Herald Of The Times

POLITICAL.

From the Providence Journal.

THE ALLIED POWERS,

The Jackson and Anti-Masonic parties of this State are perfectly united in OBJECTS and DESIGN. They both are endeavoring to pull down the administration of the CLAY party of this State.

Neither of those parties have the least prospect or hope of succeeding in the election of its own prox—they do not even profess to expect such an event; but, say they, "WE WILL PREVENT AN ELECTION." This is the every day language of leading Jackson men, and political anti-masons. The object, then, which is common to both of these parties, and for the accomplishment of which they are invoking the aid of the honest yeomanry of Rhode-Island, is DEFEAT—not success. They ask the freemen to assist them in defeating an election of ANY officers—not to elect better; to PULL DOWN the administration of the friends of Arnold and Clay—not to build up one, either of the friends of Jackson or Wirt. They are both striving to cause confusion and mischief, and NOT to produce order or public good. Will the freemen of Rhode-Island countenance such conduct, and lend themselves to such an effort? Does their interest lie in confusion? What benefit can they reasonably expect to derive from such a state of things as a FAILURE of an election of ANY Governor or ANY Senators, and of any Judicial or Executive Officers of the State, would present?

Has not, on the contrary, every freeman a direct interest in supporting order, and in possessing the means of enforcing the civil rights?

The manner in which the Jackson and anti-masonic parties are managing the canvass, comports and harmonizes perfectly with the result to which the exertions of both are avowedly directed.—They are both complaining and clamoring against a SALUTARY PROVISION of law enacted by the Representatives of the people of the several towns, which was intended to GUARD the rights and interests of the people, against the very mischief and calamity which these parties are striving to produce. These parties ought to be the last, under the circumstances in which they are placed, to COMPLAIN of this additional provision in our election law,—for they are both now hoping to be able to tear down, not to build up, to defeat the election, not of incompetent or unfaithful officers, but of ANY officers at all. The law, too, of which they complain, was agreed upon UNANIMOUSLY in the Committee; of which, ELISHA R. POTTER, CHRISTOPHER ALLEN, ISAAC B. DAVIS, of Bristol, and JOHN JAMES, of West Greenwich, ALL thorough-going JACKSON MEN, were members. It was passed UNANIMOUSLY in the House of Representatives, the said Elisha R. Potter advocating and urging its passage; and if there was any usurpation in the case, these gentlemen of the Jackson Party are THE USURPERS. But the law is a good and wholesome one; and, in fact, the best one that could have been made to meet the difficulty which it contemplates. If the contingency of NO election of Governor or Senate had happened before or without this provision, one of these THREE courses must have been taken. The House of Representatives without any more authority certainly, than both houses had in this instance, must have ASSUMED the power of electing a Senate—or the old Senate must, from the NECESSITY of the case, have held their places, not only till a new election could be had by the people as is provided by this law, but for the whole year,—for it should be remembered that the House of Representatives could not, without the concurrence of a legally constituted Senate, which the contingency supposes there is not, have passed any law ordering a new Election within the whole year,—or the third and most dreadful alternative must have been adopted of living without ANY government—without any Judicial or Executive officers, at the mercy of the worst passions of our nature, uncontrolled by law and unawed by its penalties. Let human ingenuity devise, if it can, any OTHER course which could have been adopted in the case which this provision contemplates, except the three which I have mentioned. I now ask the freemen, would either of those modes of proceeding in the supposed case, have been less exceptionable, more safe—more protective to the rights and privileges of the people, than the one provided in the new election law. This law meets the difficulty which the contingency supposes, fairly and authorizes the Senate and Governor to continue the Government—not through the year, but only until the people themselves CAN make an election. Can all the lawyers in Christendom make a law which would remedy the difficulty which this provision supposes, and which would more completely save and protect the rights and privileges of the freemen?—Let the freemen examine carefully the provisions of the new election law, and calmly reflect upon the difficulties which were to be remedied, and the clamor of the allied powers will pass them by like the idle wind that they regard not.

But what will honest and fair men think of the conduct of the HONORABLE Chairman of the Jackson Convention in relation to this law. The LITTLE paper he has set up at Kingston, called the "Advocate," and which is understood to be supported by him, and printed in the garret of one of his houses on 'Little-Rest Hill,' in the number before the last, contained an article complaining of the passage of this law as a "USURPATION" on the part of the Legislature, Can any man in the State believe that Elisha R. Potter did not countenance the publication of the article, censuring, in the most reproachful terms, the Legislature; for what? why, for listening to his own arguments in favor of the very law. Is it honorable and fair conduct in a member of a legislative body to advise and urge a law in a committee; and when reported, to advocate its passage in the House with great zeal, and then turn round and endeavor to CONVERT the result of his own exertions into a weapon of destruction, to be used against his political opponents? What confidence can any member of our legislature ever hereafter have in his sincerity and fair intentions, either in Committee or in the House?

