The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-06-13 00:00:00, page 2

. The independent, and respectable electors
of this Commonwealth, by a mujority of their
suffrages, having honoured me with the office
of their Supreme Executive Magistrate, an
huaour at thig period increased by &o existing
state of our publick affairs. I have accepted
“the important trist, with that gratitude,which
19 due to such distinguished confidence ; with
st diffidence, which is fearful to do wrong ;
aud wath that splicivude, which 1s inseperabie
from a sincert desire to.do right.
In this enlightened age of the world, the
eriteria fo:g’udging of rulers, are their meca
sutes, not their professions « those only then,
#lose conduct is candid, upright, and hon
ourable, can c?‘j‘oy, either the happiness of
conscious rectithide, or the pleasing’ ¢xpecta
tion, of the approbation, esteem, and supe
port of their fellow-citizens. And should
their rule be mreritorious, how often ‘do cir
~eumstances of & publick nature occur, which
Jeave to governthent a choice only of evils ;
deeply affecting’the feeling and interests of
tie people, and producing jealousics, discon.
tents and opposition ¢
Such of late has been the state of our na-
tk futher and founder of our liberties, Ven
giblc man!
An impartial world will decide who, or
wich of the two great purties in the United
ftes, have meost scrupulously maintained
£ doctrines and followed the advice of
Tashington. As Republicans, we have uni
f'mly advocated the union of the States, in
oposition to the dismemberment of the
. wates 3¢ pointedly threatened by the federal
its, who still bave the daring effrontery to
¢l themgelves hix deciples. How indelibly
a 8 the characters ‘of hypocrisy and shame,
fied on those firetended followers, of that
| geat and good Man. Firm Republicans are,
lnprinciple and practise,the glucere admirers
- of Wiliington. Me. Jefferson and Mr.
Mudison have imitated his example in the
grat feature of his administration.
Dur purtial success in the election just ter
mirated in this city may be aetributed to se
weral causes. The federalists scem to -have
abandoned all sense of reason, justice, and
zven prudence, they were determined to get
#ae clection at the hazard of enormous sums
of money, and the small remains of honour
attached to their cause. A rare example of
wisdom and discretion has been presented to
echaracters whomn I address, there canwot ex
¥t a solitary doubt, that in a pursuit so deep
ly interesting to the publick, regardless of
political distinctions, they will co-operate
“with me, in attaining these important objects,
and to secure success, let the mantle of friend.
ship be drawn over past obnoxious measuares,
and our excrtions be directed to preveng their
yepetition.
‘Whatever may be the points of difference
between parties, in this they will undoubtedly
agree, that union is the vital principle of lihe
erty @ for as well may the physical body have
a being without air, as the body-politick of
sur Republick, without that principle.
From time immemorial, the successful
maxim of ambition has been ¢ to divine and
conquer !” and even free governments have
so far sanctioned ity for preventing the union,
_and preserving the subordination of their col
ouies, as (0 disseminate jealousies amongst
them.
* Such was the policy of Great Britain, for
petaining the colonies which first formed the
United gutcs ; a policy which in the early
period of their separation from her, expesed
them to inminent danger, and was their most
formidable foe. o 8
But the good sense of the colonists prevail
-3 and with a population not exceeding two
llions of Inhabitants ; with exhcutives and
iciaries, almost wholly opposed to them ;
regal troops, in their fortresses, cities
prlnclﬁowm. to awe and control them :
few arms, and military stores : and with
at publick funds, or au organized govern
t to conduct thei operations ; they a
this motto, * United we stand, divid
we fall i and their union, successfully
| ced, and trigmphaotly (erminated the
tionul concerns, and the consequent divisions
have exhibited prospects of serious alurm-—e
18 it not thg duty of the Trustees and Guar
dians of the inestimable rights and liberties
of the people, to destroy if possible this
germ of political confusion, and at the shrine
of publick safety, honour, and welifare, to
s.crilice all private and local views, prejudi
¢cs, and discordant passions ?
