Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-02-19
f,sn s5s lNste. .JssjtyJ i,Se artr;cas.
10 THE FRIENDS. =


I It has always been matter oflurprifs TO me
i howis ean,c than 70 many Of tie penple csl-
led Quaker in this aa,e were found on the ted
erai hoe. KnoSing AZ do that MI their piin-
ciples as fccicty are Republican. and that their
rules and dileip!inc are pci,stiy Democrs,ic., [
can attribute II to nothing but the continued
efforts of dsEgning men 60 n,inesd them by
INTERPRETATION and tl!iehood. ts
3 They arc called F,iexds. from their pacific
and hoipi,ablc diipoiision. They bear ,eallnony
againh all ~a's snd heh,ings, even ,boie winch
people Of Other periuadons shink jue and oecef-
iafy. They are ftriv'ng 10 haieo the period of
univeriai peace, when iwords ihsli ne beat INFO
ploughihares and frcars into proning hooks
. when the lion thall lie down with the lamb. apd
esefy one repoie under his own vine and under
his own fstree. and have none to mole0 or make
him straid.---How thea can Friends, conhitcnt
with this love OF peace. which conaisu,cs the
excellence of their iociety, applaud the admin
, iitration Of Iohn Adams, Who did al ~ his
power 60 involve our nation In a war with Frame
--who raifed an army, created navy, and went
10 far as 20 declare that Z" the hnger o. Heaven
pointed tolwar - And how can they oppose ihc
sdminiarssionof Thomas Te!ftrfon, Whole mot
tos is" peace and honcR fiirbdship with ALMA
tions O. -ll ea.r.1I. thNg afi
Friends are generally economical and IN
I duhrioos. How sheo can they approve rhc
administration OF John Adam,. whsn iuch qeap-
iitics oi public money were iquspdcnd away in
recruiting folder, and lramon to live ia idleuei,,
building v,ilels Of ~sr; io repairing iorifica-
tions, in erecting barracks, and maintaining an
army that not. and was not expected 10 toe
needed, that they were obliged 10 raifc rhe duties
on fugar, coffee, tea. &c. 90 lay new tax on
houics and land, on carriages, and auctions, and
20 borrow vail iums oi money D. How can 'i,cy
anarave of Mr.. Adsms' giving ciph, per cent.
interef for iereIaf aiBIoni % doHsfs. when M
dividuais were ar the fsmc time giving bur III
or feven per cent D. How can they apptove of
the debt OF the nation being continually cncresftd
| during the whole adminiitiation oi In Adams.
though our finances were in a mott .ilourihipg
condition i-lhe are qucifiphs, which f,iends
ooght ferouny TO ponder Upon, and not irGer
,hemfclvcs to be deceived by deigning perions.
They fhould reject ,cot that under The adminiafa-
| tion Of Thomas Iefferion immrnit Ietrcnchmens
| hsve been made in the public sxpeoces--.the
! whole internal taxes have been rsptaled--and n
law pafed for the redemption Of ihe ns,ion.l
debt. And folcmnly enquire Of themielvcs ~ a
Of one sno,her il il is right for them to oppcGe
an standardization that adopts fueh bsnshcisland
wife meafnIes lalf l3gtU lat ~ pt4
4, has been nyfcry Nth me too, that
Friends ihould bc enenirs of Thomas ]tffcrfsu.
BE is pcsccab'c man IN principle aud prsttice
his morals are pure, and his manners and
drels GmpIs and plain. He has no pride or
onentation about him---and 10 ffibc and sfrc.
tionstc to all, rich ard poor.--.Ilc is the man
who drew aod obrsined tho psGsgc Of lawiin
shc kgiAafurc Of Virginia, for the eAablifhmcne
OF Religious Ffccdom, by which Frends WIRE
ihiedcd from the pcriecu,ion thar they had 10
long unjnfiy fnfcred.- is an avowcd enemy
20 African Slavery. and has always done alliin
his power 20 amel,osxse rhc condition Of Slave'.
In fhoft, Thomas Jefcrion's principles ard
manners are 70 confident with thofe of Friends,
and his conduit has always been 70 favorable 10
them, thar fhoud have thought he would
have had the unanimous iupporf Of their fociesy.
Why he has NOT received their fpppor, can
not conceive, unlcfs the napder and sbufc he
has fuAained from ppprincipled men, caofed
them to think him al bad man. Ifiney do think
bin 70, can only hope they may be pndcceived.
as On eminent public Friend wa', uho had al
ways ihooeht very unfavorably Of him, bnt
lately felt hiphlf moyed TO GO and fee Thomas
]cfferfcn at Wilmington, and when he came
there was 70 charmed with the honea fimplicify
of his manners and conyerfs,ion, the pis,nncis
of his appearance, and the humility OF his dc-
pof,ment, that when he cxme away he took
every occaGon to acknowledge he bad been de-
ecived in the man, and to icaify in his behalf.
do believe that crest many who now think
him . had man. will be looner or later convinced.
like thi, public friend, that they were deceived
by lying ipiit
One ,hing more has often farprized me-
FfieDds bear tefimony sgainit Irrigation.
They decide their differences in an a'nieab!c
way, without the ME Of lawyers or msgIa,sre..
---How then does IL happen that they IN This
fate take part with the lawyer sgsipa their
own principle, and sgaintt the intereR Of the
people atlargef- ta
IknoS that Friends arc generally hoDeR
men and the BET. Of Citizens, and canso.have