The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-10-03 00:00:00, page 2

Her arm, raised as it too often was against
cerself. was one and indivisable against her
eonies. It owed its terrour and effect to
~ her Untod aud Patriotism.
This mighty result was the offspring of
¥y '
Did she sink beneath this accumulated
scorn, injustice, and outrage ! In proportion
as they thought, or affected to think, meanly
of her, did she fall in her own estimation, or
reniit her efforts ? No. The injustice of
others awakened her sleeping energies,
which she hurled on the heads of hor ene
mies, whom she soon taught by a mournful
experience to respect the little band of free
meny, which they so recently despised. How
did she, in the infuncy of her power, accom
prish this ! By unanimity.~No Roman dared
to question the pubdblick virtue and power,
without sealing his own disgrace to ruin,
without being stamped as a fool or a villain.
Ite was, at liberty to arraign the conduct or
virtue of any ruler, however elevated ; but
the character of the nation was inviolable ;
and when she had once adopted her course of
measures in relation to every foreign power,
it would have been consider ed treason to take
p.rt aganst the commonwealth, and at its
cxpense Lo culogise or uphold the proceed
ings and character of a rival or encmy.
It was this that placed the liberties of Rome
v u&on a stable foandation, and insured her un
‘vivalled teinmnhs over all her enemies.
1T is full time to apply an antidote to the
profiligate spirit that bas been so leng ac
tively employed in traducing the American
name. Il there is any virtue, any honour a
ny spirit in the publick, they should cover
with contempt the unprincipled wretch, who
strives, by the propagation ef endless false
hoaods, to subvert those sentiments and con
victions, that are among all nations the im
mutable foundations of whatever is great
and uscful. In a free government much lat
itnde should be allowed to political discussion.
The conduct of publick men are the legiti
mate topicks of investigation, and their mo
tives may go freely arrainged. But when this
liverty, deserting these themes, sports with
national character, and aims at destroying
patriotism, the main spring of free institu
tions ; when it labours to blacken and depre
ciate every thing native that is virtuous and
noble, and to instil a prefercnce for foreign
institutions and habits, it is time for the in
digznant frowns of an abused people to pun
ish the calumniators, by withdrawing their
support, and marking them as fit objects of
general contempl. '
This is not the canse of a party, but of the
nation.—l"he opposition is almost as much
interested in it as the friends of the adminis
tration = I'he interest is common : for what
ever set of men the party may triumph for a
time, the nation still remains.—The same
di Ticulties and trials await it.—ln the succes
sion of events there will be dangers within
and perils without, which will call for co-op
peration and exertion, and for an active and
encrgetick use of all the meuns in our power
te maintain our independence and rights.—ln
vain will this call be made upon a people de
graded in their own eyes.—TlThe honour ap
poaled to will be found to be a shadow, or the
empty dream of past times.—"l'he spirit in
voked will be dead. |
I'he individual who thinks meanly of him
seifl is incapable of generous semtiments or
heroick actmm.—-lbuwevcr he may deceive
himself; he is considered by others as a slave,
and will act and be treated like a slave by
them. If the individual is thus degraded
how much more so must a nation be, that
forms such an estimate, every trait of whose
character is fashioned by publick sentiment ?
Why was the infant,which drew its breath in
the proud days of Greece and Rome, reared
to hardihood and heroism ?—lt was because
the universal sentiment of his country’ was
lofty and unbending. It wus because the
eradie in which he was rocked was that of a
Hercules ; it wus because his mother’s milk
fitted his little veigns with the rich blood that
A wed fresiwfrom the heart of his father. In
srese quys every thing phyeical amd noral
conspired to make the infunt a man in the
best sense of the word., The germ of free
dom had expanded with a vigour, that repel
led all those little sickly sensibilities, that so
olten consign to premature debility or des
truction weaker subjects, It struck its roots
amidst raging storms, and consequently struck
them the deeper. Hence arose a stately and
noble superstructure, that endured for many
apzes, and which history still exhibits among
the most splended monuments of virtue
power and greatness.
