The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-09-30
Democratic Republican Nomination
FOR PRESIDENT
MARTIN VAN BUREN,.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT
RICHARD Nj. JOHNSON.

20 hst. the HON ELISHA H. POTTER, III tic list year
of his age. Few of our fellow men have gone down
TO the tomb, whose decease has been more sincerely
or more universally regretted than that of Mr. Pot
ter. To say that society, our State, indeed our
whole country has sustained an almost irreparablc
loss, Is to speak no more, certainly than the solemn
conviction of every citizen of Rhode-Island We
feel that public calamity has befallen us. We
know that we have lost "a man from among US
whose fixed purpose was through all the vicissmdes
of his public life, to promote the welfare and pros
perity of his native State. He was one of the rare
instances which do often occur in the political
history of This or any other country, of an individual
enjoying for the period of forty years the confidence
of his fellow citizens, and of continuing throughout
the whole of that long period, in the delegated trust
of a national or State legislator That he dischar-
ged the duties of these honorable and responsible
stations with ability and fidelity, perhaps strong
er evidence need be add uced, than Lis continued
and repeated election to those respective offices.
The youthful years of Mr. Potters life were not at
tended with those advantages of early education,
which are thought necessary and in degree per-
haps are so, to give a fair start in the race
for emnence, and to place him at the outset on a
vantage ground, from which he may be able not on
ly to survey with accuracy the map of human life,
but mark out with sound discrimination, the path
Sn which he can travel with most honor to himself
and benefit to others. We repeat that Mr. Potter
enjoyed none of these advantages. He was of that
class of eminent men, who in common parlance are
styled sefcducated, which means nothing more
than that he possessed powers of mind of an extra
al, IL
any adventitious aid 10 elevate him to the disn-
guished rank in point of intellect, which he has by
common consent been allowed to hold, even among
the greatest intellects of country. In word
he was one of natures noblcmcn the only kind of
arstocracy we trust that will ever be recognised
mong Bred to the laborious occupation of
blacksmith, it not until the rpened years of
manhood assured him of his mental strength, that
hc broke from the humble though honest occupa-
ton of his youth, to prepare himself for action on
more conspicuous stage. That he made no mis-
take at this important period of his life, is well
known to be questioned. His success at the bar a-
fords conclusive evidence that he influenced to
this course by something more substantial, than
a vain ambition of being distinguished in the eyes
of others, without possessing the essential qualities
of mind to warrant the step he took, and to render
the resul, a natural consequence of well directed
efforts The fact is, he was one of the last men we
should have selected as likely to embark in any
scheme of any description without fully weighing
with consummate judgment, the prospects and
chances of success He did not take the step until
his matured faculties, by enabling him to COM
pare himself with those who were already aspiring
to like distinction, gave him n rational assurance
that his project, so far from being chmercal, was
what his genius required Of him. The leading quail
ity of his mind was a sound judgment, cultivated
and improved, not so much by study as by pro-
found reflection on the subjects of his experience
and observation. He made no pretensions to the
character of scientific literary man; 4; but for
knowledge of different, and perhaps not less USE
full kind, we mean the knowledge of human nature,
of the various springs which set in motion the var-
egated machinery of human life, he unrivaled.
His acknowledged superiority in this respect, was
the fruit of his long experience at the bar pol
itican and legislator, perfected by observa-
tion and the most attentive consideration of the
tives which influence the human mind. In the do
mcstic and social relations of life, he always
proved to be the upright and patriotic citizen, the
kind and affectonaie husband, the fond and indul-
gent parent and the sincere and faithful friend.
Possessed of most vigorous and resolute character
he felt dread of the intellectual conflict, however
commanding the talents of his opponent; but poised
at all times upon the consciousness of his own
peror understanding he was ready to enter the
field of argument, with the most accomplished states
men of the present time Indeed IL there ever was
a man moulded by nature to perform conspicuous
part in deliberate assembly that man was ELISHA
II. POTTER. In this opinion of his superior excel
lence as debater, all, whether friend or foe, must
acquiesce. His was not the eoquenco of declama-
4 tim ror wns his lnric the nften absurd com