The Rhode Island Republican

United States agents, exerting influence against the administration of the United States, and that they go in the business of town and state election.

We so head this article, and the deposition it introduces to public notice, that it may at once awaken attention, put the parties accused on the alert; and produce from them the vindication of their conduct, and the refutation of the charges so clearly made, by an honest credible and injured Freeman.

I William Willcox, of the town and county of Newport, on solemn oath do declare and say, that I was employed to drive a team at Fort Adams from the middle of November last until Tuesday the 19th of April. That on the evening of said Tuesday, when returning to town in a boat, Mr. Jonathan Barker, who is an overseer at Fort Adams said to me, that I had better not go to town to-morrow; to which I replied yes, he then answered, I have an undoubted right to go, Wilcox do you intend to go to Town Meeting said if you will stay at home, I will: I chose to go. He then said, if you go, I shall put the spurs upon you, and the conversation then ended. I have understood that Mr. Barker is not a voter. On Wednesday morning went to Town Meeting, and while standing in the Court House by the passage north of the table, Mr. William E. Almy clerk of Fort Adams came up to me and said Wilcox don't put that vote in; it is not a good one. throw it down and take this, (the vote which I had in my hand was for Henry Bull) I replied that is contrary to my sentiments, I shall put in this vote. He said dont put that vote in, keep still and be quiet, I said I shall put it in. He then observed if you put that vote in; it will be worse for you. In the afternoon after I had paraded for Gov. Fenner, while in the Court House, the Hon. Dutee J. Pearce came to me and told me, I had voted wrong and enquired if I was not sorry or what I had done. I said, Sir what have I done that I should be sorry for, have you not got an opinion of your own. He answered I certainly have, then Sir, I replied wont you allow me the same liberty He told me I had put in a bad vote, I had a right to take it out and put in another and, he would go up with me, I said I have voted according to my opinion and shall do no such thing.

The next morning, being Thursday, I went down to Fort Adams to work as usual, proceeded to the Stable where the cattle were kept to give them their grain, and was told another person was appointed to drive the team by Mr. Barker and that there was none there for me ; I had received ninety two cents a day wages as a teamster, and was obliged rather than to be entirely thrown out of employ to work in the ditch at eighty four cents a day. At the time I was dismissed teamsters were wanted.

WILLIAM WILLCox.
Newport, April, 30th, 1831.
Newport, ss.-Personally came William Wilcox, subscriber to the above instrument and, on solemn oath declared that the same is correct and true in all its parts.
Before me,
ABRAHAM THURSTON, Jus. Peace.

In this matter we do not accuse otherwise than on the strength and bearing of the deposition. We on the contrary acquit at once the highly respectable and honorable gentleman. Col. Totten, principal Engineer, at Fort Adams. He was at the time absent from Newport, and had he been here, he would have been the last to have prompted or promoted so unjustifiable an interference, with State and Town elections. And we do not think that the assistant Engineers at Fort Adams, are in any way implicated in this interference. We charge no one but according to the deposition. That is proof urged by a credible party alleging matter not improbable, and then sustained by oath Our publication of it is therefore proper and justifiable. We forbear further comment at present, we wait for a denial on oath. and then we may better support by proof and circumstances, that which only positive denial on oath, can or a prompt render doubtful.