Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-18

writer, we have never assalcd him. His
writings are public property-thcy arc public
game, and we have treated them as we have
SO; nor shall We be diverted from our purpos-
es, by his lamentations, or inundated by his
1 Gowns. Ifsucccss should attend him in his
laudabie labours, VIC would rejoice, and we
would be the las; to withdraw from him an
atom of his gains, or do anything to dark
| en- his prospects But if hc comes before the
world, as public writer, he must expect TO
mec: the fate that ever attends the indvidu-
! dls Of that profession, and he should learn 10
support il, without murmur or a complaint.
1t is not long since he sent forth a pitifui
wall, and was vehementy indignant, because
he did not succeed in acquiring an office for
which lie was an aspirant, and attaching un-
mcrited importance to our humble selves, at
trbuted his defeat to the pubicston OF certain
writings Of ours, which VIC published previous
to the arrival Of the day, when the Legislature
proceeded TO ballot for suitable person 10
fill the vacancy occasioned by the untimcly de-
misc ofa rcyered incumbent.
| II is true that VIC did not support his pre-
tensions; nor did we oppose them; and all We
wrote on the subject, went no further than TO
express hope, that, whoever was elevated TO
the post Of trust and emolumcnt w ould be TAX
en- from the ranks of the party attached to the
administration. For this we gave our reasons:
they were plausible, and if they had no
influence, they were listened to by our friends
and patrons, and were satisfactory To that
office, the gentleman assumed he had an un-
questionable claim; he believed his claims TO
| be guaranteed by legal and indsputablc ten
or; and because he was defeated in his hopes,
he Indignantly cast upon our shoulders, the
! whole OF his ire. If he docs not now know
that every citizen Of this State. has as good
claim to that Office as ho has, i; is time that,
he were advised, of the fact, and he should
learn that he cannot measPolizc tho patronage
of the world. We ayow, that we have never
attempted to do him private injury; and that
on the contrary, we have often rejocod at his
success We entertain for him no personal
hostility; ii he is unfortunate lac has our SYM
pathics and our commisscration, and we will
weep when he wecps, and rejoice when he re-
joiccs, if by thus deporting we can do him any
possible good. One more remark. and VIC
shall have done.
The gentleman, in the fulness Of his ire, has
charged US, by nucndo, with having. published
that which was calculated to have an immoral
tendency, and to disturb the quiet Of society
The charge is Indignantly rcpelled:--wc cast
it back to him who gave it, and upon his head
it shall rest.
But If we had ever been so lost to decency,
as TO be guilty of the charge, he should have
been the last man 20 have spoken it, for he
should have known, that it could be returned
with tenfold vengeance. We appeal TO him,
and to all who have read our publication, TO
| point TO a paragraph or n line of ours, which
| will support the charge; and if sentence of
ours can be pointed to, which viii make good
his assertions, VIC vii! be content to be held up
| to public dc,cstation aud scorn. But low is it
with our accuscr! Let the reader pause for a
moment, to glance over tho files of the Provi-
dcncc Gazette whilst 1t was under his control,
and they will there find al article, written TO
blacken the reputation of contemporary, from
which dcconcy rcvols, and the bare pcrusal of
which, would suiiilsc with bushes. the check Of
| tho most abandoned courtczan, or the inmates
f, Of the vlcst Of brohcs. The disgusting pro-
duction is yet fresh in the memory Of the pub
lie; and when it dawncd upon the world, the
! paper which it contaminated, filed equally
with pious topics, and illusions which would
have blackcncd the character Of a Leland,
was refused adnitancc TO the pa,lors of re-
spectacle society, and Indignantly kicked from
their doors And yet the gentleman has tho
| temcrity to talk about immoral cnusions
If the gentleman will compel us TO speak Of
his scandalous publications, VIC shall refer him
to the flcs of his present publication, in which
he will find libcls of the darkest dye, aimed at
an aged individual, who had never injured
| him, and whom he assalcd, merely to satiatc
| that vtious propensity, which he unfortunate
| lv possesses, for the propagation of private
scandal, and individual abuse. Al that mem
orablc period, urged on by political fanatic,
and disappointed oliicc-hunter. who like him
self, TO attain an end had set truth and de-
ccncy at defiance, he assailed a man grown
grey with age, and wearing the honours Of his
| country; and not content with disturbing tho