Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1805-12-05
FROM TAs ssoyisss.
rIHDlcMIoy OF Ms. JEFFERSON.
No. vi.


rioos chargcs, which you have brooght forward
aganR M. jeasrfon's cond'>tf during the re-
vo!uuon, with al that indignation and pity
which ignorance and prejudice 10 eminealy de-
fcrSe. AZ each hep OF my inveifigsucn. fad
the character OF the criminal n6ng upoa my
view, shiiIt the character Of his perircutor is
Tspi.iy defending below the horizon. You
hare undertaken TAX, Or, which is above the
hfength OF mortal man TO accomplish tie talk
OF oppo6ng the msif irredasblc truths bur VOC
have diichs'eed that sffice with an impfudencc
and 'mbeeilily. y hich would diigracc the mean
~ lcl,cian. In the face of the American pco-
pie you have pronounced the moR icfuiable
charges agsint the moh elevated aha.atter in
onr counuy, Without hnpie document 10 give
them coiorrg without having inglc wit.
Deh HON YOU could care 10 nsmc.
know not abat iieet wi'i be- made upon
ycur nbd by the authenticated iecords, and
ihe refpetlab.t witaciIcs which have produced.
l have no doubt but ,he fame bitternei, OF pat
noE which led you into error, will prompt you
10 deny the retutarion bur upon py mind the
CORRECTION Is indeEby liked. that this body OF
evidence 10 too great 10 be v6fcd and that sherc
is NOT Jingle trait OF truth in ihe acoulations
vheh you have f,ggtled. Your political
tflerds. FIR, may admire the extrso dinsry zeal
~hich prompted you TO the encounter. bu, even
they muif ridicuc the feetlenel, OF the champ.
ION who airet The blow.
Yps scco'e Mr.. Jefsrfon Of ba;ely deieriing
liis Yc!i in the hour Of danger. When Arnold
made his attack upon Maachsner. you repre-
leAssd the Governor OF Virginia flying before
~ srcors, with ar unwsrrsntate timidity. ne
have proved, that 10 isr from flying, lac re-
msined in tie very face Of the danger that
il ssrnem dciering he poo ne jiirlsyrd 40
uI common atsivify N pTecVing the military
Rorcs snd rhe public fecosds. Yos repeat the
tame tale, when 200 conc TO fpeak OF Tarl:on's
incurGen yoo place the reGgnaIion Of MIR.
Jsfe,fsn upon the public Iecords, hen iheie
records exprefsly contradict it. and III the iull
uie Of yocr poeticsI licencc. you d0herie him in
the very path Of the enemy, aod IN the neigh
boihood Of Monticello, when he has pesceably
rc;ircd to his sfate in Bedford. You reprcient
him as daaardly coward, who wants both the
ipfit Of man, and the energy of an cficer,
when there !, fesItely an sd of private life.
icarce mesfurc Of bis public sdmininrs
which doe, NOT make il matter OF doubr,
whelhcr he has bcen moa wife IN the ielcGi On
OF MS ends, or mott ielolu,c in the ptoiecution
of his G. pedien's.
Yon would hive erred, fir, in expecting from
Mr.. J. ,hofc brilliant feas of chivary, thofe
ex.raotdisary efoGons oi patton, shofe pomp-
Qua icenes OF covrsge, which diHinguih fome
mcn in the attiys fosnes Of lie. M'. ]. is nci-
ther 1hraio. nor Bonaparie his literary
pnt!uiu have raifed him above the military at
chieyements Of The one, and rendered unnect ia
~ the poupou. pre,enaom OF the Other. He
was not educated in pEcolc miIiiaire, bot amid
the made, Of academic bowers. His purloirs
have led him into the retirement OF hs c!olct,
and not toto the buitc Of life. Cut OF from
all ihoie little iuiertAs which seita,c the miod,
add force nen toto coIIifon with each other, he
la, been fortunate enough to avoid the dfeua-
ing fcenes Of ccn,enrion, and when thofe occa-
on. have rarely occurred, his cool and philo!o-
phic temper has enabled him TO fubdue his own
feelings. or direct the paHions Of Others. Had
you taken the trouble 10 have extended your
epquiie, into Mr.. J,ferion's early life, yon
wouId have heard the companion, OF his youth
Altering fhe inrrepidi'y of bis cbara6ter; you
would have found that 10 fupprciing riot at
GlouceAer occs6onrd by the cree ofa yctIel, he
fhewed prei,nce os mind which would have
been worthy OF more cigriaed csutc. Had
you ,icaed his public mesfurs with impartial
~, iagesd of Iiacning 20 - thoufsnd" name
lefs wifnefes," 700 would have fcurd him
employing every exeuion which bic 6tsa,ion
admitted. for fhe good Of hi, country, and IN
the h;eh oficc which re Of prelent fills, forpafr-
ing yonr noA favori,e Aaiefnan in the import
ace Of his fervices. II. fir, you have found
ary bette. pfoo' of he energy of an oficsr ,han'
tie fOccsh at his nrea!ures. you would perhaps
nrdrr fob6stdsi kfvice to yess friends by
di,r!eins the dfcovery.
il 10 time, then. .6f, that You fhou'd exchange
a'panons eth ihe iIIuarious patriot whom you
have sbOis6. With your eyes cpen 10 all sbe
confsqusoess Of your proceedings, you have
placed him at the bar of peslceuiion and iniasy.
and il is time that your own eypcIisres Gould