Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-02-26

Friends look vell to it--conGder well what
you are doing. Don't ler party fprit lead you
afray from your principles. Don't be deceived
by uoprincipled men. Examine for yonrielves,
and walk in the path in which you ihsll be
guided by he light which i, within your breaas,
and which will conduct you Alright il you permit
il to fhine unclouded by prejudice and improper
views.-lf tyranny ihould ever be citabhihed
in this country, who would be its frft victims |!
Who would voracious Wolves feizc upon hfR,
but defencelefs iheep . Remember ,hat all other
perfuaGons fahd a better chance under a
IyIannicai government thsnyo do, becaale they
can defend themieyes, which your pacific pin.
ciples will not permit you TO do. Ii is there
fore more to your ioiefcf than TO the in,efett OF
any other people TO fupport and PIeierve the
free and peaceful government under which we
now happily live. And If this government Is
dearcyed by your acquieicing in the attempts OF
ambitious men to dehroy il, am alta lois 10
know how you will anfwcr for your conduct to
your own coniciences, to yoor Poaerity, or to
our bountiful Creator, who has conferred on US
70 many and peculiar bleiings.
Some Friends fay they don't Ike Thomas
JefFefion. becaufe he is Delft. don't know
wha, right people who profcis one belief, have
20 quenion the belief OF another. ! look upon
il that Thomas Jefferfon, aud every other man,
muit anfwer 20 his sll.wile Creator, and not 10
his irail fellow morals for his belief, be 1t what
il may. But how do FEiends know that Tho
mas Jefchon is Deia They have heard
fome body FAY 70, who probably knows nothing
about bis religious belief, aud iays 10 only TO
aniwer iome party purpoie. And will fnend'
condemn man without any proof of his goilt.
when hi, whole lie gives the lie 10 his accuieIi
The Scriptures Inform us, ga tree is known by
iis fruit" and that we are TO judge of men by
their works. If we adopt this bcred rule, and
ydefy ell the calumniators of the Preiident to
preicrbe better one, we (aa fld that 1homa'
leferion is a good Chnaian. He is conifant IN
his attendance upon wonhip. He il pure 10
his converfsrioD. u6ng no oahs or vain language.
he is plain ia his aPpaIel. and meek ahd mild
in his manners. His conduct is tigidly moral,
add be is puntfua! 70 his promiics aud engage
n1enu.--His benevolenee has been felt by many
OF his fellow creatures IN diitreS, and has foul
iecms TO embrace the whole human race as his
brcthren--as children of the fame great and
good Parent. He is never known 10 ipeak III
Of any periou, even Of his WORT encmies aod
every aet of his life feems TO be iquared by the
golden gofpel rule Of doing unto Others as he
would have them do unto hn.-I6 feel convinced.
that if Friends only knew his zeal character,
they would not have doubt OF his religious
principles, and woold love and support him
heartily for iuch Fruit as is above delcribed,
is not gathered from thorns and thiities.
] with Friends IN this State would fe, ieri-
ou1v about enquiting into political matters, and
Zee if they have not been grievouny deceived by
artful and unprincipled men. Friends have al
ways been in favor of religious federation and
civil liberty, and ] am iore in my own mind
tina, If they wete rightly informed they would
not be found aiding men who would If they had
b0t The power. drag to the fake all who differ
from them in religious opinions. and fix the te;-
,ers OF lavery on their fellow. w.ci,izens.
Il Frend 10 Republican G0vernmsni.