The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-09-23

a tleman's life. 1t is within the recollection of man
D. gentleman now in this Sete, that for his insoenc
TO distinguished member Of the Providence Ba
d. this venerable man once rad his nose pulled it
m within the recollection of many in this town, thi
= for insolence to Distinguished member of the Ba
IN this county, he was he'd to answer, and coward
d shrunk from responsibility it is within the reco
&c lection of the people of his State, that for FIRE
exercise of his sanderous tongue at the expense
n distinguished officer of he Engineer corps, he wa
called upon for explanation and retraxit by tina
It officer, and dastardy evaIed boh.-It is within m
: own knowledge and Of many others, who at the tim
: were members of the u. 8. House of Representa-
ves, that about six years ago for his base interfer
ence with the rights of Others, he was IN said House
branded with the terms scpundrel and villain, by Mr.
!, Speaker Bell, and General Desha, late membe
from TENNESSEE and told by them that nothing bu
his age and infrmities, which he quite willin.
TO plead IN his own behalf, saved him from the cas-
tgaton which he richly deserved. With know
edge of these incidents in the venerable gentleman
me, nothing that he say, more especially just
th's time, can disturb the gravity OF my muscles, O
AFFECT the tranquility Of my mind. The man who
takes his stand at the common sewer, and makes i
hls business to soil the clothes of every one who
comes within his reach, will be avoided as com
mon nuisance; but few will do, what every mar
may do, step aside and aba,e the nuisance by pun
the business of every man, will be attended to by
one, and the meanest wretch earth, will some
Times thus escape Observation-Disclosures is made
by the venerable gentleman TO tho controversy which
had the last season, with all, nearly oil who re-
mained of the Hartford Convention, assisted they
were, by the anonymous publications of the gen.
tleman himself ;-how far sustained niyselfn that
controversy others have decided, and if fattery was
as pleasant to me, as know it to be to men,
should have been highly gratifed with the f,vora
bic expressions of gentlemen whose opinions val
ue, in regard to the manner in which | sustained
myself against no common opponents. There was
some discrepancy between some statements that 1
made of what learnt from Mr.. Potter, then and
ever since, my, personal and politica. friend you
know, tor you have seen it, the evidence at the time
had, for sustaining me in the statement bad made,
and you have heard of additional testimony by me
since procured to the same effect you know from
what you have and heard that if was unfor-
tunate in understanding Mr.. Potter in relation to
the Pickering letter, was not alone in being unfor
tunate.
With my enemies personal and political have
nothing to do ito convince them that they have
done me injustice. shall not attempt, for have
been able to live without forfetng the esteem of
the public, Notwithstanding all their opposition to
me but if there be, in the State one friend of mine
who doubts that / was fully authorized to make the
statement WHICH puDsneu, slaHu Teauy to Sttis-
fly that friend with such testimony, all will res
pect, and no will question.
The venerable gentleman has been extremely un-
fortunate in his attempt to change the opinion which
Mt. Potter has of me, Orn separateing me from him
this he could not do by the eulogium he pronounce
ed upon Mr.. Potter in his caucus speech in April
last, nor by the tears he shed in speaking of Mr..
potter's Affections this he could not do with all
Inc incense he burnt in praise of him in May and
al. he II,x aAa
he might as well expect Mr. Potter to change the
opinion always entertained, aud frequently express
ID of the venerable gentleman himself l dismiss
his part of the letter.
The venerable gentleman is mistaken, or certain |
y misquotes me 81 did not charge him with old
ge and infirmites crimes but in much rs he,
md his friends also, had repeatedly told the peo-
lie of this State, that they could not elect who
ould represent them so ably and usefully he had
one and could do; it was my business to make
nown to the public, what he had been and as
lis complaints are chronic, what he would be -
What interests he had neglected, from total inabil
ly to attend to them and the claims he had over
ooked. do not learn that my statement is ques-
ioned and when it is, | have the records to prove
t."
Life under all circumstances, may not be desra-
Die, and it is uncertain whether shall live long
enough to have properly applied to me the term ven
,rabe, or until am sixtytve or sixty-six years old.
One thing hope, that shall not outIive my repu-
alton, or live long enough to forfeit the esteem of
my fellow-men to be abandoned as political man
,y all parties, retaining neither the confidence or
good opinion of any, and if supported by any, to be
from necessity and not from choice.
In these days of Republican simplicity, under a
government which dspenses its blessings to all it is
not uncommon for demagogues, or vain and super
anuated old men, to plume themselves upon, or boast
Of their humble origin; this is often done by men
with the hope and expectation of gazing thereby a
Fictitious consequence and to excite the wonder of
the world, that they should ever have achieved so
much, with oil their accumulated embarrassments
in the way of their early life the venerable gen.
tleman has made his labors in a cooper's shop as
historians have made the coopers shed
in Paris, which was sought for by Napoleon. Every