tint,
10 the picture yet We at the onset. made up
our minds in favor of Mr.. Barker, and had NOT
a doubt of his innocence. We know hin well
as a man of great wealth and sterling integri-
ty-we know him well as a man who has for
a series of years, been pursued with the most
unrclenting fury-we also know him as a pa
triot, who, in the darkest hour of our national
calamities, stepped forward, voluntarily, anu,
renovating the sinews Of war, with the loan of
his treasures, aided us, in triuinphing over tho
naughty and arrogant enemy. We know hin
to be a man who, in all the private relations of
life, has sustained tho character Of a good
man, a benefactor 10 the poor and friendless,
ard we cannot believe, that such a man,
was guilty of the crimes charged upon him by
a faction composed Of his enemies.
OF Jacob Barker, it may be said, he is a
man of extraordinary talents he is indeed one
Of the great men Of the age, and but for his
profession and fueds, it is not unlikely, that
ere this, he would have held some conspicuous
office in the nation. For whatever distinction
he has acquired, either as a merchant, or as a
man of admittcd talents and superior attain
ments, he is indebted to no one; all has been
acquired by his own industry. and manly per-
verancc. He commenced the busy scenes and
hustle Of life, unaided by the fostering care Of
any one, and has lived to triumph over the
many, and almost insurmountable iInpediments,
which were originally started to impede his
proprogress.
His early success. his increasing popularity,
and dawning fame excited the envy and jeal-
ousy. of his less fortunate competitors-less
fortunate, because they did not employ the
same honorable means, and the same untiring
industry that he did--and looking upon hun
with a prejudiced, and an envious eye they
resolved upon the destruction of their hated
rival. 1t was by men like these that the late
prosecutions were brought against Mr.. Barker;
and though they had well nigh succeeded, in
blasting his fortunes, and his repu' alton, forov-
err, they at last failed; and the infamy of their
transactions have recoilcd upon their own
heads. Mr.. Barker. has triumphed; and the
beclouded hopes. Of an interesting family and
a fathers fame, have been rescued from the ap-
proachcs of unmerited odium; the tears Of his
offspring, have been wiped away; and the
doubly prosecuted Jacob, again presents himself
to society, free from the imputations that were
cast at him, to enjoy its honours, and its
delights.
For their decision, the Supreme Court, has
been assailcd, with all the venom of the fac
ton, and charged with corruption, because 1t
did not convict an honest man; or in other
words, because it.did not sus. ain the decisions
of the court below. All this might have been
expected; but we trus, that the day will yet
arrive, when those who now 80 vehemently de-
claim against the court, will see the error
they have too long labourcd under, and APP
plaud the decision.
When Aaron Burr, was arraigned on a
charge of high treason, and acquitted by
Chief Justice Marshall, that venerable jurist,
was assailcd with all the vehemenco of party
malign;ty, and some went 30 far, as to talk OF
an impeachment; but, when they became ac-
oua.n ed, Will the real facts Of the case, they
were convinced Of tho uprightness ofihe Judge
- Of their own errors, and were satisfied tnai
i h----A. alA