If I have formed a just estimate of the
write 3 and the most of them are held in real
slavery. This single sircumstance is preg
nant with serious alarm to the citizens of the
whole state. This signal mark of temerity
on the part of the frderalista may, at some
future period, afflict their hearts with all the
horrors of a second Negro Plot, unless prevens
ted by the timely interference of Republican
Yirtue,
We conclude this address in behalf of oure
gelves and our constituents by wishing you the
Uninterrupted enjoyment of your rights and
liburties, that you may be uscful members of
society, respected for your examplary conduct,
&ithﬁll to your excellent puinciples, and last
(ANg ornaments to your country.
ABM. BLOODGOOD, Chairman.
. J. HAMMOND, Secrctary, ‘
New-York, May 1, 1810.
Gentlemsn of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the House of Bepresentatives,
the view of the United States, in their zeal by
obtaining votes from a set of men, to deter
mine the, fute of a great State, who, more
than two thirds of them, can neither read or
SPEECH or Gov. GERRY,
70 the Legislature of Massaclusetts.
Thus unhappily circumstanced is Great
Britain, and she views her safety in war. She
conceives that by a peace her great and only
national safeguard, her Navy, must be dis
mantled :“that her numerous forgign seamen
will turn with joy to their native shares ; that
her natibnal seameny in part, will be compel
led to seek employment abroad ; and that,
when imperious necessary shall again require
her navy, in its present vigorous state, an e
vent which would rapidly follow, the measure
would e impracticabley and the result her con
guest. Her eagle eyed statesmen act on
this privciple, and have declared it. They
have ¢ven declared that a peace must estab
lish their national safety ; and this they view
as a political impossibility.
On the party then, of the United States,
will.-not a gdod policy look forward to the
continuance of a war, in the participation of
which they have Jcen, and still continue to be
in danger.
Each of these tremendous powers, presents
itself at different times to United- America,
with the affected attachment of a disinterest.
ed admirer. But arethey net disingentous and
inexorable competitors ! And however im:
partially she may cond'ict towards them,when
cither merely suspects that she favours the
othet, is not a jealous phrenzy thereby exci
ted, urging the docreo of American destruc
tevolutlonawy war. Had aparty spirit then
prevailed, it would have been fatal ; it would
have plunged the patriots into the abyss of
irretrievable seryitude ; it would bhave ex
changed their exalted station of man ; for
that of senseless Automata~anc even ce
mented as the Uhited States now are, by ex
cellent federal and state constitutions, if the
invisible hand of foreign influence, or if deep
rooted domestick prejudices and animosities
should obtain the ascendency,® they will too
late discover, that the loss of union, is the loss
of liberty ; for however remote we ire from
foreign natiens, or lulled by prospects of their
friendship, should our union be destioyed, in
testine wars must ensue, and soon convert
this beautiful, populous, and cultivated coun
try, into a barren, depopulated waste,
But will not foreign powers, viewing as they
do these flourishing commerciul states with
the invidious eye of competitors, seize the
first favourable opportunity, for destroying
their competition ¢ And with what ease will
they effect it, should one seceding section of
the confederacy, requiring an equal number
to oppose it, leave but « remnant of the na
tion to resist fareign invasion ?
If we take a view of the two gigantick
combattants of Europe, Francé and G. Bn
~tuin : nations of whom all others are most in
' debted for their progress inarts and sciences,
and for those useful discoveries and improvg.
ments which adorn society and promote Lu
man happiness ; nations unrivelled by land
and by sea ; who in their conflicts bave near-
Ay destroyed the independence of continental
" Lurope, and threaten that of the other quar
ters of the globe ; if we reflect on ihe meas
~ures of their mighty governmonts, we can
not too deeply regret thut they lave lost
sight of their own dignity and homour ; Or
~why do they not apply the powers eéntrusted
~them by Divire Providence, to complete, nog
~the misery, but the happiness of man? Why
- do they not immoralize their fame by recor.d
ing il, not on the sorrowlul tombs of slaugh
tered millions, not oo the desolute ruins of
mournful principaiiiics, kingdoms, and ems
pires==but on the iiliant pages of dlustrious
philanthropists—on the durable annils of the
great, the good; the God-like benefictors of
inan ! To the civilized world the aasweris a
subject of the decpest regret and gricf==lne
ordmate ambition and power, allics on, the
land, allies on the ocean, are as insatiable and
- unmerciful as the relentless grave. Unparas
lelled wealth, agriculture, manufactures and
I commerce, but furnish endless maguzines of
fuel to feed the unguenchable flame of ambi
tion ¢ and power, lawless and boundless power
' is on both sides implicitly obedient to her so
vereign will. Obligations of every kind, po
litical moral and religiots, arismg trom the
rights of neutrals, {row _the _inost selemn
treaties; from “publick law in general, and.
from humanity itself, are neglected, canceis
led and treated with ineffable contemptyevery
beam of hope that natiohal justice would re
sume her elevated stution, bas been epheuce
al-—giilleriug in the morn, it has been wim
at noon, and extinct in the eve.
