Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-11-27

caDfe Las opinions had not been much contfos
sened Armed, and defended by brszen
lheld Of clacical habilimens, which he always
itudied TO drplay. he talked unmoIeaed through
the helds Of literature and while his writings
we're approved tor rIengsh and coIreetneis of
|tyle, the many dark paHages, and Inc < plicabe
"a, iteres which attended them. we've overlooked
or foryoslen. 1hoie nyaeries the eagle eyed
'ot our country qs:ekly unde,aood. They read
in them mis- oyer,ures TO ROYALTY, and they EN-.
'braced him as ibei, man. Thus advancing IN
der cover he gained. tor ,ime. the pionsce Of
power. Locking TO thoie who he iuppoied
united the powers of the na,icn, he deemed il
enough for the ref. that is the Z" limplemen"
'or " fsinilh multitude" to conciliaic their
voice', by what they could not underaand /;
hoping they would yield theiE confidence With
out the pains OF inquiry.
IL Is Of mstesisl confequence that THE idea
be fully explained becaule IL is invariably the
poin, OF departure from an honea, and laudsb.e
policy which departure has been made in
moa maferly manner by the character now un-
der confederation.
In the tine of the Revolution there is no
doubt bur that he harmonized with the bef oi
our patriots TO effect ous feparstion from the
mother Country. Ia this glorions, and immor
tai work all hearts, and all hands were united.
however different might be the objee. and de-
dgn OF their lsbors. AT the eiofe cf the war by
which uur independence vas eitlbliibcd, thoir
who duriog its continuance bad not been aCioai
ed by principle, marked out their plans Of indi.
vidual advantage. and private aggrapdirfnen,.
Their conceptions wee, that they had iecured
the popular 6de, and bad only TO look TOR the
- oh h., -
civil Liberty As viodics'ed ty the revolution. and
who had Ietted The arrogant domioa,ions ex-
ercifed by the croSn and parliament of Britain.
from no other motive than TO fhare lhc fame
Claim OF domination among themielves. Hence
the eitaoliihment OF the society Of Cmemsah,
which was iinilar "a the prefent L.giou Of basoy
eRabl ihed in France. From fuch indications,
men like Mr.. Adams took the hint. His
calculations were. that be pse;ie, di(pofed to
qlietude, were inc)ioed 10 riignaiion /; and thar
the turbulent. uapr.ncipled, x ambitious, would
carry the lead, and tfiet their deGre of reduc-
ing the government TO fource OF emolumen,
10 themi,!ses and their defendants. Thcfe
views were the political gear by which their
partizans were known; and he who could man.
ifeA tbern to the fatislaetion of the honorary
legion, and At the fame time unbeknown TO, and
free from ths;iafpicion Of the people. was the bet
ter politician. Hence thofe R,etches of ingenu-
ity which fhine with Inc fable, and unmesning
luare, IN the pages Of Mr.. Adams, at which
common feufe tands aaonihcd and amazed.
Bot the fratasem took, aud (ucceeded for
a while. The mouth of labor was deprived of
the bread il had earned /: The fubAancc OF the
hufbsndman, ,bcdewcd with the fweat Of his brow,
went to fatten, aud garnilh the diicipIes OF the
times.
At the noon-tide pfedominance Of thefe
meaforcs, Mr.. Adams food at the helm. Their
wi!dom. and utility we're then by many, and
aill are by fome, defended with, franiic zeal.
They were, 10 terms Of wild enthuiisim, pro
clsimei As the key of our national pr0iperi,y
Bot their operation upon the Citizen who toied
in retirement, announced a contrary effect. His
jc,loufy was excited his vigilance fimulated
he diicsrned the eoormities that were prat,iced.
and with an intrepi lily not l-(s than that which
forced the ftrong graip of BIiriih bondage, let
bis fhculdcr TO the wheel Of reformation. Ii
was effected. Thus there are two par,ie, al
iGue each condemnirg, vilifyirg. & reproach-
ing the other.
Are We forever TO contiia in war Of opin-
ION Is there TO be no end to bickering, and
UIuC arc nOt TIC HnpiciNcns as IMt. "a
dams has denominated them, who comprife the
great body Of the good people of rhis nation,
ever to fad repoic united with fafety Are they
to enjoy the liberty for which they iacriiced
their blood, and their treafure or NUT they
be diaurbed, and ditTefIed. by the continual
clangor Of mere verbal, and faeiitious sterca
tion. until they content to give 90 all claim to
opinion. and fen'inent, and yield their bodies
as inaruments of burthen, to the poTpoEe, Of
thofe who srroea,c to themfclvcs all tzl:nss, all
learning, and all wifdom!
'rh. quefions are, was the adminiaratioo
Of John Adams prudent, jodicious. aud caical-
a,e1 to infure the happiaef,, and profperity Of
the States Was he qusIi6ed and difpoted to
execute the duties of a Preidcnt, with ability,
and faithfulnes. agreeably to the elementary
principles ianetoncd hY the Contribution Ii
he was--if the m,afureSof his adminiii ration
were good, the Republicans are in fault. II
thaie meafures were not good much more. If
they were pernicious. Republicans are joai6ed,
and their exertions muR be approved in the fight
of heaven. They have been, becaufe they have
been crowned with fuccefs.
Z But argum-nt, though drawn from the
moa authentic fources, and handed forth in the
clearneE of dcmonarstiou. will NOT do. There
is no end to reafonins: None arc 70 blind as