Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-08-23
Federal Recantation.

Our readers (fsysth Albany Regifer) have
all heard of Pay/sx SAMPsoN, late CO. editor OF
the Baiasee, one of the mott virulent of the
prints hottie to the prefent Naturalization OF
our national and State governments. This ,nso
has INDUCED himfeif in the WORT of calumny in
relation to the officers OF government, unretSain-
cd by the prccepts OF morality, or the injunc-
tions OF that religion of which he was the teach
cr and ought TO have recommended by tho purity
Of his life and convc,lstion. Many honef we'll
meaning men have no doubt bceo dupeG by his
writings, which have led them 70 oppole gov.
crnment eminently calculated TO promote the
happinefs of themie!ves and polterity. To fuch
we recommend ferrous perufaI OF the Ccrtif-
cate which we this day pobliih, and which, TO
avoid the jua penalties of attended law, he has
lately given to gentleman who bad been fire.
qucntly fubjeetcd to the lafh Of his unprincipled
cen(usc. With foinc this reeasiat.oa may pa(s
tor proof Of honeR candour, aud a regard tor
truth--but let it be recolletted. thar il wss not
voluntary offering at the ihrine Of juiice AMI
injured innocence, but extorted by the tear Of
puniihment jualy merited. snd generoufly with.
held. Ifa ienfc OF juaice had had the lear agea-
cy in producing il. il would have appeared long
fnce, without the agency OF coercivc meafures,
in the fame vehicle shroue h the medium OF which
the nander il 10 intended 10 invalidaie had been
circulated far and wide. Such, however, Is the
fpint which atiustes the calumniators Of repub-
licans aud republieauifm generally they have
no repugnance TO lying as long as it can be done
with inpunity the noment they are caught
in the tolls of law and jufticc, they would fsin
plead vioirnet efpotian or fonc other sserfa! ir-
FIRMLY TO efcape the punifhncnt due to their
Crimes.
From fbe (HSI6r) Bsr.
LsR week the fupIemc court Of this State
held circoit Clavefack in this coontry. As
this Giiion. MeiI. Sampfon and Crofwell, we're
tried ior poblihine libeIs againR Ambrofe Spen-
GET. Efq. in the Balance, OF which they were
then joio, propIietor', 10 the fpring of sa year.
The proiccu,ion of Ms. SAmpfoo for publiihing
certain charges Rejecting Mr. Speace''s con-
dua 10 managing the fui, Of the people againit
Henry Ctofwell for libelling the PrGdent. was
6rft tried when MIR. Sampfon proved that the
publication was made aeainit his content, and by
Crof~eli at his own Iik-a faft which fhewed
the ab!ence of malice and va, urged in mitiga-
tion OF damsges. After the jury had been out
on the matter being compromised by the parties.
Henry Crofwcll was next tried on the fame
libel, and failing to prove HE charges. his ina.
hily TO pay fne was aicertained. and the ju-
~ diretied to bring in low damages. which they
aGeHed at izo dollars, and COTS.
A fuit agaioR Mr.. Sampion was to have
been bfo't on for Publ;fhns among other allega-
tions. the charge OF Mr.. Spencer's turning cut
Of Office an old man who had faved his fathers
lite, tor aiIer,ing which. T. p. Grofsenor, EGq.
had been fined at Albany. In this csuie Gov.
Clinton, the Hon. De Witt Clinton, Efq. ard
feyeral other gentlemen attended as witneG.s,
but were not examined as Mr.. Spencer Who had
not commenced thefe suiu from pecuniary mo-
tiyes, Withdrew the action, upon Mr.. Sampfon's
paying all the charges which had accrued. and a
ium 20 Mr.. Spencer's council, and giving the
following apology -
CERTIFICATE.
4" Hsvirg fHbiy5ed m ,be Belaso ,5,~
rsn6s'srsdf, ny EsnsiSre, adl,agsd TO 6nSssts
Spencer, En-. apbsnn Bis ebarad.r 10 materially
inSs4e6cd -aud bsisg so,v Jaf,f,i i5a, i6s fad
ebs,s0 s0bieb are fss yJsbj,S sfs /sa rsw de-
.sssdixs, are s.fssrdsS-ssp,,f nv /fs~,s ms,sf,
fbu ftsS fs5ifesnsg fs'A Piece, ft. yEa@s Sevirg