Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-10
tros NE I.itersy Csdei.l
RHODE IsLAND A2IsTOCRACY.
HON. ELISHA n. POTTER.
$50, wh,i a tangled web we weave,
When hni we practices 10 deceive. I"

AMY. rev oi US nfe unacqhinlcu WIN inc
private and political character Of Elisha X.
Potter. IL will therefore be totally unne cesss-
! ry 10 advert to his early history which is not
particularly marked for any thing oxiraordina-
~ that can create matter Of interest TO the
reader Ills deficiency in the knowledge OF
the liberal sciences is fact too we'll known
by men Of intelligence in this state TO require
any particular evidence other than what COM
mon noioriety aud observation furnish. We'll
may he excam, as have more than once
heard him that he "sould give the world for
an cducation.' Never perhaps was there a
more striking Instance illustrative Of the evils
incident 10 the life Of man who endeavours to
push his way to high stations, without first pre-
pairing his mind with a competent stock Of gen
crai literary and scientific Information 10 enable
him to acquit himself with credit, when he
shall have gained the object Of his ambition.
The necessity, in such cases of firm and SOL
! id supcrstructurc which can alone be laid by
close application to study, is acknowledged by
almost every class Of mankind. ;fthen Mr..
Potter finds himself deficient in what is impor-
tant and essential 10 make him a great man :,
he has no one 10 upbraid bat himself, because
yer, fow are found placed in so helpless u con-
Juon, provided they possess sufficient intellect
as to be unable to furnish their minds with
those essential qua Iicaiions lie so much la
menis the want Of In this land Of freedom
where so many facilities are afforded to the
enterprise Of ambitious aspranis, it is hardly
to be believed that one can grow old, having
( accumulated a immense mass Of wealth, with
out finding an opportunity to inform himse! in
the various branches of useful science and lte-
rature. unless it be owing to gross ideness
want Of intellect, or preference to some 9TH
er calling less liberal and refined. l fear there
fore that Mr.. Potter has relied too much on
his own consciousness OF natural talent and
predispostion to intrigue and cunrrng, crrone-
ousy believing tha; they would form com
ple'e substitute for that perseverance in OBJ
tanning proper education which he now dis
coz crs is so rcquisite-that his early life was
employed in mcddiing too much with politics,
newspaper and purity s1uabbIes, when he
should have attended to something more im-
portani, and that this unwise course was cal
cula,ed very much TO influence and effect prn-
ciplc itself, so that now IN his declining years
he considers the circumstance of an election,
something similar TO game at hull gull, in
stead ofa sacred franchise of the citizens Of
free republic who are under the most solemn
obliga, oas TO exercise it with the soundest dis
cretion and honesty for their own advantage,
the benefit Of co'emporarics and posterity. If
l be not sadly mistaken, this is the grand and
immediate failure in tho political character
Of Hon. Elisha Il. Potter. m ght in this
place mention several promising youthful per-
ges who seem to be engaged in the pur-
suit, and perhaps, if they chanced 10 possess
the same talent Of Mr.. Potter may at some
distant period find themselves in the same un
pleasant and fatal predicament. Intrigue, cum
ming and Management are extremely bad ma
terials for the compost ion Of barque which
is 10 carry a man through political life and
safely land him in the haven Of an honorable
close Such vessel may answershe purpose
for timc in the convulsons and tempests Of
party disputes when almost every man looks at
nothing but to keep his own head above water;
but il wilI never endure a calm. Then there
is ample opportunity for investigation, and the
hidden reticnness is laid open to view. IT is
then that she is " Hbelied as unfit for SER
pice."
Among the brightest stars Of American gen.
ius who have been distinguished fo- their per-
severance in obtaining an extensive knowledge
Of science and literature without the advanta-
ges of an academical education, | mention as
ins, ances the names Of BENJAMIN FRANK
4 LIN and HENRY CLAY. might allude to
others, but these are sufficient. They, and the
upright, open and honest course which they
have pursued, together with their exertons for
the American people so long as that language
shall last in which their worthy acts were re-
corded. They we're once but fricndless boys,
unassisted by wealth, ard unprotected by the
that he has moi had opportunity 10 furnish him.
self with competent store Of information,
when he has found so much time TO amass
wealth Of which he docs not always forget to
make mention in his speeches in the Lcgsls-
ture, and at the same time exercise a paternal
guardianship over the politics Of the state in
manner TO exclude the influence Of his cotem-
poranes whom he himself is compelled TO ac-
knowledge his superiors in political knowl-
edge. MIR. Potter for many years practicei as
! A LAWYER IN The courts Of Rnode Isio nd and