Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1802-10-16
Fos rnl RHoDE.fsLAND REPUBLICAN.
sEvENTY-FIvE--No. VII.

Can ellie inaiet, do they repent, OF change"
Parable Left.
HE forged Letters Of John Rxfledgs TO the
4 Prcfident OF the United States, have for
comfortable time engroGed the auenrion of the
public aud certainly no uanfaeiisn can with
more jnitice, and propriety claim that attention
fof, As The ehablihmcnt of tree government
has ever been the principal concern of virtu-
Gus, and an enlightened people; TO-, TO preleryc
that government. when eftablilhed, from abule
and 10 defend il from the aTaults of les enemies,
IS alike their bounden duty. their fra, and
waraca dciire. Fortunate for the well being of
America rhele propeaGies have ever exiard,
and fill exit in the breafs of her citizens.
Private intcrea has ever been ,hrua Aide in or
der TO more righteous deci6op upon quefions
OF general utility, and the public good. What
have Americans Rroggied for during long and
afduous Conflict with foreign, and formidable
power. which itroye TO rivet the chsins OF inbu-
gatioo upon US, but the freedom, and the puri-
ty OF their government ! For what have the
venerable fires OF our country toiIcd in the cab
met For what have the hardy, and intrepid
/" S0xs Of Libryy" foaained the (hvck Of bat
ties, and endured the field of war, drenched and
crimfcncd round with the blood Of kindred, bat
TO fccure to themielves and their pofterity the
blefhngs OF fuch a government How iacred
the charge. then. to keep it inviola,e Our ar
mics have fought in vain Our Patriots have
Gghed, and fufered to litle pvrpofe, If we do
not watch the golden fruit of their itudies and
their Victories, aud lheId it by vigilance, as
well from the lurking potion of the csnker,. ,.as
from the more overt, rude and chilling blaR.
/ AS no reetitude of conduit can iecure to
an individual uniyerfal friendihp ard affection,
or protect him from the wonder working pow
es OF a'uhce 10, not the wifdopn, and virtue
OF angels would preicrye an administration from
hm'lss siisulrs. No form OF government, IN
any country, could ever boat ii. There are al
ways exiting, cxaipcrated partizans, who. un-
der particular arrangement, & certain order Of
things, have painted 10 their imaginarons. parti-
cular advantages, and executive benefits, WI hich
they had hoped TO enjoy bur whioh,b The pre-
pondersoce Of different meafure, they have been
declared from, and deprived of. Hence they are
disappointed, and that diiappointment fuddenly
changes inro rfentmcnt, into malice, and into
crime. Thefc ditpoGtions--thcf ebara6sy--
under fuch circumaanccs. ARE peculiarly Danger
ous to iociety. They aie dangerous not mere
ly in proportion to the criminality that Turks
within them but to The elevation, and talents
they claim and the fpecious fplendor that fur
rounds them; becsuie ,heie appcndages give
them wider opening, and faiIer opportunity
of thrufing the Poignsvd Of their de6gn, and
resching the vitas OF the /oriai eompa4. The com
mon borgar, who,in the dead Of night ,aeals to
private apartment, and with the implements OF
death in his hand. 6lche, the property OF the
laundering tenant, may plead his title to con-
PATTON, and hang lsmented on a .gallows But
the far more exalted and eternal villain, Who
dsies, and daring attempts to begue the frR
Executive OF a nation, & iteals the name Of an
" unoffendpg individual" to accomplilh bis 10.
fernal projcet ,defcrvcs the bttcreit execratou,
ard ievertf pun;fhment that can be inflicted by
bis injured county," The former may de.roy
the life of citizen hut this, it is not his pur-
pole to do, unleis he is threatened with detec-
tion. 1t is the original defign Of the other, by
throwing the political machine into diiorder,
and condemnation, by exciting inteitine war,
and civil comwction, to compass the dtfroetion
Of millions. Az fuch fcene-a fcene Of CEN
eral conyulhon and diimay. brought about by
his own brooding attiice, and wickedneis, his
fable foul would exolt in raptures, and triumph
upon the miferies Of people.
Since the publication of Ruiledgc's forged
Letters, and the evidence that has come out,
tending TO fix the charge OF their forgery upon
him and fncc what appeared in the lsa New
port Mercury, onder the Newport head We
ihall not ak pardon for applying the preceding
oblervations directly, and without rcierve, to
hat exalted. and iIufrious character. Ii is
true, fome perion, probably as notable a. him.
felf, has in the laA Mercury undertaken his vim
dication. But however this able foiicitor may
folace himfelf in the idea Of pecuniary re.
ward, or the private fricnd(hip Of the gentleman
whole cauie he has efpoufed. he will find even
tually thar il is in. his power to render him but
little fervice. His bungling, and frothy at
,empts to raiie. and refcue the culprit, all tend
to fink him Gill deeper, and deeper. in the depth
Of infamy to which he is inevitably doomed.
What has this renowned champion of honor and
honcay, virtue and excellence, faid to exculpate
Rutledge from the charge exhibited againla him
Has he uttered one fyllable which tends to do
away or lefen the load Of evidence which lays
like MATS Of lead upon bis fhonldeui Or does
no exped by his fpouting rant, and high toned
defamation, to benumb the faculties of mankind,
and. amid the tumult Of skeRJ fcene. which
no one Is better qualified to create than himfelf.
to bear off Rutiedgc from the tremendous wreck
-.