The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-02-04
Vol. al.
Fsem the Precedence .Ansrican.
DEBATE ON MR. PoTTER's RESo.
LUTIONS.

had rot intended to make any rcmasks up,
ON the resolutions beiure the HousCs
had they not becn presented and ur,
ged in a msnner intended 10 carry the
idea. that our rejection Of them would
in faot he an sct Of dsobedicnce u
the. President, by which We should forfeil
sumo great benefit. which hc mi ght oshcse
wise bcslow upon the Stale. llc did nnA
regard them in that light. and a. he .wNo
called upon 10 give his vote, he was mob
willing 10 Iecctd il. without assigning hia
reasons for voting in favor Of an indefinite
pustponemcnt. lrcgret cir, that these rec,
olu,ions nre here, bccause ] nrn at . LOSE
tn conc ,vc What possible benefit this State
can derive from their adoption, or what
personal feeling. on tho part uf the Pseai.
dent is Ia be gra,iied, that il cnnbs ei,hsp
consistent with our principles, or the We've
of our constituents. 10 promote. cannot
see their oLiec,.in any public point Of vicw,
Perhaps the gentleman who introduced
them has some otjcc, IN view. WHICH I
have not the pcpe,rn'ion 10 discover. "a
! These rcsolu,icns embrace the whole
policy ofthis Administration 10 BE- psef
pared To adopt them We must 20 into th4
consideration or every measure recon-,
mended, or likely 10 be puS.ned. l con.
.ess ] nsn not prepared 10 20 into !his con,
sidcrnt,on 1T present. The time Of thi6
House has been occupied in public busi,
ncss, and il connct be expected that those
opposed To these resolutions should neglect
that, for the purpose rf invrstig sting th6
merits ofthe Presidents Message.
Sir. ! have not risen TO abuse any ma0
in public OF private. ] have no former
Precedent 10 abuse, and M present ono "a
applaud. noI do with ~, avail myself 0f
InY seat here. 10 cast asrcrsions upon ant
in or ont Of fofficc. ] am prrrar,
cd 10 approve al measures wlis ] brlicvp
10 be- for the truc interest Of Rhode leland.
let them come from whom or where they
may. But the resolutions under cOnsid,
ersiion call upon us to applaud, not Whist
the President hinse elf has done, but what
he says he p,ay do, or What lie has rscoua,
men,ed TO o,hevs 10 do. All the measures
believed to be Cor tho public good, which
are tocommc nded in the Mcsssgc,I en- rrs,
dy to assrnt IL; hut what those measures
are, and their direct bearing upon Tho in.
tcrcst Of this State. will require longer
limo 10 determine. Than this House can de-,
vote 10 tho subject. There a'e soho things
IN the Mcssase ] find No faUl, with, iIier0
arc o'hrrs ] dirspprovr, but sfer oil tho
gentemen's. eniogy upon Presidrut jack.
son. VIC have got nothing TO govern ouv
opinions Of bis real merits ms n President,
except what man promises 10 do. on pa.
pcr. Though ] am young Sir, sud have
seen but little Of politics, have lived lorg
enough, to discover the difference betwecn q
fair professions and promises, and a rcf.
forinance Of such promises. And now Sir,
before We know what the course Of ,bis
Administration will be, or how fnv ii>w III
conform TO the measures Of the Ermer Nd,
min,strs,ion, this Legislature 10 called W..
on 10 express unqualified appreciation of
what the President snys he mny to. Il
will be time enough when the acts of ,l,ia
Administration are before ~, In say " wo
approve or disapproye. OF its actunl meaa'
nies, mot it's mere promises.
have never said much Sir, in regard Ia
General Jackson, or any other President,
I have never been deeply interested in
ilcsc political contests, but ] have hod na
uniform preference for Mr.. Adams. md
in common with the people Of this State,
have approved Of the measures Of his Ad-
tninislrntion.- So far Ms this Administration
conforms to the principles Of the former. I
am ready 10 approve IL, but before ws can
determine, that in our Legislative capnc.
iiy. we ought io have something definite ia
act upon. ] don't wish il Ia be understood
TINT The state Of Rhode Island is arrayinR
herself against The general government.
I believe Sir, that no such disposition ex.
isis; ] believe that such measures 90 arc
for the good of,he country, will be approx.
ed OF by the people Of Rhode Island. But
we do know Sir, that General Jackson was
not the man Rhode Island preferred for
President and we know that even In refer.
ence Ia his character, thcro have bees
strong and honest convictions among 90,
that he was not qualified for the Presidea.
cy. The gentleman from South Kings.
town fmr. PoiterI has talked OF Gcnersl
Jackson's msgnanimity, OF his going home
10 his fsrm, and the hospitality he. showed
there.-thnt il Was tho home Of the bravo
md the soldier and tho gentleman. end
this Sir, is done 10 carry the sympsthies
ofbis hrarers along with him, and compel
them 10 applaud tho public acts ofGepeSst
jackson as Prcsidcni, ,hecsusc he was brsss
and msgns nirnous and bospiiable upon his
farm. But Sir, we have nothing to do with
the private character Of General Jackson,
while we arc considering his public con-
duc'; and Sir. five were to 60 into ihst
inquiry. wc do know thst many of The pro.
pie Of Rhode Island, instead or follow inR
General Jackson to his farm, md disrnnrs.
ing all this mo2nanimi'y and hospitality 10
his chsrsc,rr, they have traced him Sir.
through the Southern States. where his
fousseps were tracked with blood. and that
not always the blood of his enemies. but of
unrcsis,ing people mssssrrcd nnd Of thoss
who bave died on The scsffold, Sir. We
know Sirthsi this conduct of General Jack.
son wss investigated by one Of the sons Ut
Rhcde Island, ! mean Sir. the lsmented
Burrill, and ono or the last sets of his lie