Such, in these days, was the proud trephy
of patriotism !—of a proper direction given
to publick sentiment, whose concentred
torce wvnce set in motion, swells like the
mountain torrent, and sweeps all before it
How different would have been the result
had the preceprors and leaders of those times
debased and pumiliated the publick mind.
There is every probability that Rome would
have become a nation of robbers, instead of
a nation of herogs ; and the workd never have
veccived the bLright legacy, which, even in
ber ruin she hequathed to a benighted waorld.
Her exampie should shed light on our
course. Rome, under her Republican sys.
tem, was in many striking respects, in the
same situation we now are. In numbers and
wealth and the arts, she was greatly inferiour
to other powers So are we. They laughed
at her pretensions to sovereign power. So
they do atours.” They ridiculed her manners
and deprecated her character. So they do
Ours.,
FRUM THE NATIONAL INTRELLIGENCER,
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cheevly indeed did the sea-hoy in the chains
sing out to the pilot the blessing depth of
watery, and all was jolity and glee on board
O my Nancy ! how your poor tar’s warm
heart throbbed with transport at the idea of
once more pressing you in a tender and affec.
tionate embrace !
But—a sail hove in sight between us and
port.—s She neared us fast—=and soon her boat
was alongside upon its accursed errand. A
British lieutenant came on board, called all
hands, and examined the crew. O heavens !
what a scene for me ! Home and all the worid
held dear for me in view—the joys of meet
ing muitiplied by aq absence o(, three years—
a tender mother and sistery a fond father and
brothers, and=-the reflexion almost sinks me
~a charming girl, the betrothed partner of
my soul, waiting to receive me wiih raptures
of affection and love ! and all this entrancing
prospect, this earthiy Paradise just opening
upon my delighted senses——all this farctaste
ol heaven's highest Lliss wrested from my
“ O heaven ! how cruel and unmerited is
wy lot ! Theee years I had traversed the rug
ged ocean ; for | had resolved never to re
turn till 1 hud obtained a' competent portion
of this world’s hard-gotton goods. 1 adored
my Nancy, and MNancy lived lor me. But
rigarous poverty ¢ forbid the bans,” and doo
med us to separation till fortune smiled pro
pitious on our fate. With her cousent, and
richly freighted with her love, ¢ 1 hied once
again to the sea.” For two years, every
wind was adverse to my hopes. At length.
the tide in my affuirs ran flood, and prosper
ous voyages rewarded my exertions and
cheered my toils.
“ 1 was returning from the Indies, blest
with what to me (and Nancy too) was health,
enraptured with the prospect of future bliss,
The sailor at the mast-head announced land.
The glad sound was the harginer of happiness
and dehght. When night came the light ap
peared. To me it was the torch of hymen,
leading to love, to joy and extacy. My Nan
cyy (for she had heard from us but three
days eut) faithful to her absent tar, with pa
tuence fond anxiety and hope, awarted Ity
approach. And now—for never of such an
occasion is the inimitable Diodin a moment
absent from my memory—
The evening was nild and beautiful. The
setting sun gilded the horizon with his last
beams from the hills of the Jersey shore.
The retiving humi of business, the fading
splendour of an unciouded duy, the approach
ing coolness and soiltude of the night, sol
tened the artificial misantrophy of the heart,
and disposed the mind to contemplation. 1
was returning trom visiting the sick and con
soling the afflicied, at the abode of soliwude
and disease, the quaranune ground. Curios
ity directed my course towards the frigate
Venus, one of the vesscls captured by the
British at Copenhagen, and now lying at un
chor in our peaceful and hospituble waters.
The vigilance of an ever watchiul guard pre
vented our going on board the iil-futed ship.
Yet on coming within a speaking distance ol
hery, our sympathies were awakened and our
pity and strongest passions excited by the ob
jects which met our observation.