France has charged Great Britain with the
establistinent of a despotick commercial
monopoly ; end has viewed her own conduct
as the meritorious effort of a muguanimous
volunteer, in a common cause, to deleat the
measure, IThe King of Great Britain in re
turn has charged France with the fabrication
of this as a pretext to cover her deep designs
of universai domination. Newghbouring na
tions, by their vibrating conduct tewards these
mighty belligerents, have declared that both
are in the right, and both in the wrong——and
the United States, ever careful to offend eithe
ery have, with uniform solicitude, cultivated
the friendship ot each.~-May their laudable’
endeavours be crowned with merited success !
- France, previously to her revolutionzay war
for a serics of. yecars, trembled at the rod of
mighty Britain : That unparralelled event
has reversed the scene, and France threatens
the overthrow of her great enemy. The
F.?perour Napoleon has in substance, if not
in form declared it. Napoleon, that great ar
biter of the East, is a most formidable foe :
His equal is not to be found in the annals of
san. . Other monarchs have been styled
great 3 but as a statesman and warriour, he is
supereminent. He is a prodigy of human na
ture. He is viewed by his enemies, as a com
met of the first magnitude ;at a distance,
they admire the awful grandeur of both, but
the approach of either they dread, asthe pre
cursor of certain destruction.
tion ? In cuch imminent danger, {s there not
an indispensable necessiiy of union ! *s
Shall we not then cordially invite the other
great department of our government ; the
judiciary, contaiuing our luminaries of law,the
able and learned councellors and practition
ers at the bar——our respectable and pious in
structors, the clergy, whose Jove of country
and promotion of union during the revolu
tion, is a pledge of their support—the citi
zens of the other learned profession, who, at
the eventful period, in patriotism and prowess
were inferiour to none—our respectable and
wealthy farmers, merchants, manufacturers,
and mechanicks, whose ruin would be com
[ pleted by intestine commotions, shall we
not invite them all 10 aid in the preservation
of our union ?
t Will not this desirable measure if commen
ced by government, be supported by the con
stitutional sovereigns of the land, the people.?
- Will not every friend to his country recollect
“the sacred truth, % that a house divided a
gainst itself cannot stand ” 'Will he not de
termine for himself to relinquish a party sys.
tem, and the practice of misrepresenting,and
unjustly reprobating, his political opponents :
Will he not' magnanimously impute 1o his
fellowscitizens in opposition, a mistaken zeal
and patriotism, and cordially embrace them ?
Will he not discountenance every attempt “to
wound the dignity of the press, that greut
palladium of liberty, when urged to prostra«
tration and abuse. And will not internal peace
and happiness, will not order at home and
respectability übroad, be thus again restored
“to this great and respectable state ?
Washington, the immortal Washington, by
his farewell address on the subject,an address,
worthy of record on a tablet of adamant, calls
on you in, strains of irr- sistible eloquence to
preserve your National Uniun.
The great and good Adams, with his capu
cious mind and extensive influence, follows
the bricht example of the father and friend ot
his country to preserve that inestimable bles
sing. And may we not hope that Divine
Providence, so often our Almighty friend in
distress, will afford us aid, and support, and
grant an happy issue ?
The next object of importance, to which,
Gentlemen, permit me to call your attention,
is the militia. Un prepared to enter into de
tails, my observations must be general. The
militia is the great depositary of our Liberty
and Independence=it is the firstyana last hope
of cur country. 3 Let the militia.be inefficient,
and sudden wilt be our transition to slavery.
