Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-01-09
Fran fbe Bosros CHRONICLE.

THE fpirit of faction mua be drained TO
the very drees, when there is nothing to be faid
againR fhc Preident bur thar his communica-
tion to Congreis has been in the form OF a msf-
Jage, rather than in thar Of fpeech. Does our
Contribution recognize fpeech as thing ne
ceHary or proper TO be made by the firt Ma
CITRATE 10 the Suprewe Leginsture OF the ma
tion Let the people be made TO undertand
this matter.
In the third fetaion and eleventh article OF
that Contribution, il is declared TO be the duty
of the Prelident " from time to time to give TO
Congrefs informatios of the fate Of the Union,
& TO recommend fuch mealures as he fhall judge
necciIsry and expcdient for their confederation"
To be fure, he may appear perfonally, and may
make fpcech. II he has an inhdious dehgn to
pledge the Leginature. by premature opinion,
on iubjeet not properly before them, he may take
an unfair advantage OF the fpirit of accommo-
dation too apt to be difplayed on fuch occaions,
and may acquire an undue influence by this po-
litcal itratagem. This is almot invariably done
under the government of England; and IN.
doubtedly would be very agreeable here, to ihofe
few who would with TO aiimils,e the admniRra-
zion of our public concernes to that corrupt
ftaodard. But the Convention who made the
Federal Confitution, never contemplated iuch
a meafure. 1t is indeed neither eyprched nor
implied as the proper mode OF making the ne
cciary communications, which the Supreme
Executive is directed to make for il 10 merely
faid that he hall make thefe communications
from time to time, but the manner is clearly lett
to hi, dilcretion.
Before MIR. Jeferfon is cenfured for this
ufeful innovation, would il not be well TO make
it certain tina, the former practice was more a.
grceab.e to the fprir and deGgn Of ,hst inftru-
ment under which he is acting Let the rcpub-
licans rccollea the ware of time and trcafure,
and the temper that has marked the former pro-
ceedings OF Congreis on the!c occaGons. Every
lawyer of eminence had a fpeech to make upon
iome ahRraet quefion. which cpf the commu-
nifty about A ihouiad dollars an hour. A moa
elegant fpcech, of three hours in length, wcuid
of coune come TO 5000 dollan-ior which
they had no other fats!aet;on than TO read in the
Ccntinel that the honorable Filher Ames, or the
hon. Roger Grfwold was upon his legs, on the
reply to the PrcGdents ipecch, three hours; and
made a mott fublime Although Lord
good ipcech, which lated one hour.
Thu, Congrefs has been turned into fort
of Robinhood fociety, where they have been all
fpcakers and no hearers and "good fetlion"
has lated almoa the whole Of the year. 1t has
been, no doubt, aa,,ering TO the executive to
have this deliberative aiIenbly pledged, indivi-
dua'ly, to the fupport Of certain meafures, in
their proper functions. by fudden impulfe af-
ter tedious aud irritating debate. The whole
Houie was then obliged to travel, wet or dry,
warm or sold, to pay their refpeas at the fhrine
Of power or the delinquents were to be libel
led in the public newspapers as oppoiers Of the
government.
In this way things have been: but il is
infinitely better to have them as they now are.
And il the great end Of government is to exc.
cute the duties aligned BY the Couiiitution to
the ieveral Departments, il muft be evident that
the communication by meiIage from time to
time, is far preferable to the former mode, which
ferved no other purpote than to extort precipi.
tate opinions, when the utmoh deIiberation was
requihte to eniure Q wife and temperate de.
ciGon.
After al, OF what confequence is Il whether
II be fpcech or mefTage; hnce the late COM
munication OF our beloved Prcddent is the moa
inarutsive and enlightened sddrefs, which has
ever been made by the Firf Msgiftase to the
Soprene Legislature, 10 any age or country.