Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1801-12-05

"; H he mas dsittoyed any houtes ot wor-
ih'p, or d,turhed any pious siicmbly, lct the
eircnnaancc. he related il he is prophane
ies tEe intances appear. This mode OF pro-
cednre would he candid but to defanc the
Chef Mag'Gratc under vhe vague aprela-
tons ot Seiit, ashe'h and mhdcl, is unbrcom-
Ing the character either Of chriQian, aeulle-
mm; OF citizen.
II ioms Of the clergy are oppofea to
him, II would be more honorable 10 fste their
charges. II he has violated the laws Of fo-
cieiy, why do they NOT come forward ia an
explicit manner. aud give the public narra-
tive OF the whole trsoiaStion. This line of
conduct would appear more manly than 70
attempt to weaken the confidence OF the cili-
zens IN his Standardization by invidious FUR
miles.
The conduct of Mr.. JeRerion through
lite has becn peculiarly amisb;e His WIT
iugs are iSsu2ht with bcnev olencc, and foley
snsended to anielioratc the condition Of man
kind, and tolead them TO an Improvement of
all thoie iacblries with which Flea, en- has
blehed the human fpcces. His character, i.
Europe, hands in the moa elevated potion.
and it is degrading to Our coantry to find
men who adome tile reputation of " ,ac
Learned" demesh theniclves by iuch grofs re-
heitions as are daily puhiiIhsd in the Ps..i-
dium, Ccndnel, snd other papers.
lf,hc Clergy arc alarmed at the decay
OF religion, Can Is have aoy iaiutary cisetl 90
repfeient Mr. Jeffedon as ,he oppoier Of the
Chritlisn fyaem Will il pcrfnadc people to
embrace the eofpel. by telling thcm that Mr..
Jehciion rejects IL rather appears TO me.
that IL has contrary tendency--no ,nan will
believe merely b>cauie Mr.. JeHerion difbs-
hcvcs. His character as fchoIar, philolc-
pher and rcaioncr. gives him reputation
TOO b IN 10 bc made the negative OF psipci-
pic, either OF iciigiou or aay .o&her iubjctt.
1t the people are told. that thc rsciidcnt docs
not trheve tho ChiRian religion. il may
lead many TO conclude, that nc knows n,ofc
ibsn they, and that he has good icaions for
his diibelief. This kind Vi argument inay
be iatis.aesosy to iome, and thus. Unread of
helping the cautc OF religion. il may have
vcry unialatary efccs. The Clergy 10 this
particular are doing 40 njery 10 the canie
they a'c attempting TO fupport, and it 10 The
height ct ioll, 70 e2pets TO gain pfoielitcs by
propagating with 70 much avidisy The infdel-
Try Of Mr.. Jcifesion.
Al PIeGdent Of the United Stares, he is
not called on to make Geclarstion of his
religious cfeed il he was, l am perfuadcd
the noa orthodox would nor condemn il.
Gen. Wilmington was peculiarly careful in
this particular among tho variety of his
publications we find bet lille to lead as 10 a
concluGon OF his religioSs tenets--snd as tile
Coniii,ution docs not even iuggef any III
OF this Kind, It is proper that The Prefdent
fliould NOT bring himfeif forward in any ;,oinr'
Of view on this ground. lie is not called on
to adminiiicr any religious ordinances and
while he intermeddles with no particular ied.
and promotes the rights Of all, neither the
Clergy nor other individuals have right TO
ccniuie him Tor his own fentimenn.
Suppofe the Pre6dsnt houId make
declaration Of his firm pcrfualon of the uuti,
Of the gofpci, Gill difficulty would remain
among lis oppofcn as to the particular ten
cts he maintained fome would FAY, that he
was Roman Catholic, others that he was an
Armenian fonle a CsIvinill--in fhon. So-
ciniAus, Quakefs, Baptias, Ur.verfaIia..
Swedenbourgians, and even SandamenisnsI
would be clam6fous to kaow to what Doc
trine he adhered. His dcciatatior. therefore.
as to bis belief in the fciptore, would not re.
rnedy the evil. for points Of faith are as often
contenJed for, a the avowai Of general
principle. j! iel;gion ia 10 be broughr fos~
ward in this conrroyerly, the PeGdcnt is
perfectly right in keeping his creed 10 hiGs.
ich.
But Why is this apprehension excited
that Mr. Je6-rfon Is oppoied to the ChriAisa
{, ten I! No part Of his adminiltsation has
had the moi diiisat tendency TO injuse is;
Goce bis eIctajon 4" all things remsin as they
were" as il relates TO the church We 60 10
meeting with a. much order ss ufusl, ana ,e-
turn home without the lesa molc2stion our
Sabbath, are equally hsI!owed, the firft and