Previously to the revolution, the greatest
care was taken to kecp the militia in an un
organized and torpid state. Indeed, im this
and other provinces,patrivtick exertions were
made with little efiect to eounteract this slav
-5% pulicy. But the provincial executivesy al
ways opposed to the interests of the people,
appointed militia officers, subservient to regal
purposes ; and when war with the Mother ]
Country was inevituble, one of the flrst im
portant measures adopted, was the reorguniz
ativn of the whole militia. Since thas period
Ilds ‘state by its own autherity, and afterwards
in subordination t 0 the I'caeral Government,
have paid a marked attention to the subject.
The result has done honour to both Govern.
ments ; their measures have excited that.
martial spirit, which nerits - every attention
und encouragement.
~ The materials composing the Militia, are
Qndcpendcm aspiribg citizens ; whose ambi.
tious minds never were, and with the utmost
confidence it-is hoped never will be, subdued |
by foreign domination. Infinitely will they
R:efcr to finish their existence with -immortal
nour in the field, to a surrender of their
beloved country to haughty and tyrannical in
vaders=A country, the birth-right of thems«
selves and of those most deur to them.
Snch materials for officers und privates,are
not exceeded, if equalled, on the globe. Or
ganized, armed, accoutred and clad, they are
in this state as well disciplined as the nature
of the case at presen, will admit. But is it
not possible to comiplete their discipline ?
And 1s it not an object worthy of every atten
tion, and reruisite expense ?
The revolutionary army, fer several years
after it was formed, was but an established
militia : and never was an army composed of
more meritorious officers and privates. Itis
deeply to be regrgtted, that their services
were not hetterarewarded. Their exertions
to attain discipline did them great honour ;
but until the arrival of a disciplinarian from,
the fumily of Frederick the Great, the meas
ure was impracticable. By his *kill, military
order sprang out of confusion, American
corps were soon equal, if not superiour to
vetran enemies, and these were convinced
that our federal grounds, were too sacred to
be trodden by foreign invaders.
Shoeuld measures be pursued with sliccess
in all the states to attain this very important
object, and our Union, unimpaired and con
firmed, be supported by a com?lete!y disci
plined Militia, then may the U nited States.
in theiv defence, bid'defiance to the world,
and rest in safety.
I feel, gentlenien, the obfigation of duty,
to turn’ your attention, for a moment, to the
Federal Government.
Previously ‘to the. Revolution, when clouds
collected and portended a political tempest, it
was predicted by ministetial adversaries, that
our federal league would .be--& ropeol”
sand.” This, in a great degree was verified
by the form of the Confederation. The
change (rom that'to the Federal Constisution,
applied powerfully to the feelings and inter- ‘
ests of the commuaity at large, and produced.
the necessity of an ucc:gnmodatim. This,
havine been wisely adopted, and the requisite
amendments having been sanctioned, a sys
tem of F deral government exists, which
embraces the general, and nearly the uni
verssi approbation of the peopie.
When we reflect that the United States are in pose
session of numerous blessings, pelitieal, civil, and
religious, many of which are not egjoyed by any otha
er nation : that we are remote from those scenes of
war and carnage, by wluch Europe is vested in sa.
ble : that we enjov the uncontroled right, op princis
ples 6f truc liberty, to form, alter, and carvy into offs
ect our federal and state constitutions : it fouwds
ed on them and on law, there exists g spirit of tolef.
ation, securing te every one the undisturbed liglis
of canscievee, and tlne?rec exercise of religion : thae
the people, at fixed periods, have the ehuice of their
rulers, and ©can- remove those who do wrong : thap -
the means of education in &1l its branches, are Liboral,
general and sucoessful « thar their national strength,
resources and powers, by proper arrangements, may
rendervihese states imi.cigle : that by our husbandry,
commerce and manufactures, and mechanical arts,
the wealth of this country almost surpasscs eredibika
ty : let us not be Kmned by imprudedt zealots of
“any description, fo hazard the irretrievable loss of ali
or of any of these inestimable bkni:r; but let us
sceure them ferever, with the aid of Divine Provi.
dence, by rallying aronnd the standard’ of our Nas
tional Government, and by encourapeing and estabs
lishing a martial spirit, on the solid gmdmoa of ins
' teent) peace, order, and concorn - .
