The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-13


Benjamin Marshall, Nathan B. Hammett
John v. Hammett, VIM. Smith, Thoma,
Spooner, Christopher A. Sweet, Samue
OK, Jun. Stephen A. Robinson, Robert p
Lee, James Boone, John Tompkins, Joshus
Stacey, Charles James, Russell Clarke
VIM. Wesden, and Clarke Burdick.
APROPOS--The Courier, a respectable
and well conducted paper, printed in New
Bedford, by mr.. Benjamin T. Congdon, in an
article relating to the approaching Congres-
sional election Of this State, and to the differ.
ent nominations that are afoat for Represen-
tatives, concludes with the following para.
graph:
"Ws have no belief that the substantial
yeomanry of Rhode Island will desert their
tried and able Representatives, mr.. Burgess
and mr. Pearce, for either Of the subsequent
nominations. As soon should we expect to
see .Massac achusetts desert her Webster and put
some common man in his stead as that Rhode
Island Should forget what she owes to her own
reputation, and leave at homo the men whose
talents and eloquence have made hsr respect.
ed in the councils of the country"
-..ses~-
Nesps. Printers Of the Republican.
observed in your paper of the 9th, a list
(handed you no doubt by some self styled pa.
Hiot,) of individuals of this town, that were in
tho year l777 taken from their homes and in
carcerated in the British Prison ship station
cd in this harbor, because they refused to take
up arms in case Of invasion, against their
countrymen.-And at tho foot of the list | OBJ.
serve, with surprise, note stating that Sher.
man Clarke and John Townsend ofthe num-
Der were, after three days, released by sign.
ing the agreement to arm as required, and
making their acknowledgements to the Brit.
lsh Commander, General Pigot
knew no, what motives could have at this
doy, led to the publication in question, reflect
ing, and with injustice, on the memory of the
dead, hut it is my duty to remove this unmer-
tied stigma from the memory ofmy father.
Inmy boyhood Frequently heard hun speak
of being of the number of those there iinpris
oned, and have reason to believe from circum.
stances mentioned, as well as from the alb
sence Of all reasons to believe the contrary,
that his stay was as long as that Of others and
productive ofas much suffering Up to this
period he was feshy and robust, but malig-
nant fever there contracted, broke his consti.
tuition and wasted his flesh, neither of which
he ever recovered And there seems to me no
probability of his signing any paper agreeing
to carry arms on either side. He and his fam
lily for two previous generations at least, were
quakers, and though about tire beginning Of
the revolution, in consequence of question
about holding slaves, which was then agitat-
ed in the Friends Society, be ceased to be a
member, he was in principle essentially qua
ker, and fot a repugnance to bearing arms,
though animated with his proportion of the
revolutionary fervor then prevalent.
You will have tho goodness to publish this
note. JOHN T. TOWNSEND.
A letter from Washington to the editors OF
The Commercial Advertiser, dated on Friday
last, says, Gen. Jackson has recently had tw
severe attacks, one during last week, and a
gain on Wednesday night, when the medical
attendants were with him through tho whole
night, engaged in cupping him. This linbili
ty 10 dangerous paroxisms, excites considera
blo apprehensions among those OF his party
whose dependence either for appointment to,
continuance in, office, is upon his personal
feeling and they also apprehend, disaster to
him who would involve disappointment to
them. N. T. Gaz.