Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-04-12
WHIGS OF RHODE-ISLAND.

WHlGS OF KIiODE-lSLAND,
You are required by the laws of your
own making, by the high and solemn du-
ty you owe to the State, TO your fami-
lies and to yourselves, to assemble to-
gethcr on Wednesday next, in your re-
spective towns, for the purpose of elect
ing, from among yourselves, good men
and true, to watch over and protect your
lives, characters and property and what
ever else is connected with your own
well-being, and the happiness and com
fort Of your children, and those who are
to succeed them. Will you fearlcssly,
faithfully and conscientiousty discharge
that high and responsible trust, in
manner and with that promptness and
independence Of sentiment and action,
becoming intelligent and enlightened
freemen' That is the plain and simple
question you are to decide We arc
aware how unnecessary it is to review
the unlaithiulness Of the present rulers
in the General and State Government,
for the purpose of exciting you to ac-
ton. The history ofthe former is writ
ten in characters Of gloom, and wretch
edncss, and misery, and despair, in and
upon every thing we see upon the face
of this once favored and happy land.
The history of the latter is exhibited in
the fearful efforts every where made by
the Office holders, and few wealthy
aristocrats in their untiring exertions to
bow this State low in the dust, as sub
servient tool in the support sho is re-
quired to give to the general Adminis-
tration, and thus to assign to the people
of this State the humiliating destiny of
accomplishing their own ruin and seal
ing their own undying disgrace. Will
you permit yourselves thus to be uscd9
Will you shrink from the conflict to
which you are summoned by the most
solemn considerations, and the thrilling
cntreaties ofyour suffering and Distress
ed fellow citizens, hundreds of whom
even in this little State arc now pinch
ed with poverty and hunger' You will
not-you cannot.
Two tickets are placed before you.
Your own ticket was formed and pre-
scntcd to you by large and numcr-
Gus Convention, composed Of delegates
of your own selection. Those dele
gates assembled together, delibcrated
calmly and anxiously upon the import
ant trust confded to them. They en-
dcavorcd honestly and faithfully to car
ry out your wishes in the selection Of
the candidates presented to you. Their
only object was to select the strongest
men-mcn who were best known to
the people at large. That there should
be some difference Of opinion among
the delegates in making their selections
was natural-thc same thing always
occurs, and always must occur if the
delegates exercise suitable care in their
nominations. This must be so, for if
there should not be moro than one can
didate for the same Office, there could
be no selection. In nominating A in
stead of B, no injustice is intended to
b, because A is supposed and believed
to be better known to the people than
b. They may err in judgment, but
your duty remains the same--it is plain
and not to be mistaken. In the pres
cnt case, however, there was perhaps
less difference of opinion in the Con-
vention respecting the candidates gene
rally, than usually exists on such occa-
sions. Private preferences, as they al
ways should be, were sacrificed to tho
general will and better judgment ortho
majority ofthe Convention. The nomi-
nation was made-the candidates ore
before you-they are well known to the
people of the State. There is not a
single monied aristocrat among them.
They are, every one Of them, men Of
high character and standing. Each is
the maker of his own fortune. Some
OF them have held Offices of high trust
and responsibility, and acquitted them
selves with honor. They arc men Of
property, of business, and conse quent-
ly each of them has deep interest at
stake. They are sound in their polti-
cal scntmcnts-they arc honest, capa-
bic and faithful to the constitution.
What more can you ask or desire9-
The men opposed to them were all Of
them once united with you in political
sentiments and action. How camc they
separated from your How came those
men whose names are found in the Tory
prox. to be linked in and yokcd nm To-