Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-10-25

Thefe are the talents, and thefe the ferv.
ices which recommended and juftihed the eleva
,ion of Gsllaiin.
With the public career of General Dra,-
bern, we do not pIofefs to be intimately &C.
qysinted. Weknow, however, that he was q
YARN and efficient advocate of the revolution
that during the whole Of lis viciflitudes, he wa,
actively engaged io the councils or the armies o.
bis country; and that he invariably fuAsinet
the character OF a brave and able officer. Fol
feyersl years previou, TO the Proficiency OF MIR.
Jefcrlon, he was member Of the Hoafe of Re-
prefentatives; in which he took difinguiihcd
lead in all the military arrangements. He hs
been. without intermifion, the decided Whig. The
firm republican, and the frenuous sdveIisiy oi
all invaGons Of liberty. PofeHed Of ipitt,
thar diidans to yield to circumfances, he never
wsveTed in his political faith even in the days oi
the gfeateR infstuation. Bot his manlines wa,
tempered with a moderation thar, while il az
ierted its own rights, Ieit unditsrbed the right,
of Others. Quick in his perceptions, and
prompt in his dechons, he had been long con-
Gdered as the man OF bu6uels. and, Of COME
qucpce, 20 far eminently qualified for the dii-
charge of duties not admitting OF delay.
The appointment Of the head Of the navy
department produced comfortable diff Guilty. Ii
was fucceIively ofeSed TO three citizens feipeet-
ed for their talents Whole declendon evioced
the diGnereAednefs of their pa,Iiotlm. RoL0i
81 ab was a, length named.
This CITIZEN had diftiuguihed himfclf by
his talents as a lawyer and ieglaior. In the
city OF Baltimore, The feat OF our great commerce
and wealth, he had early gained an equal emin-
ence with any member OF the bar, and had by
the reputation OF talent and integrity, raiied
himfef ABOVE the trowns Of fortune. Noiwith.
Handing, however, The iaborioSs duties of his
protection, he had, for feveral years, accepted a
feat in the leg iAature of Maryland. Durng ,he
greater part OF this period, he wa, in the minor
ity, and although the period was marked with
mutual violence on The Gde of the dominant par
ty. he mauifcaed dignity and moderation that
earned the eheem even OF hn opponents. It is
true, that this moderation was fhielde1 by ipi-
Iit, and that while he icrupuloully Tefpeeted the
feelings of Others, he compelled Others to refpeet
his own. No man, perhaps, had more power.
fal agency in accomplishing the revolution in
public opinion which took place about the pc.
riot Of The Pre6denia election. To powers Of
mind highly cultivated by ttudy, he added hab.
its OF The cloieit application, with which he unit
cd manners of the gres,ef urbanity and polite.
nels.
Levi Lircsis, citizen of MsGachuf.its. was
appointed Attorney General. This gentleman
had jua received an evidence of the confidence OF
hniellow citizens by an election as their Repre-
tentative in Congreis. The Mort period. during
which he held his feat, had NOT admitted Of a
developcment ofhis talents. But he entered that
body with the reputation of eminent talents.
The competence acquired by his legal labors,
proved the eRimation in which they were held in
a Rate diitingsifhcd by an eminent bar. With
out invidious compaIifop, he had Good a.
long fide,of Partcns and a Sullivan. Thief
qualifications for the fra legal officer Of the gov
eminent were crowned by manners the mott finn
pie, and difpolton the mildcR that ever fell
TO the LOT of man. The fpirit of liberty and re-
form often infpires the heart with auftcr,iy; in
the heart OF this man the pureR philsnthrophy
was mingled with the fSeeteft amcniiy.
Such was the administration. which the
Chief Magilra,e formed AZ the depo6tary OF his
confidence, and az worthy togUide the great de-
partmcnts of the Republic. On late occs6on
Mr.. Nicholfon. on the Aoor OF the Houic of
Repeientatives, has pronounced this the Ryoyge4
adniuI!,aiioa in fbe zuOyH. How far this is the
award OF truth thc review Of the proceedings
of the government, which we are about 70 COM
mencc will fhew.
Il is fulicicnt, for our prefent purpofc. to
na'- ikstched the characters and prominent ierv-
ices OF n', members Of the cabinet when they
came INTO oihsS.> By this inadequate dclinea-
t,on, it@'li appear "s. the motives which guided
the Prefdent. in The feees,ou. were pure, patri-
otto and enlightened. There is not better
criterion of true greatness. than the destination
by the chief executive magarare of the high uai-
GERS of fate and when thcfe oihc;n neceiTs,ily
become his confidential friends, scccfibe TO him
at MI time, and on all occaGons, and thus be.
come ohicrvers of his frailties ss well rs his ac-
compli(hmenu, the oidea! become, fill more de-
ciGve. II he appoint men of looie morals, his
own vntdes become Questionable; and If he ap-
point men of feeble minds, it may be permitted
70 doubt his talents or patrioiim talents which