Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-02-05

elerdinx has fN1ibffed oupohtfon winch
coutemos the reafsint OF coIDmoa ruies. AMI de-
Ighn in an oppohton to the common prioci-
plea of jufi,ce. The plauGble. the inldious
ples made by your friends for your ilI-judged
Interference 10 the affair between Chanpiin and
Bsyard. can no longer avail you. Will they
tell the world that yoo were attusted by hu-
sanity, when you travelled with Mr.. Rutlejge
m,re than forty miles in pudoit oi M.
Eliery, for the purpofe Of bringing about duel
between them when the Office OF reconcilia-
tion, il that was the objeet. could have been
better executed without hirring from Walhing
ton ? Will they fay it was humane. or even
that it was honorable, for you TO become an
agent in promoting duel between perfons who
could NOT meet on equal ground; for it 10 we'll
known that Mr.. FL ery's eye fight is naturally
fo detective that he cannot fee diRinAly with
out the ufe of glaaes, and th,t he has never been
10 the habit OF fhooting with piitos or fencing
with the fword, while it is equally well know
that his antagonia lsbored under none ot 'heie
Disadvantages. You could not expect, SIR.
when you prcfented Mr.. Ru'iedgc's challenge
20 Mr. Eiiery, ths, he would accept OF II an-
der thefe cecumtances. You could not expect
that Mr.. EIlery, un!cls you con6dcred him as
wicked and unprncipled as yourfelf, would do
an aet out OF the State of Rh ,de- Hand. which
was contrary to i,s laws. and repugnsnt 10 the
morality of its citizens. For ne, Sir. has lolnc
Sefpea TO the fenti nents OF his conaituents, q
does not think himfelf authorized 20 commit an
set when without the jurifdietion OF his State,
which, were he within il. might, according TO its
confequences, either fubjeet him to capital pun
ifl ment, or oblige him to ht upon the gaIlows
with halter abou. his neck. He is not capable
of rhc meanncfs Of doing an aet as ioon as ne gets
beyond the limits OF the State he has the honor
60 reprefcnt, which he dare not comnit under
the eye Of the laws fantiioned by his coneiro
cnts. and which they have enacted tor the go
vernment of their own conduit. But you, Sir,
may foppoic that oppo6tion TO popular opinion
is an evidence Of fpirit, and refutaI 60 tobTnlt
10 lhs vulgar rules of comman ptopiicty Is cha
ystferiltical Of independence. For on what
nshcs psiaciplc can we account for II thar You
coofented 10 he the bearer OF Mr.. Rutledge's
ehalicogc. yhen you knew, that had the act
hern com hni,ted in Verm )n,, IL NUT have de-
psivsd yos Of fhs rights q freeman; its being
docs oos at hss.jssiiditticn cannot alter its ma
sDsc --ios yous cOeRiuenu cannot be 10 duped
by yeas asei6ce o. not to perceive. nor 10 dcf-
tes,e Of ssae6iou az no, to know the tendency
Of h,u~viog YOU with their fufrages after this
sssafsteioe, Il wooid be TO hold oot bait to
sha violation oe her laws, and premium Tor
RE commifsou of licen'ioofne(s. What your
Sriends will fay in your publication. an at
Iofs 10 com lecture. You probably did not in
send 10 give them any trouble. nor that your
eletiion to thr mex, Congreis fhauld ref upon
their ingenuity 20 defeod your reputation. IL
was undoubtedly expected, that, before ,thc
AIRY reached Yer yoos ckcaion was tc-
cured, or that it would arrive too Iats TO make
an unfavorable iinprefIi,n upoa the electors.
For on no other principle than with to cheat
your copftitoen,s out OF ano,hes election before
the aff,ir was known. can we account tor II
that Mr.. Ru,ledse was delayed nearly fort
nigh, in calling upon Mr.. E!ery for fa,i,fsttion.
IT is NOT the im2ortance OF your owo private
character, which you care nothing about. that
IS imp,icased by the part you hive taken IN the
late misunderstanding between thefe gentlemen.
A. il refpcSi, your abilities do injury. or your
difpoGrion to d,good, IL is a matter OF no mo.
ncnt 20 the community, whether 700 ne com
PEELED 60 retire from. or whether 700 retain your
firua,ion in public life. IL is the feelings OF the
citizens Of Vermont which you have ininlted,
and their dignity which you have attempted 10
degrade, that can claim any attention 70 The ido-
ieft OF your interference in that sFir. They
ain have the opportunity. and ] hope they will
Auske ufs Of il. 70 enquire. whether man,
who pa,roniscs On appeal to the fword tor the
puspofs Of sedfefing private injuries, inaead OF
"a appeal 70 the laws of his country, be pro.
uo,cr Of good esdes. sod ht character to pre-
icrihe the roles OF civil conduit ), whether fuch
pesfon. though he knoss more about aobD
than about la~, and the PRINCIPLES Of jockey ihip
tl,ao the principles Of legiGation. be proper
dcpcktofy ot their confidence, and a character
Of faaicient refpeetablity for their rcprcfenta-
tive. CURTlUS.
.Jassay iotb. 1905.