Rhode Island American, Statesman And Providence Gazette

More Legislative dignity.—During the last session of this State Legislature, Elisha R. Potter, alluding to the son of a petitioner before the House, a young man doing a good deal of business, and moving a large amount of manufacturing property, said, 'he was never worth anything, and he did not believe he ever would be. He had no doubt he had been a bill of expense instead of earning anything, and he (Mr. Potter) wouldn't give a cent for him, stock and flock.'

It is thus this common slanderer is suffered to abuse his privilege as a member of the House to villify with impunity every private citizen present or absent, whose character he chooses to bring into question.

Some years ago, as some persons will recollect, this same Elisha R. Potter threw out the most cruel and unmanly insinuations against the reputation of two friendless and hard laboring, but honest girls, whose house had been broken into by an Indian. The Indian was convicted and petitioned to be released from imprisonment, and Mr. Potter advocated his petition at the expense of the virtue of these females.

How much longer will the citizens of this State patiently submit to see private reputation thus sported with by a man claiming his legislative privilege as an exemption from the punishment that common slanderers and libellers are subjected to?