Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-02-13
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iariy the town Of Newport, would ne
: free Of any participation in the treach-
cry Of the late election of U. 5. Sena-
tor. But il is not so, Three oithe traI-
tors are from the County of Newport
/ They are, Benjamin Finch and Christo-
phsr 6. Perry, of this town, and VIII
liam p. Bateman, of Tiverton. We are
more mortified at this, because the Coun-
" of Newport has long enjoyed the glo-
rious reputation Of being Whig to the
backbone, Whig all over, and nothing
but Whig. She has been looked to IN
the darkest hours and in the severcst po-
iitical struggles, as the stronghold o'
the party, which would invariably be
true to her cause and to the principles
ofthe party. When men were behav-
inc bad AT the North and in other parts
Of the State, the leading men there new
rr entertained an anxious thought IN
regard 10 old Newport, for she was a.
vays right. They never had occasion
TO whip US into the traces, or to spur
IN ON 70 action. Our men have been
faithful and true under all circumstan-
ees, and were always as reliable as the
best Damascus steel.
At last, however, two ofour Represen-
sstivcs have brought Disgrace upon our
fair and honored character they have
tarnished our hitherto spotless name
in m hour when our iorttude was OF
the highest Importance. We actually
have not the heart to speak OF the hr't
two men whom we have named, in the
strong and characteristic terms which
their treachery really demands; because
Il is well known to all that our relations
with these gentlemen have not been oi
the most amicabIe character, tor sever
al years past. Ii ID not our disposition
TO triumph over fallen foes; we Pl'y
them, and yet we cannot but desplSe
their conduct. Their position is GER
,ainly most humiliating one, for they
have fallen from what they supposed to
be a lofty,emincncc, into an actually de-
graded gully. They have d'sgraced
themselves, and they have dishonored
the party,---and there are no palllatl"g
circumstances TO shield their conduct
If their treachery was desgnedly COM
mi,ted, with full knowledge OF what
they were about, then, most surely, they
are unworthy Of the confidence OF the
party, and unfit for the position which
they occupy. II they have slnned
through ignorance, most emphatica'ly
arc they unworthy to be trusted. One
or the other is their position, and they
are welcome to which ever horn Of tie
dilemma best suits them F; either, in all
conscience, is bad enough.
Their fall is the result of ambitious
men striving for office, and power, and
distinction who were not qualiicd for
what they voluntarily attempted to as
sumo upon themselves. Their services
were entirely gratuitous, and were uh-
sought by the party at large. Mr..
Finch avowed two years ago, that II
was necessary for us to have men Of
moro weight of character in the Leg
islature this was at the time that these
two gentlemen went into the House +;
and this, we presume, is the result OF
the change which he was anxious to
effect at that time. In the name OF rea-
con and common sense, give us less
weight OF character, we say, 1t Mts Is
the result ofthe operation, and the re-
cent treachery is an exhibition Of the
conduct Of men of 4" more peight of char
acter."
The plain fact is. men must serve a
long, and rigid, and faithful apprentice
ship, in political matters, before they
are auslfed to become leaders and
even then. they will sometimes prove
treacherous. We have a full illustration
,f this in the case OF Mr.. Simmons, who
proved grossly trcacherous to his party,
in lsij, by leaving his seat in the Sen
n,e for several weeks, and coming
home, mot to aid his party in carry
ing the Spring election, but for the
cole and avowed purpose Of breaking
up its organization, and defeating the
candidate whom the regular party eau
cus had fairly nominated. He succeed
ed in doing this and he has since bit
,crly renped the fruit Of his hcadstrong
folly, and has received, and is rccicv-
;nv. aud will continue 10 receive his jus;
and well-mcritcd reward. Here was
the grand commencement OF trouble /;
bu, the course of Mr.. Simmons affords
no polIiation for the conduct Of Mr.
Finch. aud Mr. Perry, and Mr.. Bate
man. On the contrary, il should have
been "a warning for them. II should