Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-05-22
Fron the NArioxAL IsrtLLiosscSs.
70 tie Ameriean People.
No. IL.

Wv came into place. thsy icized tho 6rx
moments OF their po~ef as the moa auipicious
soA1ssfsrisl conciliation. AS theirs wa, ri-
unph OF principle, and not msrely vt meu,
every citizen, of whatever political character.
was invited 20 rally roond the asndsrd ci a
govsrssent of which the national good ihoud
be the iole purfut.
The Prskdent, while he avowed himfslf a
Republican an procipe, and announced that he
ihould be one a!fo in practice, offered with un-
exampled magnanimiy, n liberal participation
OF iobordlaaie honor, cmolument, and iuRu-
ence, 70 thoie citizens, uiualy dsnominstcd
federal. who had been his mott decided poli,i-
cal oPposenu. Selecting men to Predde ever
the Departments on whole talents aud consenal
fsntinenu he could rely TO council and aihk
him in the diichargc of the srea, fuattions pc
culiariy artschsd TO hinfsif. he fuffercd to re-
main inshs snmoleltsd eoi ny meat OF .i6cs nas
tenihs OF the occupants, who were slmoit with
out exception aA,i-rspublican.
Here then was protslion followed by prac-
tice; With the power OF difplacing more ti,aa
one thouland officers, he removed lcts than a
tenth part; snd of thoie difplscsd, by Ear the
greater number had failed 70 comply with the
legal provihons attached To their REFLECTIVE Of
hces. Can the annals of politics farniih a
brighter example of forbeaIancc. aud can tnefe
be quoted the hiaory Of any vsaqpiihed party,
that has been treated with equal refpet,
a The forbearance Of ths Chief Msgiarate.
while il aaooiihed. confoundsd the leaders of
the proarate party. They had predicted on
the prevalence Of rspublcan principles the es-
tire diimifiion Of their friends. Judging Of
their oppoaeou by themislves. they had pro-
clsined 10 the people, over and over again, that
this would be the inevitable effect.
Overcome by the jsaicc, and aill more by
ri.rgcueransy ofthc rnesfurus Of rhv vhief nsgif-
trste, oppoGtion was paraliicd. and party ipirit
began rapidly to fubide. Unprejudiced men.
who had food forenea in the oppohtion to the
election OF the Pfeadent. acknowledged their
deluGon, and united in beaowing the nerited
rceompcncs OF his patrio . srcrtions.
Thus Good public opinion a, the meeting
of the Lcgnaturc. With chem il refed to give
sifctt to many Of the mcsiurcs of the Executive,
as well ss TO rcdreis evils. whole cure was nor
within his reach No foonsr was this facrcd
dnty commenced, than the fulpcnded oppoGiion
OF faction was routed. Tie minority found
ihsmfelvcs but about a third part of the Houfe
Ut Representatives. and the progreaing change
OF public opinin threatened th:ir fmsli nombcrs
not only with diminuiion, but with total ami
b'lsIon. The criGs was defperate, and called
for conncils prompt and enrrgeric. The lead
su Of the fallen party in the tioufe Of Rcpfeiea-
tatives were young men, hufhed with the ten.
porsry poGelion and abuic OF power, and rulh-
ing with impatient fpesd to the goal of ambi-
tion. In the lar moments of expiring sriGo-
cracy, one had been sppointed miniher OF war;
a. Il
Both had declined their appointments. not bs-
eaufe they were hottie to Office, bot beesofc
they knew they could not retain then, and be-
caufe they knew that if accepted, they would
only be the vain pageant, of day, and objects
of national derifon isaead Of rsfPeef.
Who could expect wildom or forbesrance
from the councils Of fuch men, thus fwaysd by
perfonsl feeling } One of whom, demonstrating
the attendance Of pesional patton over political
principle, TO vindicstc bis taraiihed fame had
violated the laws Of lis country in perfonal CON-
bat and the oihrr Of whom had welded the
cudPa, in the prefcpce of the Representatives
of the people, agana an old man VINO had ex-
cited his ire.
have been thus minute in my reference TO
thcis two men, bccaufe they form the mighty
on which all the efforts Of the op-
potion ret. There are facilities but they
ihlre with borrowed and feeble light; here
you hnd one man who talks Greek without NO.
deIaaodiog IL ; and there you behold another,
Whole mesfure of intellea is 70 fmsli tha, his
vote is lure to b.lie his fpeeches. What am
bitioa prompts, man viii purfoe. II is the
character Of this sfcsodan palIi on to behold ~ith
unconcern the cosvplGon, Of empire, 70 lobgH
lhofc conyulGons minifer TO ito qualification.
Subjsgsted by this patton, and aung with dif-
,opointnent, is il furprifng that theie men, ex-
claiming ",hs world is made for Cxisr'--de-
to aet ike Csiar.
Like bin, in bis Gioation and with hi,
views, they have a6.ed. From the hra day Of
the feiIion 10 the lsa, they have usdueed the
Of the PreGdent, they have revihd
sis councillors, they have treated with con-