The Jackson and Anti-Masonic parties are making use of this law, because they have nothing substantial to rest the pretensions of their candidates upon, and the fact that they are seizing hold of such a subject, exhibits in a strong light the desperation and hopelessness of their cause. They wish to divert the attention of the freemen from the political questions involved in this election, for they know that upon the question of the claims and merits of HENRY CLAY, who has done so much for the vital interests of Rhode-Island, stripped of all extraneous matters, there would be an overwhelming majority of the freemen in his favor, and both these parties, think if they can by any possibility, defeat the election of the CLAY Party this spring, that that circumstance of itself will have an EFFECT throughout the union—to create a doubt of the fidelity of this state to the Great Benefactor of Rhode-Island interests—to the FATHER of that System of protection, which has encouraged and fostered the industry of our state, which has built up the immense manufacturing power of this state, adding additional value to every foot of Rhode-Island soil, greatly increasing our population, employing and feeding thousands of honest laborers, and furnishing our farmers with a good market for all the productions of their farms at their own doors.

Gov. Arnold and the Clay Senate which is now in office, were last spring elected by a larger majority than is usual in this State. They were so elected against the worst predictions of their opponents. The Jackson party rested their opposition last spring upon three points, viz:—that Governor Arnold and his senate, if elected would unite the Turnpikes, repeal the Bank tax, and impose a land tax. I ask the freemen if these were not, then, the burden of their song.—How have their predictions stood the test of time and experience? Why every freeman knows that every prediction they then made has been completely FALSIFIED. The Turnpikes have not nor will be united, but the State has now an opportunity to make a judicious disposition of its interest in the West Turnpike, by which it can receive the large sum of TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, if the State shall think best to sell it to the Rail Road Company, if any greater sum can be obtained, the state is at perfect liberty to avail itself of it. The Bank tax has not been repealed, but has been INCREASED, and so far from there being any necessity of imposing a direct tax, as must have been done, had the finances been as much neglected by the present Governor and Senate, as they were by their predecessors, the State treasury is now in a better condition than it has been for many years. The receipts of the last year were about TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS; in TEN MONTHS only of this year, they are more than FORTY-TWO THOUSAND Dollars. Will the people again place the least reliance on the statements and predictions of the men, who last year thus attempted to jockey them, and without doubt did deceive many, who will this year retrace their steps.—Why are the anti-masonic party, who supported Gov. Arnold last year, now arrayed against him? Gov. Arnold informed them last year, in his letter to them, that he was neither a mason nor an anti-mason, but should render equal JUSTICE to both masons and anti-masons.

With this declaration they were then satisfied. Has he not done so in every particular? If not, let any thing which he has done since, incompatible with this declaration made before his election be pointed out. The truth is, Gov. Arnold would not lend himself to the vile purposes of persecution and disfranchisement; he was not exclusive enough, he would not join in their clamor against men who conducted themselves as good citizens and worthy members of the community. But it is known from what cause the opposition of the anti-masonic candidate for Governor proceeds. He supported Gov. Arnold and eulogised him and his administration, up to the last June session of our legislature. The legislature at that session, passed a law taxing 2 1-2 per cent all sales of the increase of stock in banks which had been previously granted.

This law is the ground work of the opposition of the anti-masonic candidate for Governor, to Gov. Arnold and his administration; and that it is so, I believe the most sceptical will not doubt before the election. He, soon after the June Session, denounced Gov. Arnold's administration, giving this law as the cause of his opposition, to a member of the House & a member of the Senate, and threatened to defeat the re-election of Gov. Arnold and the present Senate for the cause stated. These facts can be established by proof positive, and such as would be deemed conclusive in a court of justice; and Wm. Sprague, and those under his influence, are now endeavoring to carry his threats into effect. This is his anti-masonry, which the people will, by and by discover is not all anti-masonry.

FARMERS of Rhode-Island! Will you support a man for Governor, who, from SUCH MOTIVES, by himself avowed, is endeavoring to defeat the election of Gov. Arnold, for taking care of, and promoting YOUR interests? Will you support the Jackson Candidate for Governor, who cares but little for your opinions, if, by making a yearly display of his Jacksonism, he can but sustain himself in the good graces of the Powers at Washington, and who wishes you to invest him with political influence this spring, by means of which he hopes to be able to transfer this little patriotic State to Andrew Jackson, next fall? I know you will not, but will come forward in your power, and carry triumphantly through this election Gov. Arnold & the National Republican Senate, who have, during the last year, labored in your cause and for your benefit, to redeem the State treasury, which they found absolutely bankrupt, and indebted to the school fund exceeding the sum of $7600 more than it had the means of paying; They have succeeded in nearly doubling the receipts of the present year over the last. and of placing the fiscal concerns of this State in so prosperous condition as to arouse the jealousy of, and madden to desperation, those who have strong desires, but can have no well-founded hopes, of defeating their re-election.

TRISTAM.