Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-01-23
For the Ri ID s.IsLASD REPUBLICAN,.

Mr.. FARNswoRTH,
THE iubjeet which incil trouble you With,
i is the Sanb-.49. We all know that the
our Revolution, which fudaeniy bloomed, and
has Gace dialfcd 70 much falubrity, and fra.
grance. 9bea the echo was, :" FrienSs, )Sa,.
and fy0. BonId yifd fbeir t,eejare up, nor squn a
/SnjS 6.yend its COMMON Jajey." Some, how
ever. have made a difinetion berwees thar
which was impofed by the parliament of Eng
land, and the prefent aating as the ground Of
the oppo6tioo to III: former, no, 70 much the
inequality, and tyranny OF the msde, as the want
of any right TO tax us at all. This, NUT con-
fe!s. is, as FAR as it goes, found and proper
diitinttion but is no, fuficieut, in my opinion,
TO juaiiy congreiional famt al. 1t istrue,
that the NOT prominent characters in our Re
volution, directed their exer,ions particularly
to avert the pretenGons which England held up
of taxing us unconditionally but it is certain
that the bulk Of our citizens had other conlider-
ations. To them il was immatcrial who the
taxes were to be impoied by ; whether by bo-
dy of men called CovgreG in their own coun-
try, or by body Of men called a PARLIAMENT in
foreign country. They knew il was pecef{ary
that fome kind of Government fhould be fup-
ported. and if it was TO play the fame game,
whether iituated in Americs or in England, was
of no confequence TO them. Mature and rea-
ION DECLARED that they had right to choofe,
whcre, and what it :hould be. Ii was obvious
that they would Rand better chance Of
being juRly deal, with by an sk6hx of men
from among them, acquainted with their wants,
aad their wifhes within the influence Of their
frowns, and the reach of their ccnfure; than by
4 nea Of intrigueD, corrupted by pride, and
painting for dominion, three thouf,nd miles off,
over whom they could have no pofIble controui.
Ii was ,heyeforc they oppoied the original tamp
act. on two grounds-fra, thar il was unequal,
and opprciive-and fecond, that by this evil
dence of inhdelity and uiurpsrion, the organ
that devifed il had forfeited all claim to conf
dence and allegiance.
When the late aamp aet was tent ont to
the Public. under the authority Of Congrefs, il
excited the fears of many, who had tfove a.
gainR the other. But it was not to be rcmov-
cd il the way which the other had been. Cir
cumftances had changed. We knew that il had
not ari(en from any radical, or conaitutional
defect, in the government we had chofen, but ra-
ther from topical diitemper in the thea exit
ing administration, for which the Contribution
had provided care. twas incumbent, there.
fore. quietly to wait thf return of jubilee, which
thofe prosifons authorized the anticipation Of.
When you are told that have often been
tempted TO place il over my door in capital let
ters, that Twas oppofed to the aant al you
viii not wonder at the very iu,ereiied part which
| may fesm to take agaiaa il nor IL men,
tion tn: inexpreaible fatnfaetion felt upon
reading the obfervation of MIR. JsrFERsox, in
MS meIage to Consref,, thar il mighr I" be dif
pcnied Sith." have always conidered il az
badge Of Ilavery and many Of my n:ighbou,