At cne of the lower ports of the frigate
we perceived a seamen, reciined in the pen
sive mood, casting many a wistlul, * lonying}
lingering look”™ towards the shore, and appar
ently sighing his sorrows to the passing
breeze. We rested on our oars, and listened
te his meditations. He saw or thought we
felt an interest in his fate. He dare not hail
us, for fear of the eye of the Sentinel and
the severe lashing of the boatswain. But as
we hung about the ship he threw a paper ov
erboard, unperceived by the ofiicers, which
drifted on the tide till within our reach, when
we took it up and perused its contents. They
were his Sunduy evening reflections, and
were doubtless felt when written. And f
they claim no merit for Literary clegunce, 1
think they deserve the meed of sineerity and
nature. They follow : let the reader judge
publick opinion, which, when embodied and
virtuously directed, so happily superseded
the necessity of Taws.
What then was accomplished, may be ef
fected now by the same meuns. If the ob
ject was great and’ noble then, it is less so
now ! What were the liberties of a Romun
compared to those of an American citizen ?
What was Rome, physically considered,
compared with the American continent ?
Fellow-Ciuzens, you have higher motives
than any other people ever had, to maintain,
your independence, to cherish your rights,
to preserve your character. The world hus
never before beheld so happy and’ virtuous a
pation. No nation has ever existed, more
honestly eniitled to self respect, This is
the master sentiment, on which all that is
great and good in national character, must be
based. It is not only Its foundation, but like
wise its most efficient shield. Cherish it,
then, I beseech you, as of inestimable value.
I do not call upon, you like the Romans, to
stigmatize the whole foreign world as barba
rians. It is not necessary to undervalue
others. All that is requisite is to upjeciate
yourselves. Discountenance the prostituted
pen that lubours to destroy the elasticity of
this sentiment. Look upon him that guides
ity either us u domestick incendiary or a for
eign hireling, TELL,
Jnd as ihe much-lev'd shore was near,
o In fancy we behold the voof,
Where dwelt a friend or pariner dear,
Of Juith and love a matchless proof.
From the New-York Columbian.
THE IMPRESSED SEAMAN.
A FRAGMENT.
If the Post had one spark of independence
and consistency, be would, after uttering
the language above quoted, reprobate the
British government for that want of sinceryy,
which for years and ages has characterized
her negociations with foreign nations.
Peter Bauduy, near Welmiagton, Dela.
who owns a flock of six hundred Sheep full
blooded Merinoes and mixed, has imported a
Shepherd from France, and the muach noted
Sheoherd dogs from Spain.=--In the ncigh
bourhood of Wiimington, patriotism and
publick spirit is unparalelied in raising and
procuring merino sheep. [N Y. Gazerte. ]
Once more——* Great Brituin offers to
withdraw her Orders, if we will renew an
unobstructed intercourse : just precisely what
1 have said an hundred times over in this pa
per she would very gladly do. G. Brituin
sent an envoy extruordinary to offer us the
very terms which we have now accepted.”
Thus spoke the Post. We all know the
event of that memorable arrangement ; it
was disavowed by Britain for embracing
terms which her Minister was never empow
ered to ofier. See then the ridiculous pos
ture in which the Post stunds. He suys, the
same terms were offered by Mr. Rose, but
rejected by the American Executive ! He re
proaches our government for not accepting
terms which Britain denies having ever of
fered ; he said an hundred times over that
England would gladly come to that agreement
und yet he audaciously justifies her when she
palpably refuses to accede to it ! His charge,
‘ the long night of Embargo” to our refusal
of * terms” which were never proposed e
Nuy more, he has abused the American
cabinet for over-reaching Erskine and cheet
ing him into a compromise, which it was
known to them would not be sanctioned by
Briwin ! Here then we have a precious spe
cimen of federal candour and consistency.
But saya the Post ¢ Britwin sent an Envoy
Extraordinary, to offer us the same terms
which we have now accepted.” Grant it ;
and what does it prove ? The absence of all
sincerity in the English government. It
completely proves what the Republicans
“ have said an hundred times over,” that the
mission of Rose was a solemn farse, a mere
mockery. If our government had accepted
the “ same terms” then the samne result
would have followed ; the arrangement would
have been disowned by Britain, and the A.
merican cabinet abused by federal prints, if
the same terms were offered by Rose, it con
clusively follows that Rose was sent with no
sigcere design to consilitate but rather to
widen the breach.
“ The same terms Mr. Rose was instruce
ted to offer on the same coudition.”
“ Precisely what she ofiered more than a
year ago by Mr. Rose.”
