The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-08-17
From HE Providence Journal.
MIR. BURGESS
ADER E g s.

ted to your interests, and 10 those Of the
whole nation, have been selected, by their
fellow citizens, to make tie usual nomin-
alton ofCandIdates for election to the next
Congress. BY them, l have been placed
before you, for that purpose. Some OF
their, and my advcrsares have, for some
weeks past, employed themselves very in
dustriously, in reviewing my congression-
al service ) and have labored TO give to
every par, Of it such coloring as might
render me odious IN your eyes. Although
might disregard all their misrepresenta-
tions, aud pass them by in silence yet
respect for you, and uEwillingness to for
feit your good opinion, ever dear 10 me,
seem 10 demand from ne so.ne defence.
They will doubtless say, that this should
be done by others, and that common mod
csty iorbds me to speak Of myself or of
my own services. When you, the people,
are the tribunal, where my defence must
be made, cannot agree to plead by At
torney. You, If your own proper persons,
committed to my care, as a most sacred
trust, your great interests ; and you, and
you only, have the right to call on me, in
my own proper person, and not by the "a
gency of others, to give to you an account
of my stewardship. Would to God Iicould,
for this purpose ,meet YOU all face to face,
in one great assembly and, from point to
point, explaining to you my whole course
ofservlce, answer all those questions, which
your most anxious solicitudc for the pub
lie safety, and interest might prompt you
to PROFOUND TO me. j should ''lhink my
self happy" not only that ! was permitted
to speak for myself before you ; but that
you might, while you heard me, examine
my eyes, my countcnancc, the tone of my
voice, the lifting up ofmy hand; and whcth-
er guile or integrity ,perfdy or faithfulncss
were in me, you could then see them at
some one of those windows of the soul,
through which God intended man should
look at the spirit of man. To see you all
together is not practicable, nor can have
opPortunityto take many Of you, separate
~, by the hand. must, therefore, come
before you on paper and submit myself
TO your examination, by the aid Of tho pen
and the type. Whatever ! may write to
you will be authenticated by my own sig
nature and i pray that, i;laay Of my Eel
low citizens shall not be satisfied with my
statements, ,he may exercise the same can
dor and address me, whether by letter,
or through the public papers, under his own
hand. / ask Of you to form your opinions
Of my service while in your employment,
from your own knowledge, or upon the
testimony Of such Witnesses only as have
signed their own depositions ; and not OF
the accusations Of those secret informers
who have SD lnte confidence in what they
write against me, that they dare not put
their own nanes IN what they write against
me.
am accused of being hostile to the
pension system. Ii is said, that always
ever since | had seat in Congress,l have
opposed every proposition made there for
the benefit OF those survivors Of the land
and maratime service, who aided in a.
chieving our independence, in the Rev
olutionary War l never imagined, that
any man, though opposed TO me, and hos
tile to my character and interests, would
have the hardihood, or rashncss 10 make
this accusation. DO they suppose the peo-
pie of Rhode-Island are so utterly ignor-
ant Of the history Of their own national
councils,or oftEe character of public men,
and the services Of their own Representa-
tives in Congress, as not to know the ut
ter falsehood Of this charge; DO you not
know how ! have>votcd on all the great
questions in Congress, since you honored
me with seat in the Hall of N Natlonal e.
gislstionS Have not many Of you visited
Washington! Have you not read the
public papers; Have not other members
OF Congress told you what have done
Nay, fellow citizens, has not my voice Of
ten been heard as the advocate ofthe eyed
soldier ard that too not only bv those
whom the III Of Rep. listened TO debates
of Congress,but every man, ,woman& child
Of the people Of Rhode Island, have, not
indeed literally, but through the public
papers heard my humble bu, sincere and
ardent advocacy Of those mcn,who fought
aud bled and would have died for US and
for their country. appeal to the history
Of the last eight years, to every member
Of Congress during that time TO al! who
have Witnessed the Congressional debates,
TO the public papers, aud TO thc journals Is OF
the House OF Representatives. Not n
measure hns been proposed for the bene-
fit Of Revolutionary soldiers, which was
not either proposed by nc, or received my
most strenuous support. Not debate Of
any magnitude has been raised, when my
voice has not been heard for the soldier |;
nor has any final question been taken,
where my vote has not been recorded in
his favor. Ask my colleague, who has
always stood by my side in this great con
troyersy. Ask the Hon Mr. Robbins and