Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-10


er in private conversation or public debate
whether the subject be Of inconsider erable con-
sequence, or Of a solemn and weghiy nature
that requires the coolest dcliberation, uninter-
rupfed by any appeal TO passion or prejudice,
or disturbed by unmeaning ribaldry. With
some We'll know that this description of talent
is popular, and ! might find many who have
been so far attracted with il, as to quit the
pursuit of political honesty, 10 become initiated
INTO the secrets Of the Arisiocracy. Bot the
most important quality Of mind by far, which
charac,erzes this able chicftan is, "A fine knowl-
edge Of and discipline in, tho art of political
discrimination, BY reason Of which, those who
have suffered themselves to become subie
OF his imposition, pronounce him saint and
almost martyr, while others WHO have detect.
ed the counterfeit (and they at present CON-
prize seven egtths Of the froemen Of the state)
suffer him 10 carry the appcllaton which he
has so richly earned, of demagogue and an
days sail over the painless ocean; through tenn
pests, storms and all tho "war Of elements"
by a-certain fixed unerring principle, can find
out the exact spot to which he has been driven
the well versed arhmeiician, can solve
the most intricate and apparently inexplcable
question pertaining to his science. however
remote the conclusion, by adhcring 10 es-
tabished and we'll known principle TO govern
bim--the astronomer can calculate the revO-
lutions of bodies millions of miles from him
can foretell ec'ipses and the changes of celest-
iaI objects-in fact there is scarcely p,enorn-
enon in the moral and physical world. that
cannot be explained by recourse TO principle,
which governs almost every thing visible and
invisible. But where is tho man, however OBJ
serving-howevcr acquainted with the human
character and all its subtletcs- however much
his experience may have guarded him against
the deceptive wilcs Of the cunning and artful
| say where is the man who ever yet could
make correct calculation Oh what side Eli
sha Il. Potter would be. upon any given polt-
ical question: Go,study the eye oftho serpent
in his coil. while concealed in the deadly night
shaue awaiting for the unwary to come within
the reach Of his deleterious and baleful fangs;
examine the kaleidoscope, while it presents the
innumerable, ever changeiul figures, defying
human ingenuity 10 account for their origin
watch tine course Of the passing winds as they
whistle by note ''the four winds Of Heaven +"
beat the four thousand winds which blow
from every direction Of the horizontal circle
that surrounds is; and you may then be able
to form some general estimate Of the political
character Of Elisha r. Potter.
During the stormy times when the tempest
of party ragged the most violent, it was believed
that he was consistent federalist, as he as
suned the control and placed himself at the
head of that party in Rhode Island. A staunch
adversary as well as calunniator Of Thomas
Jefferson Il revilcr Of James Madison = an on
poser of the war with Great Britain-a prin.
cipal advocate in tho state, of the Hartford
Convention, Mr.. Potter stood before the people
as consistent partizan, and had he remained
as such, very few would have called in question
his principle. But when the time at length
arrived, that these parties concluded 10 lay
aside all matters in dispute when the day had
gone by for contention, and the people met on
equal footing, determined to assume their right
fnl sovereignty and manage matters for them
selvesi this was day to thy mems souls Had
Mr.. Potter on that occasion participated in
The general armistice, or had he continued to
preach up the doctrine which he formerly ad-
vocated with so much zeal, the Hartford Con
vention anything which would have discover
cred the least trace of consistency, he might
have saved his reputation as man of political
principle. But where is he now Do not stare
my readers, but be prepared for tho worst and
most absurd of all ideas, that could possibly find
its way into the mind of man. He is now at
the head Of little party of men in Rhode Is
land, who call themselves the chosen few-the
reviled and long persocuted e1elu,ipe Repub-
heans!-.the "salt Of the earth" and the "last
OF the Romans!!"
Let US now see who those are who clam
otously lay their claim to exclusive republican
ism. I have said that there exists an Arstoc-
racy in the state, whose operations are aimed
vitality at the being of our political freedom,
and in my first number made such references
as have since found were sufficient to convince
my readers and the public at large, that was
not mistaken. No one now need be at loss
as to the persons to whom I alluded. Under
the namo Of exclusive republicans. it will be
well recollected, that a violent though small
opposition was made to Mr.. Adams at the last
presidential election, when Mr.. Potter went the
rounds Of the state, and held his caucuses and