Literary Cadet, And Saturday Evening Bulletin

Triumph of the Administration.—On Thursday last, the Administration gained a signal triumph in this State, over the little faction attached to the Opposition interests—the members of which have availed themselves of all the arts, intrigues, and despicable resorts of an infuriated clan, to impede the unrestrained progress of the present wise and unimpeachable administration.

It was made known on Wednesday evening, that on Thursday—the next morning—the Legislature would proceed to elect a suitable person to represent the interests of the State in the Senate of the United States, and the annunciation of the fact excited so much interest that the government house was crowded at an early hour. At half past ten o'clock the two Bodies of the Legislature assembled in Grand Committee, when the house was notified by His Excellency the Governor, in the Chair, that the Legislature was prepared to proceed to the election, when the Hon. Asher Robbins was nominated by Thomas Whipple, Esq. of Coventry, which motion being seconded, it was supposed from the apparent apathy of the opposition, that no competition would be offered. At the instant, however, when his Excellency was about to call for the vote of the House, Mr. Reynolds, of Richmond, nominated the Hon. John R. Waterman: when, without having the nomination of that gentleman seconded, his Excellency called for the ballots. A member present then rose in his place, and inquired if the nomination had been seconded,—to which a reply was given, that it had not been, nor was it necessary that it should be. The ballots were again called for, but before they could be distributed, Mr. Waterman declined being considered a candidate, and there being no one to oppose the nomination of Mr. Robbins, he was unanimously elected by acclamation.

The result was grateful to the great mass of the spectators, who manifested their satisfaction, by a momentary burst of applause, which but for their sense of the dignity of the House, and of decorum, would, undoubtedly, have been reiterated in long and loud bursts of approbation.

The result of this election may be hailed, not only as a triumph of the Administration, but of virtuous principle, expressed and implied by an intelligent and independent Legislature, who have thus openly and spontaneously given their support and countenance to an individual, who has been pursued by a malignant foe, with all the fury of a political fanatic, and who has ineffectually attempted to destroy the private and political fame of a man, whose only crime consists in his having been an aspirant for one of the highest offices in the gift of the State and of the people. It has given the accuser direct and irrefragible testimony, that the Legislature of this State do not place the least confidence in his assertions; and it has also taught him, that the man who opposes the present Administration, whether its acts be right or wrong, cannot gain the support of discerning legislators. The administration, the people and virtuous principle, have triumphed, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that we have elected to the Senate, a man who will do honor to his station, and gain for the State of Rhode-Island, a reputation in the deliberative Body to which he is delegated, and a standing, equal to that held by any of our sister Confederacies.