Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-08-21
Sourn KINGsTowN, Aug. II, 1884.

Sourn KISGsrowN, Aug. II, 1884.
Mr.. Editor-In my first letterl carrl-
ed Mr.. Potter so far onward in the course
of his Journey through life, as TO have
seated him in the House of Representa-
tives as member of the Legislature. In
that body he has remained upwards OF
forty years, being out only few years
when he was a member of Congress, lie.
member of the House Of Representa-
itiycs-for he retained his seat in the Ge-
neral Assembly during the time he was
third Senator" and left Washington in
April last, and returned home expressly
to manage the Spring Election, and to
"kcep things right in the Legislature"
Mr.. Potter has frequently declared that
he intended to represent South Kings
town in the General Assembly Gas long
as he could shoulder peck Of corn or
button his breechcs;" consequently it is
natural to expect, know!@s hrs power,
that unless he should have conferred up
on him an "honorable discharge" as he
calls it, i. G. unless the Legislature next
October, should elect him to the U. 5.
Senate, he will spend in the General AS
semby the residue of his life, which is
now, according to the course of nature,
rapidly drawing to close. By this time
presume, you begin to expect from me
some account Of rare and striking Incl
dents connected with the public life of
MIR. Potter, or for glowing history of
some great achievements of his as a
statesman, the beneficial results OF which,
to the people of Rhode Island at least,
shalt promise to transmit his name to pos
terity rich in all the fragrance that &C,
company the names of great and good
men, to the end Of time. If such are
your aniicipations, am sorry to say to
you, that you must be disappointed; for IN
the course of his long public life, not a
single act can be found originating with
him, which would reflect honor upon him
as d statesman. In making this asser-
ton, l challenge contradiction hmbl-
tious beyond all other men, Elisha X.
Potter has kept up in this State for up
wards Of forty years, an incessam as well
as continuous struggle for ofiice-and for
office for himself Elisha II. Potter, l
am certain, is the most unpopular man IN
this town, the place Of bis residence and
nativity. He is also the greatest and
most unprincipled oilice-sceker that this
State was ever plagued with. lift should
be asked, how does it happen that he has
been for so long time, member OF the
General Assembly, if he is the most un-
popular man in the place ! answer
Mr.. Potter quite early in life became
convinced Of the truth of that old saying
".Money is po,cer," and on all occasions
has been careful in the management OF
his political schemes to illustrate and en-
force its truth. In this wise, for instance,
whenever q man could be found in our
county who wanted TO hire little money,
Mr.. Potter would have some friend or
agent ready to intimate to that man that
Squire Potter was very obliging in such
things, and would no doubt endorse his
note at the Bank in which Mr.. p. was a
dire ctor, and the money would readily be
obtained. This agent, or friend, would
bring the matter about-Mr. Potter
would endorse the note, and then the
note would run on and be renewed sevc-
raj times perhaps. But by and by, the
Bank, through this same Squire Pohe''s
influence, would begin to CHECK in, or the
money y-borrower would he informed that
his note must be paid of. The maker of
the note becomes alarmed ; he is unable
to raise the money conveniently, and APP
plies to his endorscr TO know what he must
do. MIR. Potter then comes forward and
offers to hire the money himself, and let
him have it by the borrowers giving him
ga little mortgage" on his farm" just
for forms sake" This being done, the
man must ,honccforward be Mr.. Po!tcr's
man, and at length the man is not only
Mr.. Potter's man, but his farm also has
somehow or other, legally to he sure, be.
come N!y Polter's farm. Instances Of
this kind have occurred in this place,
that am nell acquainted with. These
and such friendly transactions "a these,
have contributed more than any thing
else, to give to Mr.. Potter tho forced and
unnatural popularity he has so long pos
sessed in this county. Alter residence
of many years in South Kngstown, and
in the neighborhood of Mr.. Potter, ] can
say with sirictness Of truth, that If the
lreemen of this town would freely ex-
press The ir real sentiments, whether Mr..
Potter should be again returned to the
General Assembly, there would be near
( lv three In ono nunin~t him Herein