Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-09-27
the principle. Of which the ,osit is cxpnfIive.

the principles Of which the toaf is cxpreifive.
Let us now try the foundneis OF thofc pfin-
cipics, by applying them 10 another cafe. Let
us figure to ourfelses criminal. legally convict
ed OF fomc offence againR the hws Of his coun-
try, called on by the Judge before whom he had
been tried, TO thew caute why judgment fhould
not be awarded sgainh him. now II the prin.
eiples Of which the above mentioned toaA Is ex.
preiive, were admitted 90 be correct. the crimi.
nal would always be prepared TO nov /sD5esxt
cauie, WHY judgment fhouId not be awarded
sgziuA him. He would only have to FAY, /" do
not award Judgment againif ne, but againa thofs
wicked principles which fpurfed me on ia per-
retra,e the crime of which Rand convicted"
IL the punifhment annexed TO his offence were
fine. he would lay '' smercc NOT me, but that
particular vice which begat the cfime for which
/ am condemned )" If imprisonment, g. pray do
not refrain me OF my liberty. but the depravity
of my nature which occaGoned me to en;"
If Aaggellation, " for heavens fake 90 not
chsisiie me. bur my vicious incliuations which
urged me on 60 commit the finiul and uu-
lawful stt OF which l am found guity !" if
death, 's O! merciiul heavens! never hang ne
pray take the defpers,e wickedncis Of my heart
~hich led me into this fad pickle. and lee me 90,
il you will but fet me at liberty and that you
are bound TO do both by law and confidence
for certainly nothing can be more unjuf and
oppreiIiyc. than that / fhould be thus risoropny
dealt with, and pot in jeopardy OF my life, tor
no other fault than that Of 70 far yielding TO the
humanity of my nstuse. as to become bail fcs the
appearance of nv paAions and feniimcnts e.
pecially as am here ready TO furreader them
up az the law diretts."' ~ 49,,
Thus II appears that If the above mentioned
principles were admitted to be orthodox, the
criminal would At no time be unprovidcd With
.unanfwcrablc feaions, Why the ientcrcc Of the
law Mould not be pai{ed agzinfl him and there
4 by al refponGbility which has heretofore been
attached to our conduct, would by one grand
ftroke be entirely ftpafsted from il. and conls-
quently all moral. religious and political fyf-
tems, laid level with the ground. But pray, for
what feafon are principles TO be eAablifhcd, which
TEND to the Immediate deRsueaior Of thofe main
pillars of our fatety and happinefs Why to be-
fuIe, to prevent Thar difgrace from attaching 10
the late conduit of Alexander Hamilton, which
could nor otherwife be avoided. "A very cogent
fcaion indeed A mot deErable objeta muA
confeis and trucly worthy of the attention of
every good and 6ncere fedefslia. To entirely
defroy the foundation Of every good principle,
can never prove half 70 pernicious 10 America,
as the delivering over TO the chaody OF jasire,
the character and rcpstatior of Gen. Hamilton.
This is evidently the fenfe aod meaning OF the
tosf, and Of the general language Of tho fedora.
l;fts upon that fubjcet For they fay impIiedly,
that the conduct Of Gen. Hamilton 10 fghiing
duel With Col. Burr, sas in itfelf sbominsbiy
wicked. aod ought to be executed by every
perion poGcGsd Of the lesa fpsrk Of religion OF
hopcRy and AZ the fame time fpesk another
kind Of language too plain 70 be mifcooAsued,
which tells us that the General wss not. binjsE
snfwerable for his conduit, but that all the blame
in this affair, ought to rcR upon the fhooIders
Of certain hair. Drained. diAipated. debauched.
and unprincipled young fellow, whom the Mo-
SILITr call bmsr. rf
But how vain and ufciefs il was, for the
{" Federal-Adelpbi" to attempt TO heap intamy
& difgface upon certain vice charatteiaic Of
Gen. Hamilton, and at the lame tine to endea.
vor TO drive wedge between his character, and
the diferaoc which will eternalIy adhere to his
vices. Il there either fenle or reafon in fpch an
endcavor Or does Il not rather diicover
mind full Of the gro1el partially and prejudice,
and entirely fubjettcd to the controui Of the
psfIions leave it 70 the candid and enIiehten-
ed TO determine thefe queAions. Bot before
quit this part Of the fubjea, think IL proper,o
notice another gIaring iocoofaency in the con-
duti of,hc fcdefslias, lof whom the sbovemen-
toned fociefy are part) with regard to the late
dvel, which proved 70 fatal to tie fubjed Of the
above mentioned tosR. Wbcnever they fpcak
Of Bs,,, they never fail TO losd HE name with
the moi dfesdfal curfes ever uttered by the
human tongoe, and TO cenfure bis conduit for
fafsring hinfelfs to be ecgaged in adoei, With all
. the zeveri,y ofexpsefion which they arc csps-
bic of uGng. Bot when Hssiksss name is
mentioned, they always Raod ready with kind
OF magic slDputating knife, TO kver from hs
memory st one ffcat.hezrted sod folder. fke
flroke, al the iossmy and difgrsce which might
light upon IL. on account Of he conded, in mad
ly confeofing 20 murdescus interview with one
Of his fellow citizens. Thefe may emphsncaIy
be ailcd wssk devices, 10 icseeo from peblic
view the defosmcd part Of the chssaftes Of Gen.
Hsmilton. They arc indeed too weak, in my
hambs Opinion, to pfodsce il the fnsilea de-