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

Ia LEWIS r. MORRIS, EFq.

SIR,
MO individual In this coenirp can i,ng re-
IN retain his popularity, who opeoly acts
in contemptto the Laws OF the community, aud
who retuies TO pay iome ieipett to the mannen
OF the people and 60 their habit, oi thinking.
He may tor time perhaps impoie upon their
understandings but the emiaence which he has
acquired by deception, mutt hok. whenever
the caaies which propoied il, have ceaied 10
operate. a nlsn even OF fupeIior intelligence.
who does uos govern his conduct by the ,ules
Of commoo Iociety, and who defpiies the pre-
judices OF thoic on whom his elevation depcnd.,
is not fcecre ssainh tail !; much leis Sir, can
ne be iecute, who has no talents TO command
our reipett, who has done no feIvices 20 claim
our gra,iude, and who has no qualifications To
eniirle him 10 our afaeiinn. here may he Ia
itsnces TO the contrary, 5at they sxit in coun-
tries where ,he freedom OF opinion Is controlled
by the bsyonet, or the fpir,t of venslity has
wirheed the principle Of Independence. Per-
hsss you may conceive thar your own cafe
forms an exception in is6 county. You nay
think that your conhnucnts are q good eafy
natured men," who will iubinii 10 be Iepreient-
ed by one Who neither Iegs,ds their lava, n2r
treats with decency their icntimenu 81 motahy.
Bat, Sir, they are men, who poiiels the ictings
and lpiriy oi nen. who viii ROT tufct YOU nor
any other character, TO dcipifc ,hsis ppinioni,
nor treat with indignity their habits Of pfppric-
ty. 1t you have not been. iRnorant, of stieIc
truths. has the pcrysriene6 Of jalc OF ot. your
own diipofiton, uniformly led lyop .in oppol-
tion TO their juiicei Yoo mu6 have known.
that the laws oi Vermont prohibi, any perfon,
from giving or receiving cnallenge, from Ala
ing or aaiaing in any inch uauiattion. under
the penalty o( disitanc hifement, hue ard impii-
ionment.i Yon moa slio have known, that
the correct mode of reaion,og on moial ilb-
stfs adopted by the refpceisble citizens Of thar
State, i has fofmed fuch aNbsbit OF avsriiou
sassinp Ahs aenfsel- g,cde OF fcrliag private Gif.
pdtclby dtnk sshass did no Law pfobitis IL, if
any peffon ihauld become q fecond in constft
OF that kind, il would be ivficienr forfeiture
Of his pretcntions 20 popular favor. Yet, Sir,
in difed contradiction TO the laws OF that STATE,
in contemp' Of the laudsblc habits OF its cigi-
sens, il iA faid your iublime notions Of honor,
carly led you to be iecond 10 duel, in WHICH
conipicu0us charaeler OF rhe lane State was
principal. The buiinefs was terminated wi,h-
oat bloodfhed add you were probably forgis-
en- this fra act ofindifcietiou on account of tie
inexpcrence OF youth, ora ioppoted prejudice
which a islie education might have made on
your fniad, and which tine would likely cor
rect. You have 6nce received ateltimony .of
the confidence OF yoor fellow. .citizens by an
election 20 icat in the Leeiliturc Of the u
nion.--Dodng the period you have continued
in that honorable h,ussion, 700 have had foil
opportunity cf Knowing with y hat delicscy pc-
pular opinions ought TO be tfeated. apd how
dangerous il is for a man, who gefs upon Il tor
his refpctisbility, TO tribe With the iea:ineps
Of his condiments. l allude TO our having
been fecond 20 Mr.. Chsnpl'n ina duel be-
tween him and MI. BayaId. You well rcmcm-
Der the coniequcnce; TOR you can never forget
that your election 10 the nexs Congreis was poe
in hazard by this event. Foftdnstely for you,
no oppoGng candidate had majority of votes
At the fra poll. Your friends were in confer
nation, they expected tibs your injadicious in-
reference in this fccond conflif, would be q
death wound TO your popularity. Bot their in-
genuity, and the eafy forgivirg temper Of your
condiments. iaved you from defeat. Before
the opening Of the fecond poll. an impreaion
vas iuduftriouAy made on the minds Of the
electors, that you became iecond ard friend
20 Mr.. Cbampfn, not for The pufpoie Of aiding
the duel, but with the charitable deGre Of pre-
venting the ofohon Of human blood. Champ
lin was repfeiented as raw and inexperienced IN >
the prattice Of duelliog, Bsyard as an adept in
the arr, and you as the humble and bent6cene
mediator beiween them. The fory had the
appearance of plauGbiliy your eonai,uens
believed il, and coniented that you fhould fill
be their Reprelsosssive But, Sir. ~ha, spoio-
~, what cxtenpa,ion can be made for the third
inasnce Of your agency 10 trsniaetion Of lmi-
lar kind The inszperience Of yonIh can no
longer hield you from eeofnfe the errors Of a
bad edocstion muf have beea s,sdieaied. hy
time and refcdion, unleis you pofeis difpo-
f,ion TO retain them. You cannot espeti thar
your bieads arc 10 ccm2ls,isn,,,ss 20 defend The
obeiosey your temper. 0, fo iosto The fen
timen,s Of vinpe. as TO junify every al of your
life which is oppofed TO proP'ie,y " eoodett.
snd,to the a,a principles cf cisIi iocie,y. IL
they arc. ia is dificrk TO rel where their sbors .
vilJ end far ths ffcQve.t iDhanses OF your