Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1801-11-14

THE Author Of nature has bcAowed up
A on man the powers Of reaion for the i'm
provcment OF his life, and his condition IN
this world, and to prepare his way TO a pro-
mifed futnrity OF endlefs bliis. They arc
happy in this that if the faculty of reafon, 70
bcit owed were pruden,ly cultivated, II would
feeurc the purpofe for which it was intended.
bur they are unhappy as it is fbjed TO per-
vcrlon, and abu(e. Though il has bren fald
that we are 4" born unto ,rou1ie az the fpsrks
ay upwards" YET il muit he evident 20 cve-
~ mind from the experience Of an hour, that
the greater thare OF the troubles a1d yicit
fi,udcs sf life asife from the indulgence ofevil
propenitie,. Ambition, envy, and revenge,
have ever Good foremoa in the catalogue Of
vices, as productive of more ini1uiiy, and
more miiery TO the world. lhan she whole
train bcfde. The hand of the aHaiin which
hurries death into the frame of its within
the tongue Of the ilanderer, which imPar,s a.
potion to the fame of its rival; and the heart
Of the mifcreant, who would proRitute the
little pittance of talent which nature has ar
figned him to favor ihc enemies OF mankind.
are aduated by one, or other, or all of theie
patIions.
For an application of thce remarks we
need go no further than the Mercury of the
roth inf. in which appears fafe and man
gled ttatemsnt Of the debates Of the late Az
iembly, upon the fubjed of the refolutions
relative to the torrents OF defamation and
a5ufe which have iiIaed from the Providence
papers againa the exiting policy, and con-
iitutcd sutborities of the itstc. Il is tsue
that wss but a EeOnd tar. The Mercury
before exhibited fpecimcns Of genius Of ,he
fame kind but il was wicked gesius, fuch
as values isielf in witchcrait, and perveIfon.
| The frf of theie itatements, or rather nY-
ltateneats gave rife to another, which ap-
peared in the paper Of Saturday lsa. without
any aiiodon to that which j, vas in;eoded 10
correct. Indeed mention Of i, was hudi-
ouily avoided, b.oaufc il wa, viewed 10 a
! light as contemplate as ths, in which
popular opinion has holden and Rill holds.
the pu,atiye author Of it. To purfae him
again, with correction in that way. would be
futile. 1t would be virtually extending a
refpcet, which neither his production, his
talents, or his rcetitndc iafpire. For proof
of the falfhoods in which he has dealt 70
largely. an appeal j, made to thofe who were
! prelent. Let them lay how far he is grounded
in faa and reality. But as, by a mode ct
fophiaical argument (which is called rellon
ing in circle) by which 0xy hypothehs may
te made to appear plauGble, he has attempt
ed TO prov: thar the meafure of the reiolu.
tions was an improper interference on the
part Of the Legislature. it becomes neceGary
to vindicate that mesiure, as truf it can
be demonArated to have been highly proper
and iufi6able. This cow net better he
done than by an accurate fstement Of the
arguments that were made uie of at the time
on tn. part of thofe who fupportcd the re-
folu,ions but as that would depend upon
a recollection of the debates upon the fubjcet,
which, from the time that has paGcd, euit
be confdered imperfect, il is more fold
ground to place the matter upon its real BATS,
and adduce the arguments which Its nature,
ariGng from exiting circumAaoces, affords.
| In the courf: of this invefieation
ihal! endeavor to divea myfclf of every pre-
| poGeAion, and anticipate the candor OF an en-
iighiened public. If by the clifton of facts,
any fparks of light. and truth arc emitted, II
lie expected the mind will be open 10 receive,
and difpofed to do them juftice.
A SPECTATOR.