Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-08-15

ccfiainlnE tne best distance LOT MN ano
the worst for his inexperienced oppo'
aent, and fixing the terms Of the duel, 20
as to allow his opponent no time even to
lind similar weapon, much less to try
It, felt confident that he woull Kill his
adversary, and were perfectly willing
that he should risk his own life in the
experiment. But, disappointed in this
expectation, their next object was tc
make a profit out Of the death Of then
victim, by converting it TO political uses
And this schepe Of cold blooded, inhu.
man policy, they devised and entered
upon the execution Of, even before the
unfortunate man was laid quietly in his
grave. Gould it have been conceived
taat civilized men could harbor in their
breasts such barbarous purposes T? This
attack upon Mr.. Cranston's principles,
in regard to the detestabc practice ol
ducling, is palpabIy made in the expec-
lation that il will make an impression
upon The minds of those who hold that
practice in abhorrencc-upon the minds
Of console nlious men, and particularly
the members of the SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Permit me then, my Christian friends
for, if am myself Christian, ! am one
Of you, and, if ] am sinner, you are
still my lliend-permit me to address a
few words directly TO you. Is there one
among you, who, being placed in the
same situation friend CranstOn was, and
firmly believing that no good was in
tended by those Fairfield resolutions,
and that none would come OF them, firm
y believing that the pretended investi-
CATION would be conducted in the man
ner YOU now know il was conducted, and
would come to nothing and be suppress
sed by It's own promoters, as you now
also know il was, after tho waste Of a
great deal of time which ought to have
been employed in the public business,
and the waste of thousands Of dollars OF
the public money, and after calling into
conflict the b'terost and most evil party
passions, lis there one Of you who would
have voted for those resolutions. s.-Or,
having voted against them, under sin
ccre conviction that you had done right,
is there one of you who would have
changed his vote, and have voted for
them, against that conviction, from the
fear Of being in small minority, and
because he was advised TO do so by his
friends, to save appearances and avoid
the loss of popularity You would have
done neither, or l am wholly ignorant
of the characters of conscientious men.
Indulge me in asking one more ques-
tion. Have you any knowledge of a
single act Of Robert B. Cranston's life,
which gives the slig gbtest countenance to
the charge of his being iavorer of du.
clling ? In Congress, since he has been
a member Of it, he has as often as was
any opportunity for his doing SO, mani
tested his disapprobation Of that practice.
One instance ofthis have already men,
toned. And when the bill against du-
cling cane before the House from the
Senate, rendering the practice odous
and making it States Prison offence,
Mr.. Cranston was strongly in favor and
voted in favor Of that bill, while many Of
the most violent promoters Of the pre-
tended Investigation opposed and voted
as ohhst It, huo tuHu lustdIlCe was,
his voting against that spurious invcsti-
cation itself, which had decided ten
dency to give countenance to duclling
Out of what straws have Mr.. Grams
toms political opponents built this charge,
Of his being favorer of duelling 7 |
will tell you, friends For a number of
years Mr. Cranston was sheriff of the
County Of Newport, and during that pc
riod he was several times placed, not
only in difficult and trying, but in really
pcrllous situations. On several occa
sions, he had to deal with daring and
desperate men, who, having hagrantly
violated the laws, had armed themselves
with deadly weapons, determined to re-
sist all authority, and not to be taken
alive. On all those occasions the sheriff
conducted himself with lirmness and cool
resolution, never hesitatng, much less
from the performance of his
duty, and never, in one instance, failing
10 perform it successfully. Those who
his conduct on repeated occa-
'ions OF that kind, very justly considered
lim, and gave him the character Of a
nan OF tried resolution and iorlilude,
carless Of danger in the performance of
lis duty. And now, friends, it is that
,ery character which you will consider
deserving of appreciation, it is that cha
acter which his political opponents are
to disiort and pcrvcrt into
he char acter Of duellist. lie is called Il
duellist because he is known and ac-
TO possess rcsolu,ion.--
FRIENDS, you do not wish your repre-
entatives to be towards, that you may
'e sure they are not duellists. You are
10 towards yourselves. You approve
If true courage and resolution, and pos
less IA great deal more Of both, than most
If those who make the greatest boast of
hem.
And it is because you possess those
qualities (they are virtues) of true cou-
age and resolution i say it with as
ull confidence as | should if you had
expressly authorised Inc to say tit is
therefore, that you will not countenancc
he attack made upon Robert b. Grams
on for possessing those qualities in com
non with you.
8. The MAINE WAR RDILL-AuTHoRrz.