Rhode Island American And Gazette

It is now too notorious, nor can the fact longer be concealed, that the national republican party have split, and are now receding faster than any two fragments of the Jackson party ever did. One portion of this party have determined to go the whole for Henry Clay, come what will; while the other are for following the example of New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and uniting the opposition to Jackson, and thereby render his defeat certain. They have now fairly grappled, and as neither belong to the 'give up family,' so neither shall we hear either of them cry 'hold, enough.' The go whole hog for Clay party, has been denominated the 'national republican party proper,' while the other has not received any cognomen as we have yet heard. As we shall have to watch their movements somewhat particularly between now and November, for our own convenience we shall name them. We call the former the 'simon pure,' and the latter the 'rationals,' merely altering a letter in the name of the whole party, as heretofore called. As this abbreviation will save us much time, pen, ink, paper and type, we hope the public will pardon us.

We had the pleasure of seeing the lines of the battle ground between them drawn on the evening of the 26th, in the convention. They were drawn in such a manner as to preclude all mistake. Both parties came well prepared for real brush there; but by a silly manoeuvre, the battle was prevented. It will now be fought at the polls. We thought it bad policy for the simon pure to abuse the rationals as they did; but as their business is best known to themselves, we have nothing to say as to that. Although the simon pure got the advantage ground at that time, yet we saw enough in the countenances of the bystanders, being somewhat of a physiognomist, to convince us that their 'stolen victory' would cost them dear.

The fact was, the convention was called with a view to recommend such candidates for the electoral college, as would unite all the opposition to Gen. Jackson in this state. This was the object of the convention, if we understand the printed notice; and to further this object some of the delegates from some of the towns had instructions to unite on the Wirt electors, if necessary, as we have been credibly informed. Perhaps one of the Secretaries can inform us on this point.

But the simon pure were too quick for the development of the real object. They had come there with a view to support Clay and no one else. One of their leaders had looked out this secret, and strange to tell, this leader was a mason, and therefore ought to have known better. He said if he could not have Clay he would have Jackson; 'he preferred Jackson to Wirt.' (We forgot the jackals will swear this is all false; nevertheless we can prove it, when necessary.)

Hence they got a vote to exclude the advance guard of the rationals which placed them de facto before the combat. The field then was their own, and they went on and played out their play and retired.

But to be a little serious. We are not sorry this convention has been held and terminated as it has, for we believe that no rational who has taken note of the events passing in the great states, can, in sober truth believe, that Clay will be elected by the people. Hence to throw away the vote of this state would be worse than foolish. We believe that every sensible freeman of this state wishes to unite all the opposition there is to General Jackson; and this all will not be too much to prevent his re-election, and hence would have been willing to have sacrificed his favorite for the sake of his country. We believe many of that convention were prepared to do this, and we believe many will do it yet. The conduct therefore of the simon pure must open many a blind eye, and unloose many a silent tongue. Their object cannot be mistaken. Indeed we needed not the confusion of one of their leaders to inform us what it was. It was to prevent Wirt, the antimasonic Wirt, from having the electoral vote of this state. It mattered not who had it, so the anti-masons did not. It remains therefore for the rationals to say whether they will be governed by this proceeding. They need not be told that if they vote for Clay they throw their vote away; if they stay from the polls, they give the state to Jackson. Let them therefore feel their situation and act accordingly.