- Again— Mr. Smith finishes by declartng
that the President will accept the reparation
offered as full satisfiction. The only ques
tion I stop to ask, is, why he did not accept
this when it was offered, fourteen months ago,
and thus save us from the distress und ruin
experienced, and the mitiions lost during the
long night of embargo.”
When Erskines arrangement of April 1809,
was adopted by the American government.
the feceral prints applauded Mr. Madison,
and readily acquitted pim of all French bias
or influance ; but at the same time severely
reprovated his predecessor for not making
the same arvangement with Mr, Rose, who.
it was Wlledged, was lully empowered on that
subject. T'he New-York Evening Post took
the lead on that occasion and with reference
to the terms of the agreement thins spoke :-
O boasted freedom of this happy lind, in
what do thou consist ! the fields of my nutive
soil in sight !==the sounds of the cheerfui
Sunday bells still ringing in my ecars !My
parents, my brothers und sisters, and the ido:
of my soul, are probably at this moment en
joying the comfort of & sober evenings walk,
attending divine service in the New-Dutch
church, we have so ofien frequented togethe:
or perhaps throwing from the battery then
melancholy looks, their ardent wishes to the
idle wind ! And but 100 short miles between
us-! Ye thunders of my country’s vengeance.
why sleep ye ! Each night and morn 1 hea
the rattiing drum summoning my countrys
rights to arms. At Fort Columbous at Ellis’s
Island, end at Bellow’s-Island, 1 see the loud
mouthed cannon, the bristling bayonets, and
the disciplined troops And here am I, ¢
sluve 1o foreign tyranny. Guarded closely
like a felon, if I attempt to escape I am shot
at hke a wild beast ; and if overtuken lushed
from ship 1o ship, ull my American blooc
staing the decks of His Gracious M.jesty’s
wooden walls, Would an &nglishman be
suffered to remuin in foreign misery like this.
But [ must cheek the rising tempest of
my soul. Here patience and fortitude are
the on'y virtugs. >
grasp und blasted in the bud the cup of bles
sedness dashed from my lips, and all my
hopes destioyed by the feil usurper of the
seus. My protection was disregurded. The
oflicer, with idernal cooiness and affected
good humour hunced it buck to me, saying,
“ It is very well to be sure, my good fellow ;
but they can be got for half a dollar apiece in
any port in America, you are a fine hearty
looking feilow, you must step into the boat.”
I was tuken to the frigate, and te the great
aggravation of my misery, at length transfer
red to the Venus, and brought into the har
bour of New-York.
Hard, hard is my fute ! O how galling my chain !
My Lfec'e steer’d by misery’s chart ;
JAnd though to my tyrarts 1 dare not comply,
Y'eara gush forth te euse my sud heurt™
FROM THE NEWARK CENTINEL.
It bas been said that I have received the
principal and interest from the administroter,
and have paid no part of it to Mr. Burroughs.
I have paid Mr. Williama Burroughs more
than three hundred dollars on the note. 1
have even given a note for the interest on ths
exccution. I have been compelled to pay ut
the rate of 24 per cent. per year, on the note
of Mr. Burroughs, renewuble every sixive
duys 3 and to balance this interest, fixed by
Mzr. B. Easton himselt, I have received frum
the administrator, who also was a principul
in the note, for this act of entive {iicndsip,
six per cent.aud simple interest. -
I have been charged with having given
checks 9n Banks where 1 had no wmouney
deposited. 1 never did give any check on
any Bank,where I hud not money, or where [
did not beiieve I had moncy. T'he check giv
en to W.A was a check given on my dividend
at the Newport Bank ; and 1 stated to him
at the time of glving the check, that the
money could not be reccived until the divi
dend had been previously receipted for. On
this account the check was carried back in
its dute, to the time when [ should probubly
receive the dividend. Ido not recollect par
ticularly the reason why the dividend had not
been received al the time the check was pre
sented ; but either absence or si. kness pre
vented it. When | gave the check 1 had more
than four times the amouet of Itin the bunk,
The check givento k. S. wa, exacily in the
same situation. It was given when I lived
in Portsmouth, and when | was very seidom
in Newport, At the time 1 gave ity 1 h.d
more thin six times the amount ol it in the
bank on which it was given.: Toe check
given to W. O. was six or seven dollars. [
helieve my bitt 'rest enemy counld never sup
pose that I would give a check for that a
mount on a bauk in which 1 bud no money.
