Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
March 6, 1811
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Satirical poem criticizing Federalists at a Portsmouth, RI town meeting on January 16, 1811, for proposing to nominate a black man named Cudjo as their representative, portraying it as a desperate act.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
FOR THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN.
PORTSMOUTH TOWN-MEETING
JANUARY, 16, 1811.
I SELDOM speak of things political,
Or for a party deign to write;
But in these times, when feds are critical,
And changing even black to white,
Tis certainly my duty to relate
Particulars of a town-meeting-
Which to all men I now send greeting
Merely for benefit of "church and state."
The feds in Portsmouth, lately found
Their numbers were decreasing fast-
Their cause e'en tumbling to the ground ;
To prop which up, they must propound
A NEGRO-poor resource at last.
One of his brother feds aloud declar'd,
That "Cudjo had been tax'd, and paid his rate;
" That he had done persecution shar'd;
" And wou'd, if brethren cou'd agree,
" A very proper person be
" To represent the federalists in state."
An orator rose, and thus the House address'd
" Although he has thick lips and a flat nose,
" I cannot see why they should interpose;
"Nor will my reas'ning powers e'er let me see,
" Why this our brother, shouldn't be made free.
" If Cudjo has a large freehold estate,
" This case I do not think so delicate
"As many of the demos have express'd."
This reas'ning was supported by another
Great anglo federal white-negro brother ;
Who modestly declar'd, for Cudjo's sake,
He all responsibility would take
Upon himself.
"Please Mr. Clerk to write the negro's name;
" We have in Little-Compton* an example-
" For the feds, d'ye see have done the same,
" And whether male or female, such a sample.
" Can be procured for a little pelf.
" My mind is fix'd-he shall propounded be,
"And at our April meeting voted free."
Thus fed'ral plans are laid-thus they succeed
In pushing Discord's factious car along :
For all their hellish schemes are black indeed,
Founded in errour, and in reason wrong
From such vile wretches, who would rule by force,
With green-ey'd Slander for their only guide,
Cou'd we expect that this. their last resource,
Wou'd be neglected, spite of all their pride?
No ! men when drowning. oftentimes will clench
At bubbles, feathers, or a floating straw;
So feds, to aid their dying cause, don't flinch
From violating reason, right, and law.
VERITAS.
* A little, busy. troublesome man, called Taylor. proposed
a negro in Little-Compton, in August last.
FOR THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN.
PORTSMOUTH TOWN-MEETING
JANUARY, 16, 1811.
I SELDOM speak of things political,
Or for a party deign to write;
But in these times, when feds are critical,
And changing even black to white,
Tis certainly my duty to relate
Particulars of a town-meeting-
Which to all men I now send greeting
Merely for benefit of "church and state."
The feds in Portsmouth, lately found
Their numbers were decreasing fast-
Their cause e'en tumbling to the ground ;
To prop which up, they must propound
A NEGRO-poor resource at last.
One of his brother feds aloud declar'd,
That "Cudjo had been tax'd, and paid his rate;
" That he had done persecution shar'd;
" And wou'd, if brethren cou'd agree,
" A very proper person be
" To represent the federalists in state."
An orator rose, and thus the House address'd
" Although he has thick lips and a flat nose,
" I cannot see why they should interpose;
"Nor will my reas'ning powers e'er let me see,
" Why this our brother, shouldn't be made free.
" If Cudjo has a large freehold estate,
" This case I do not think so delicate
"As many of the demos have express'd."
This reas'ning was supported by another
Great anglo federal white-negro brother ;
Who modestly declar'd, for Cudjo's sake,
He all responsibility would take
Upon himself.
"Please Mr. Clerk to write the negro's name;
" We have in Little-Compton* an example-
" For the feds, d'ye see have done the same,
" And whether male or female, such a sample.
" Can be procured for a little pelf.
" My mind is fix'd-he shall propounded be,
"And at our April meeting voted free."
Thus fed'ral plans are laid-thus they succeed
In pushing Discord's factious car along :
For all their hellish schemes are black indeed,
Founded in errour, and in reason wrong
From such vile wretches, who would rule by force,
With green-ey'd Slander for their only guide,
Cou'd we expect that this. their last resource,
Wou'd be neglected, spite of all their pride?
No ! men when drowning. oftentimes will clench
At bubbles, feathers, or a floating straw;
So feds, to aid their dying cause, don't flinch
From violating reason, right, and law.
VERITAS.
* A little, busy. troublesome man, called Taylor. proposed
a negro in Little-Compton, in August last.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Portsmouth
Town Meeting
Federalists
Cudjo
Negro
Satire
Rhode Island
1811
What entities or persons were involved?
Veritas.
Poem Details
Title
Portsmouth Town Meeting January, 16, 1811.
Author
Veritas.
Subject
Portsmouth Town Meeting Satirizing Federalists Nominating Cudjo
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
I Seldom Speak Of Things Political,
Or For A Party Deign To Write;
That "Cudjo Had Been Tax'd, And Paid His Rate;
" That He Had Done Persecution Shar'd;
So Feds, To Aid Their Dying Cause, Don't Flinch
From Violating Reason, Right, And Law.