The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-06

trust, shall never forget, aud which hope
shall never neglect"
As to the charge contained in this pam.
phet, that .Messrs. Pearce and Burgess are
advocates for an unlimited extention of the
right of suffrage, II is surely doing those
gentlemen great injustice to say the least
Of it; the number Of freemen in this state
according to the whole number Of those
who by age and other qualifications, real
estate excepted, are eligible, is by far
smaller than in any other state in the I'm
ion, except Virginia alone--their whole
number at this moment, probably falls short
Of 6O00--this pamphlet admits that there
are 10000 of your fellow citizens non free
holders, and this body of men have on sev-
eral occasions appealed to your megnanim-
ity to extend to them some participation in
tho important privileges of elections cii-
cumstanccs needless here to be inquired
into, have hitherto rendered any new mod
| lfcation Of the law of elections in your
opinions inexpedient; but il should not be
a matter of astonishment or displeasure TO
you, that so large and so respectable o
body Of your fellow citizens, should find
some men who would advocate their cause.
| whether they themselves were satisfied Of
its justice or its expediency or not. When
this question was once before the General
Assembly, ! think about 1912, and Mr.
Burgess was at the time a Representative
from the Town Of Providence, he voted
against it; in Convention in 1920, Mr..
Pearce then delegate from the Town of
Newport. voted against the whole consti
tuition agreed upon by the Convention, as
did the whole delegation from that Town.
and pray Cor whose benefit let me ask, if il
y ere not for yours, the Landholders of the
hat nominated these gentlemen was it
not yourselves, the Landhoders and Rep
resentatives Of Landholdcrs, the Members
If your General Assembly, and the same
men, and same interest that have twice be
fore nominated and elected them nor is
here any evidence before youn this pam
phet or otherwise, that Mr.. Pearce or Mr.
Burgess entertain now opinions different
from those entertained at the times have
specified; nor any thing from which the
fact can be inferred, except that they now
are rival candidates to Messrs. Duiiee and
Eddy and | may safely leave it TO your.
selves to say, how far that fact goes to war.
rant such an inference.
The remaining principal ground urged
on you, is that the former election of Mes.
srs. Pearce and Burgess, connected with the
subsequent election of Mr.. Asher Robbins
TO the Senate of the United States, "com-
pletely stripped you Of even the shadow of
political power in the Congress Of the u.
States. There never was committed 10
paper, a more bareiaced and palpable false.
hood than is contained in this assertion, TO
so much Of it us related TO Messrs. Pearce
and Burgess, as part uf your delegation
To Congress. have already said what
seemed 10 mo sufficient for its complete
rcfutation what may be offered as appli-
cable to Mr.. Robbins, will trust satisfy
you also as respects him at the time you
elected Mr.. Robbins, iand wish you to
bear il in mind that you and your immedi.
ate Representatives., who are equally q
part Of the landed interest of this state
with yourselves, did elect him. he was
opposed by Hon. e. r. Potter, they were
both large laudholders, both proiessiona /
men, both must have IN relation 10 all the
impo,tan, concerns of the state common
feelings aud common interests" both nre
men of talent and capacity, one IVES pre-
he choice of the remainder, Mr. Robbins
vas elected by the voice Of majority OF,
no landhultlers OF the state, expressed IL
legal constitutional mode nor have ev
r yet heard that any dissatisfaction has
cen expressed by you at the manner IN
vhich his Official dntos have been dis
lnrged, from all which 1t results that your
nhuence in the Congress of the United
states, has been uniformly moIntalned,and
whether more or less ably than when IN the
nands of Durlee and EDDY. you must dc
',de and doubtless will decide again, as
on did when you turned them ont of that
elegation for having abandoned your IA
crest and sacrificed yOur honor.
Again, Mr.. Robbins is no wise connect.
ID with the commerce or manufactures OF
ne state. | have stated. and you all know,
hat he has deep stake IN our agrigultu
al prosperity (; to what other interest then
) il likely, is il possible, would devote him
elf IL not TO that in which with you he is
solely concerned. But Us tho present at
tack is not calculated to affect him at this
time. will pass TO the consideration OF
some OF the other topics dwelt on in this
intended TO bear on the approach.
ng election.
This writer not satisfied with attacking
and vilityng men who are noW in
96ice, in favor Of himself or his particular
friends who would supersede them, travels
4 little out OF his way to make.an attack as
unjust ns it is ungenerous upon men who
,re out Of office and industriously discharg-
ny their respective daties as private citi
sens and farmers,-l mean the late Sena
ors Of the state, they also arc to be drag
yed out Of their retir emen,, and branded
,s your deadly enemies, and hostile to the
anded interest. Who arc they? Let us
sre. BENJAMIN Smith. Stephen b. Cornell,