As the money which [ at first had in that
bunk, was small, | was careless in drawing it
ont : [ kept no regular accountof it ; and
possibly mi-ht have overdrawn ; I suy possi
niyy because | recollect nothing about it |
could not have wtended fraud in order to de-
It is said that I disturbed the death bed of
Me. Easton, This 1 think not only ervone
ous but ungrateful. I had alwrys considered’
My. Easton as my friend, and as a man of hon
¢sty und bonour, 1 cervtainly should have
been extremely unwilling to have wdded 1o
his sufferings. Through the whole of bLis
sickness, 1 never spoke to - him on the sut
ject. 1 hud been übsenmt from the State for
some time, «nd hud been wholly ignerant of
s situution. My notes had not been re
newed for more than a yeary, sithough the
note to Mr.” Burroughs had been regular
iy renewed every sixty duys., My fiends
urged a settlement, und a settlément was f
nally effected, 1 believe, considering niy situ
atioly with the utmost delicacy on niy peit,
und with the utmost cheerfulness on the poit
of Mi. Euston. I never did press on his ns
tortunes. 1 never did threaten a prosecution.
I never could have threatened one, becuuse
Mvr. B. Easton was periectly disposed for a
scttiement. So far from threatening 1 even
agreed that the notes should be renewed ei
ther for une or for two years. And even alter
the ceath of Mr. B. Easton, it was, 1 Lelieve,
more thun two years belore I suw his aumin
istraiory the Doctor, although I could huve
sued him as principal in the notes, almost
immediately after the decease of his bretiier.
And wien 1 did see him, finding that he wus
determined that I should be sacrificed evia
as a lriend, 1 offered 10 submit the whoie
matter in dispute between us, either to
George Champling Esq. to Mr. William Engs,
to David Buftum, or to any ¢ne of the re
spectable Society of Friends ; or even 1o
Benjumin Hazard, Esq. his own nephew, wnd
the nephew of the deceased. Neither the
mode of settlement nor the men propescd,
were agreeabie to the Doctor.
I NOW hasten, feilew citizens, to close
the observations which 1 imended to muke.
In those which I luately made, 1 endeavoured
to be candid==in those which 1 am now ccme
pelled to make, 1 shall endeaveour to be equal
ly so, It is not for the purpose of disputa
ton or of parde, that I huve come before you
but for defunce. 1 have been charged with al
most every species of impropriety and crime,
and the delence aguinst those chauges |
cheerfully submit to you.
I have been charged with usury ; and why !
because | received from the lute Mr. Benja
min Easton a note, which carried an exhoibi
.ot interest. It is true 1 received such a
note ; but that note, and that interest were to
meet a note and the same intevesty which note.
I bud given to Mr. William Burioughs, sen.
und which interest I was to allow him, meic-
Iy as a friend of Mr. Luston ; otherwise than
the friend of Mr. Eastony 1 bhad no concern
in it. Mr. Easton maude the contract=Mr.
Laston fixed the interest, and all.l had to do
with it, was ut the very pressing importunity
of Mr. Lasion, to give my note to Mr. Bur
roughs, subject to the contract which Easton
had made with bimi ; and at the same time
to receive a note of indemnity from the Eas
ons, precisely at the suwme interest. 1f it
Was an usutious contract, it wus an usurious
contract, in which 1 had no concern, nor ex
pected or songht uny bencfit; in which 1
merely came lorward as a friend, and in which
I vitimuteiy becume a victim. 1 say « vie
tim, for in thus very act of friendship, I huve
not only been a loser to a very considersble
«mount, in a pecuniary way, but even some
of those, who have participated in the advin
tages of the friendship, have in retuin en
deavoured 1o stab my character.
TO THE FREEMEN OF THE STATE OF
COMMUNCATION.
[ Concluded.)
BUHODE-ISLAND, &e.