The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-10-09


his character both ms public and a pri-
vate man. Had he been a citizen Of n.
]. as long as we have. he wo ,ld long since
have known what we believe he already
more than suspects. that Tristan Bur
ges above any other public man that we
know Of in the State, merits far more
than all the castigation which he has
hitherto received either from the public
press or the public tongue.
Where we ask can be found an indi-
vidual SO notorious for his propensity to
revile and abuse not only public but pri-
vete character whenever it chances to
be an object fer him 90 TO do I Where
in the State Of r.. I. can be found an in
dividual who has ever been upon all oc-
casions in season and out of season the
deternined foe of democracy both in the
national and State Government Com
mencing in his younger days with SLAM
dering the character of Thomas Jeffer-
son, he now in his old age continues to
act the slandersr by calumniating the
motives and reputation of Andrew Jack
son. We readily grant to the Editor of
the Journal that "abusive cpithets mis-
applied and gross in their nature" have
no power to detract from reputation
won by public acts provided those acts
are Of character calculated 70 benefit
mankind; but when ON tho contrary
such acts have for their object the sub
version Of the peoples rights, and the
waste of the peoples money, they ought
and no doubt will be SO appreciated as
to consign the agent to merited reproach
and oblivion. Where Tristan Burgess
is known we have no fears for the effects
Of his eliminating speeches. 1t is too
much matter Of course TO hear him a.
buse democratic men and democratic
measures to excite surprise, and although
as is well known he sprung from obscurisy
himself, yet he is not the first instance
on record Of a man who has risen from
the dirt wishing to kick away the ladder
by which he ascendsd and to forget that
he is still no more than one Of the peo-
pie.
We are willing to "give even the devil
his due" and we therefore concede to
Burgess talent, but il is the talent to do
evil. We challenge him or his friends
to point to single public act originated
or promoted by him which deserves the
name Of being public benefit; Oh the
contrary his sole object since he haq
been in Congress, besides uniformly
slandering the eminent citizens of our
country, has been to promote the inter.
ests Of one single class of the citizens oi
this State, viz: the Manufacturers md
wholly neglecting the farmer, the mer-
chant and the mechanic. OF this truth
all are aware. Hence we account for
his popularity among the cotton and
wool spinners. But we would not COM
plain ofsuch course provided he would
pay some little regard to decency and
truth in his speeches.
Ifhe would be respected let him in
the first place acquire some title to re-
spect by exercising towards his political
opponents-men emine mt for their SER
wees to the nation and distinguished a.
like for strength Of mind and integrity of
purpose some small portion of shat can
dor which is now claimed for himself.
Tillhe does this he may rest assured, that
no dignity of ofiicinl station, no
accidental requirement Of pecunia-
ry power shall shield him from the re-
bnke Of a friend to the present admins
tration. TIvERToN.