The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-03-22

L NthuraWS - tLe retirement Oh private ilkcs
How many unruly passions subdued does such
an act eyince And what damning retuta-
ton does it not meniicst 10 the proiiigate cal-
umnies that traced the actions, of his admin
! istrsstion to sinister motives.
Had Thomas Jefferson desired to retain
power, there was 10 competitor, he would
have been reelected President by vast MA
lority. His tabrick of authority was neither
impaired, or likely 10 be so. He might still
have continued to exercise the almost COM
manding prerogativcs OF his station, to confer
office and dispcncc power receiving applause
In return. II he had personal f..vouIitcs, he
might have gratihed them TO the fullest cx.
tent of lis wishes. But this charge would
never have been made, but through the poll
luteA channels of defamation His fsvoulitcs
have ever been those, who.c virtues and tall
cnts he called into the pnblick service, because
the good Of the nation demanded them. And
this last splendid act Of his puLlck life hrop,s
principle to have been llis Lolar star.
The history of mankind sh.ws that the
deadliest foe to liberty has ever been the per-
mauent deposit OF power in the hands OF an
Individual, and that 1t almost invariably ter
inmates in the misery OF nation. Our con.
stitution does not inhabit this investiturc but
authorizes its continuance, provided the peo-
pie every four years reelected the same indi-
vdual. There are those who think, ana we
profess ourselves of the number, that rota-
ton in the Office of chief magistrate would
have been Safeguard to liberty. The point
however, we admit, is extremely difficult Of
satisfactory solution. Such is the Unsuitable
thirst OF power, that the mournful history of
almost every nation proves tow feeble all con~
stitntiqns are against the overwhelming tor
rent OF ambition. Ii constitutions torcibiy
shut the door upon tho retention Of the SUI
premc power by on Individual OF ascendant
talent md ambition, 1t is to be feared that
rather than submit, the whole system will be
subvcrted by him. IL was, perhaps, because
the years OF Buonapartc did not allow bin, to
be Director, that he overturned the repub.
lick, and seized the absolute power.
BE this question, however decided ns Il
may, while poor human nature retains lie
wrctchcd alloy, and while the constitution re-
mains unchanged, the trnIy great and good
man will only find, in these circumstuncc9,
stronger motives for discovering a remedy for
the dreadful evil which has bcfalIcn other na.
tons, and having found it, will rcsolntcly apt
ply y. This has been done by WQshington,
and leaer9on .ard vhc, after their cxsmpI4
Wl'i A4scsler br ovld c,iOAgis 20 viDIatt |<'
except Tor the most substantial rcosons I v
Proud, indeed, must be the prctcnsions of
him, who shall dare to say, my country HIS
has greater need of my services than it had
for those ofa Washington or Jefferson.
II is not our Purposc--wc have neither.
tifnc or room--to review the administrators
oi Mr.. Jefferson. The tributary affection
and unshakcn confidence Of the great miss
OF the people, even under circumstances per.
nous and unprecedented, are It's best defence
Nothing. but sterling gold could have come,
pure out oil such 4 crucibic. Who is there
from north to south, from east to west, ia
the eight millions that make up our popula-
uon, that stands on ground soprc eminent
Not one and yet we have many, very ma.
ny great and good mon. However .party spirit,
macvolent In some brcasst,and 1ghiy cxcit-
co III all, may, IN the collisions of the day.
nave dctrartcd from his meritA the time will
come, ana that shortly too, when every one
will allow him to have beer, Good and . rcat
mar, and when the name Of jefferson will
be universally associated with those of Wash,
ington and Franklin.
There is, fcllow-citizcns, something incx.
pressibIy tender and solemn in the foHlieaf
departure from among us Of our distineuish-
ed friend and benefactor. How much has
he contributed to our happiness How var.
iors, complicated, and arduous have been the
scenes through which he has passed For.
~ years have been almost increasingly spent
in your service I! What post Of honor hss
he not filed, what grade ofpolitical duty has
he not discharged How many sanxiousR
moments has he had for your welfare How
great the debt, how profound the obligation
to such man But vast as tho debt is.
let us rejoice that it has been paid that
we have been and still are grateful for shs
services we have received. Let us feel q
just pride in the reflection that the anccticn
and esteem Of an enlightened nation cancel
all obligation and chat thiA is bestowed TO To
full ON Thomas Jefferson. Let us too re-