Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-10-20

..lf ItI .
| opponents were obliged to yeild in fleece, on
ly hoping for change by the means o, an as-
my, moIc favorable to their views. His the
toric ws nor torrent OF 6gurstive hasusye,
but an inpn five. fedate Rnsin OF sesflnifg,
which could never fail 90 awaken the iatcreA
ed or TO convince the unpreiudiced hearer.
hi, pen was no lefs powerful han his ,oorte.
A mind, we'll aocked wiz, the ien,iments Of q
Sidney. Luke. and other great msn, Who had
con'ended againa m,oarchicaI. snd ecc!efafics;
tyranny with an edacstion. which had eivea
II the entire poisili OF al the ,p,incipai iyt.
tens and ahuies OF the aotient Giecian, aod
Roman repub!ics. AZ we'll AZ OF the d.fposiius
OF the ~o'ld, was capable Of carrying conyc-
ton To the hearts OF all an, had not been bsi
bed againR their own freedom, or who had
not iuasred themftlves to be betrayed by The al.
lu'emenu of avasice aud ambition, or by the
impreihon Of fear.
A memorable period of Mr.. Adarns' life.
was that, IN which the Bnrifh minilry profc,i.
bid him snd Mr.. Hancock. A pardon vas
freely oGe'ed TO all ii the oppofision excepting
John Hancock. and Samuel Adams. luAly
deemne thii, al the token Of defpair. in a de-
ceived and weak sdmniara,ion. he held tho
meaiure In contempt, and continued his exer-
tioni TO prepare hn country for tho isa ard
mott fo'emn appeal, which he faw near a, hand.
In the year 1916. he was. before had
been. aad long after continued TO be m inau-
ential member Of the Congre(s. With Fank-
lin, John Adams. John Hancock, T'h,ma. Irf-
ferion and other great meo. he formed. snd
hgned the att. which gave the United STATES a
handing with the nations Of the earth. on The
floor OF independent fove,eipny. cpr', w
There was yet fcene 10 tc raiyed lh,oush.
which was intended by the good peaiu, Yof
America. TO exhibit the .richen beauties Of the
tree oi liberty. 9taf f.aiifa n ~
~ The declaration Of indedendsnce was ex-
peeled bot by a few new in idea 20 vre.t
many. and conGdered by nur,ters In every liMe.
ass rain and daring meaicse. The Ane,icsn
army was ihen poorly fed. badly armed. se,ch.
ed'y closthed, anil mifefsbiy PAID. The p,cc,
cafrcncy. our only reioofce, was in 4 ,as;d ac-
p,cc'ason. and there appeared % be nothing
ellie 70 depecd on, but the mseuanini,y OF The
people. and the gbodref, OF ,heir csufe.
AZ this cdis. Lord Howe, Lord Cari1..
and Mr. Eden, landed ~ commifG,nen trom
the h'ng OF England, with Offers Of peace and
IeconeiIisuon. They were furvounde,i bv a
well commanded. and well dfciplined army.
iaPPoned oy anomerous arct. and filed with
the anticipation Of conquees over the +. arr
,t5sf WsSisgfsr." and that IS srSue,o., bxud er
st4,fen ea!hd ne Csse,s6."
Bur gsnefal pardon vas Offered, .wi,bout
an exception OF even Hasesek and AaUu,
he Congfeh, with dignity well worthy Of
the rulers ot an Older. aud more powerful ma
t'on, Delegated TO DR.. Fssnklio, lohn Adam
ana John Roilcdge, the sntho,ty OF a conte-
renee with the Engliih ConmiEicnen. With,
the camp OF the invading, and ffem;ugly ire.
hhinle army. The Delegates Of Corcni, lia.
ened 10 the overtuses of the Royal comm;l;,n-
en while they scsioned upon the o,csii,,v o. a
secefion from the ground Of Independence
and then grayey replied, sccordo2 10 their in
hrottioos, that the United State, had become an
independent nation, that they had no voice bar
that OF IN independent fovereign power. and
there cosid be no hpcuiiion OF sny propo6,;on.
which did not ackNo. ledge the indcpendence of
the nrricsn nation 1hofe i.Hrse,ion, .ere
ihued onthe motion of Samuel Adams. a, the
me irbeIs there have Altered.
Az tina important moment, Gen. Wsfh-
ington vas fetnsting before the RnRl,fh army.
in every part Of the country /: And Conerefs .ss
obliged to fly from Philadelphia, and hd
place, ~ here, out Of the reach OF the Britjh army.
they could mature rheir couoisls, and ;Gue their
otders. Under ,hefe exigencies, Mr.. Adam,
appes'ed cheerful and uadIfma,cd. No cloud
was fpread over bis coeniensnce With cafe and
hrmheh he committed bic pctfon,l fate to the
fame bsIque, 'y..efe the ,iberiy aud deainy of
his conniry were corhied.
The State Of MsGachuietts. wss then con.
6dcKd az the mea eft Give and imporsn, S,ne
in The Union. TO keep the people here. frm.
and collected. under incuafpg and muItiplicd
mnfortsnes was IN Object Vi msanitude. To
tbi, Mr.. AJsms conltsntly, and sliduouily NJ.
tended. His letters expIsiasd the rcsfons sf
every retreat. and ,he cssies Of each defeat;
they snveiicd the hopes. and profpetss of the
county in fueh manner. that ihe fsiends os
Independence we're exceedingly multiplied BY his
exersion.
There Is. h5xeur. . circsmlancs. that
has been sfed - 50 objeaion to his chsfaSier,
which muA be noticed in this place.
While he .csutiou1y concealed the conrs-
rative weskne6 Of his country, and snriounr
fosshs for fofeiga alliance, be f-it Tie force Of