Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-30

can acquire properly ana lame, u he wishesto
possess them. that the road to emipenoe is
straight and open to all, who will walk in il.
The gentleman to whom we now alludc, is a
native Of one the border towns Of the
State;-he sprung from poor but respectable
parents, who, unable to bestow upon their son,
the advantages of an accomplished education,
placed him an apprentice to blacksmith,
with whom he resided till he reached his ma
jority, and learned tho art and mysteries Of
shoeing horses, and mending coul,ers. At the
expiration Of his apprenticeship, he was left
upon the world frendess, and with nothing
but his trade to support him. Being unable to
raise sufficient funds to establish himself in his
profession, and disguised with the labors of
mere Journeyman, he one day placed pack
upon his back, into which, like a good honest
yankee, he crammed a sufficient quantity Of
bread and cheese, and flask of the best of
" New-England,' mixed with lass s." and
bidding adieu to the 90 home Of his fathers,''
took up his line of march for york State"
to try his fortune in the % new countries;'' and
after wandering for some time, like the Be-
douin Arab, he located himself on the margin
Of the Genessee. lie was, what was then
called, "knowihg chap" was cup to 81 m,',
and soon discovered, or guessed" or " reck-
oned," that York State" was pretty con-
siderable good kind Of a dorned country" and
there he settled himself, and soon obtained
an " habitaton and a nanAe.' Sensible Of the
vast field before him, and of the allurements il
held forth, he commenced his own education,
and endeavourcd to prepare himself for the
many useful scenes he has since Witnessed.
Unaided, and unprotected, by the fostering
hand Of influence, our Yankee emgrant toilcd
till his hands became as hard as the imple-
ments he worked with; anG when the fatigues
OF the day were over, he sat by the fl;ckering
midnight taper, and drew from the founts of
learning, an education, which, in little peri
cd, made him known to the world, and con-
ferred upon him the honours of the country.
The Offices Of the State in which he resided,
were at first conferred, and discharging their
duties to the satisfaction of those who employ
ed him, they at last placed unlimited conf
dence in his talents and political integrity, and
elevated him to the responsible station of a
member Of the United States Congress- In the
councils Of the nation, he acquitted himself in
manner which elected the applause of the
people; but at length, finding that official pur-
suits interfered with his extensive agricultural
concerns, lie resigned his seat, and devoted
himself exclusively to the interesting labours Of
the farmer; and ut this moment, is in the en-
joyment Of wealth. and what is of far more
consequence, the confidence, and best wishes
Of the people, whom he has faithfully served, in
the deliberative assemblies of the nation. Thus,
by hrs Persevering industry, and by adhering
to the strctest observances Of all the rules of
right, and the principles Of integrty;---by his
own efforts has individual. unaided and
alone, by the happy nature of our Republican
Institutions, reared himself to degree of cm-
nence, and enjoys fame, which the arrogant
and indolent purse-proud sristocrat, seldom al
talnS, though he assumes to himself the impor-
tance Of a denni-god, and in the end finds that
-" one common grave,
Receives at last the coward and the brave"
The success the gentleman in question has
met with, should teach those young men, who
may read this article, that temperance. perse-
verance and industry, will overcome every OBJ
staclo, and that in this happy country, the road
TO preferment is open, is at all times accessible,
and that be who travels on it, may il he choos-
es, acquire distinction. and the honors of the
Republic.
Hundreds Of the eminent men of this coun-
try, have, like the individual of whom we are
now speaking, been raised to the pinnacles of
fame, by their own excrtions; and their sue
cess abundantly proves, that real genius, can
not be depressed by opposition; and that i,
will, though early manacled and enslsved. work
out its own redemption, and glitter upon the
world, in all the brilliancy of its primevl lus-
tire. PLtrick Henry, Doctor Franklin, Roger
Sherman, and host Of others, who four;shed
in the days ofthe Revolution, by their brilliant
career proved the verify Of the assertion. and
Henry Clay, William Pinckney, and catalogue
ofothers, have in luscr days, proved to the sat
isfaction Of the world, that talents when prop
crly directed, will beat down all opposition,
and that though malice, envy and hatred may
war ag ,nst them, llse the mountain oak, they
neither bow or bend, but look defiance to the
tempest.
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