. Accept, Gentlemen, hpray you, my un cipul
‘, thanks.';"or your patience on this o_ods!qn:whlch i
consider as a pledge of your future hiberality towards
1 e, Unnecessary, as oy observations may be, in res
gard te information to ml(ﬂ. they have afforded
~we an opportunity of discharging my obligations te
{ the pablick, by unfolding matters which way bhave
tpresced yous minds vih mweb, if ot wile eque
Whilst we admit, that there is no perfec
tion in human nature, and ti.at the greatest
men do often err ; let us not construe the er
rours of hopest functionaries into crimes ;=
let us place in the opposite scale, their meris
torious acts, and at least give them full cred
it for the balance. When this is done, mag
we not with truth declare, that th: Fedérd}
Government have dene well, and are good
and faithful servants of the publick 2 g
The provisiops, made by the Constitution
and Jaws for the establishruent wnd promoe
tion of literature, religion, morality, und the
social virtues, supported, as they have been,
and assuredly will be, by Government, cans
not fail to attain .their desirabie ohjects.—— -
They are the true and only sources of the:
present and future happiness. Withoug
these qualities, what is man ¢ fli\-ing sepe
uichre,, with @ fair and ‘deceitful extgrior,
and andmpure apd polluted mind f==and pose.
sessed of them, is he not * the noblest waork
of God ?”” How important then to seciety,
is the patronage of Government for the insti~
tution and support of scheols, academies and
colleges ! ‘l'hese are the inexhuustible foun=
tains of trtic picty, moraity, and literature ¢
nd the solid foundation of liberty, national
honour, »nd publick bappiness.
In the cliunnels of husbandry and come«
merce, flows in a grert measure the active
property of this State. These are natural .
allies, the aid of one, is indispensable to (he
other, and it is fortunate for both,that there is
a coincidence of friendship and intcrests bes
tween them. They are the great pillars of
tirts Commonwealth, and not a right of eithes
oug; bt to be invaded, or impaired, whilst zhe,
in subcrdination to the general government,
has an arm to protect them.
Industry and econoiny, those great saurces
of wealth, cannot be too much encouraged
and supported. Happily for this country,
they in numerous instances, are inlisted n
the service of manufacturers and mechan<
icks. These valuable and important classee
of our fellow citizens, have a just demand on
government, for every reasonable enc@uia
agement and support. Their pursuits are
practicacle patriotism, and whilst our nae
tional and state parchments, establish our
independence of right,their meusures more
solid, are establishing for ys, an iadependence
<n veed.
Gailic Volcano, to this day ; let us look at
them on the honourable ground of neuvtrali
ty, charged, in tarn, by each belligerent,with
mean, degrading partiality, and repelling
with dignity, the unprovoked attack. Sce our
federal rulers, rohed in justice and honour,
whilst Zurofie, convulsed to the centre, has
been in one great bluze of war, preserving,
for a serics of years, their unoffending States
in peace | Behold them, in the choice of une
avoidable evils, struggling with the impa
tience and afflictions of the people, under the
painful, but indispensable operstion, forpres
serving the vital fluid of the vationy their aces
tive property L And then let us declare the
correct mudgment of candour and truth om
the conduct of our Government.
We have in the Federal chair, a President,
whose enlightened mind, and whose moral
social, and political virtwes, qualify hina
in a supereminem degrec, for that important
station. If any nation can boast of a Chiel
Magisirate with superiour qualities for pro
‘motiag publick happiness, ¥ is not within tho
recollcction or knowledge of the person ad.
dressing you. Of what consequence 1s it
whether a President wes born on this, or en
that side the Potomac ! Are not the United
States one great Political Family ; exquisite
ly alive (6 the least common iny®y, wnd to
the conduct of Geyvernment for removing
it? ' ‘
When we consider also the respectable
characters which fill the other great execu«
tive offices, -and those of tlie leygislative and
judicial departments, are they not, so far s,
character has a claimgjuﬂly entitled to our
highest respect, ¢ idence, and support ¥
From men Jet us tuin our attention to meus -
ures ; let us view the conduct of the I'edew
ral Government, from the first burst of the
The first candidate for President, united
the publick suffrages ; but in regard to hie
successours, divisions ensued, being the re
sult of the different territorial, commercial,
and political vicws und interests of the statés;
which in the beginning had little or no activi
ty. The peace, order, and dignity, which,
nevertheless, prevailed inthe federal . elec
tions, are the highest panegyricks on tive pec -
ple, and on the form of their Govert
ment. ;