Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-10-23

public, by the introduetion OF category of aph-
orifns, proverbs, and maxims, which they pre-
tend TO reaion from, and 10 ihew thar the charge
which bears 10 uncomforsby upon their friend,
is a nanderous device originating in malice.
But this the gentleman mott not expect 70 do
by messphy6cs iilalion, and the mere idint OF
ingenuity They mutt revert 10 the origin of
the affair, and t.oUs by fstt, and by teitmony,
iha, il wss broughs forsaId at time, and in
manner, which viii iuppou their h,pothehs,
before they can induce the world TO sccredit il.
One ftrong circumitance TO prove il mal,eisaS,
would DC prove that il was faJjs: AT this
point the gentlemen arc remifs IL IS too aldu-
Gus talk for their " qreak nerve !" They
find IL much more Convenient 10 take this part
fav granted. 1t iaves them deal Of forlorn
drudgery, which is not fit exerciie for Gentle-
/sAs What a ihaneiul thing 10 conduct 70 as
70 reduce the sslnaiity 10 6ruation which ihaIl
make thsm perlpire What is the government
of the United States, compared 10 the Iepoic,
and convenience OF the gently, who have been
driven TO their trumps on this occaGon Hard
ly duff in the balance. Shall they be compelled
10 itep out OF their pleaiure,, 10 confront the
vulgar crimes OF treGjoa and fo,geyy ? Aiopifh-
ing efrontery Certainly no hliihed gentleman
can be 70 rude and prepoaerous, as 10 entertain
the idea tor moment
1heic concehons, the gentlemen will be
pleaied 10 place 10 our credii The public will
eaimarc them, and give them ,heir Weight
Having made them, we lhall return 10 our Pch,
and continue in the line of duty.
Deeply impreii.d with juff fenle Of It's
obligations, We latey made humble effort, 10
place upon its prop-r footing, the point in df
pute, hetween Mr.. Rusledgc aud the accu!s,ion.
In doing Sh!ch, We ffoee 10 dlveft ouI.elvcs OF
every o0senefous, and unwar. antab!e prejudice.
Under ioleRn convi ticn ,hat il is ,he rub
alone III whcn the public are concerned !; and
| that ans attempt 40 carry political point by
dexseniy, and tEaIagen. " oalA be dearuelive oi
tho paD,c good, We prefcsioed iuch limitations
to ouT Iemaiks as !h1uld iecure from ,Ieipais,
the attrloules OF manincis and candor. Ii is,
however unfortunate for the gentleman whole
| character Is qoeitioned Ii is unfortunate tor
lhoie Whole htuarions in iociety, call on them
10 puriue the inquiry, that the fubject is OF
nature. that 1t could MOI be undertaken without
an appearance OF sipeiity. Ii iounds i'll. natured
| 10 Cali a man forgerer but he muR be charg-
ed, before he can be convicted and we arc
Obliged, by the very nature OF the cafe 10 make
ue of iuch terms, as in common acceptation will
expreis, aud convey conception OF The crime,
meant 10 be aiiedged. 1t facts individually prov
ed will iupport the allegation, then we ihall ap-
pear NOT merely inoffenGve, bur meritorious.
|, is enough, however, that our regard for
the common fafety, our understandings, and
coniciences approve the deed. We look no for
ther for publication and after foil, and can
did hearing. are perfectly willing to abide the
public fenunent.
AT the cloGc Of the laa number we were
coniideGng the inducements which MIR. Rut-
ledge had 70 proiecu,e, if he had any confidence
in his innocenee and the hubborn reluctance
which prevented his doing it, notwithstanding
il had at ffa been threatened in the mott VIII
len, nanne. Upon this iAue. the fntiments of
many were, for time, fuipended. Multitudes
declared that II he proiecuted they lhould think
him innocent If he did not, they ihouId be-
heye him guilty. Many who had fecn, and
compared the writings, though they were by
that means convinced in neafure yet they
were willing to allow him this liberal latitude.
To meet this difpo6tion, he made deceptive
parade of an intention to proiecute. by taking
the advice oi a Lawyer and pretended that the
yciu!t o! that confultation was that the charge
sgani him wa, not full enough TO give ground
10 an attion. Still the Printer was copisntly
sGlied, from the mouths of the friends of Mr..
Kuriedge, keen as tbe qVoundtd Lyon Jfsks bis fac.
I'VE qvM make JOH /lpeat, ~, /avesf tetlo1o -
fUr bad yox III Cbarielon, zoe qosSid rake eVe-
y fittr from .yoar pocket" such was the eager
neis of their onfc,, but their courage has failed
them Their zeal, and numbers, are d'miniih-
sd They have yielded to the burthen, and
heat of the day.
Let il be remarked that " the parity of
hands," and the known circumftances attending
the forged letters. wese 10 independent minds.
ftrong and conc.udvc evidence. In the hrh
place, the variations which the forged letters ex
hib,ed from the natural hand writing Of Mr..
Rutledge, were exactly fuch as perfon would
naturally make who attempted to alter, or coun-
tetfeil bis own hand. 1t was more forced at
the beginning, and more natural at the end of
each letter, as il the writer had become weary
os the labor Of diigufe, and had gradually fall
en- into his natural mode OF writing. There ap-
peated TO be more pains taken, more exertion
ufed at the outlet and yet, further from an
imitation than at the cloie. The natural
hand writing of MIR. RutIedge, as appeared by
all the letters Of his, produced at the compari
ion. leaned towards the right: The writing al tie
BEGINNING of each of the forged letters, was made