The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-26
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grcss, gentleman holding an Office of h;ch
responsibility, wrote to Mr.. ADAMs rco,,css-
ms his opinion withcspect to The evils which
pressed upon our country and the remedy ~
he applied. The answer has occasioned ma
ny conlccturcs, and been the subject Of r,urh
vague conversation. Wishing to do iustice
to that candouS Which regardless of party mrs.
Judlce, call ona aye and wisdom Cor counsel, and
to that magnanimity, which forgetting per.
sonai wrongs, looks o MY TO the honour Of our
country, VIC have obtained leave 10 puhlish
TINS interesting letter. We cannot snticipatc
the comments that may be made but the
text Is genuine and we subscribe TO It's or
thodoxy. lBos,on Pafriot. !
SIR,
receive very kindly your oblirinr letter
otfhc 5th of this month. Ever since INV
return from Europe, where had resided ten
years, and could not be fully informed OF the
state OF affairs in my own country, have
been constantly anxious and alarmed at the
intemperancc ofparty spirit, and the unbound
ca license OF our presses. In the same views,
could not but lament some things, which
have lately passed in publick bodies. To IN
stance, at Dcdham end 1'opsfeld and last of
all IN the resolutions of our Massachusetts
Legislature, Upon principle, see no right
IN our Senate and House to dictate, or advise,
or TO request our Rcprcscntatiyes in Com
grcss. The right Of the people to instruct
their representatives is very dear 10 them.
and Will never be disputed by me. y. .l2,,A rsh;s.-
u Sss,. M '~s iSsis,ss,.rs. % % Congyess ss' e ne
:s{snt 1y Nv 80 aIs I{ & szeir 3, 81 syss srs Is
be diverted BY wondering Hghf accidentally
ssringing M in ev-ry direction, guc shall me-
ver ger through the yviidcrness.
/ have not been inaitcntivc to the course OF
our pubIick affairs, and agree with Congress
in thcir resolutions 10 resist the DEGREES,
Edicts, and Orders OF France and England
but think the King's proclamation for tho
imytressmcmf Of seamcu ON board our merchanf-
siihs, has not been distinctly enough repro
bated IL is the most groundicss frcfension
of all. Retired as am, convcrsng with very
few OF any party out Of the secret of affairs
collecting information only from pubIick pa
pcrs and pamphlets, many links in the great
chain of deliberations, actions and events,
may have escaped me. You will easily be-
licve, that an excessive diiiidcncc in my own
opinions has not been tho sin, that has
most easily bcsct me-" must nevertheless
confess, TO you, that in all the intricate com
binations Of our affairs, 10 which have ever
been witness, never found myself so much
at loss to form a Judgment Of what the ma
tion ought to do, or'what part ought to act.
No man, then, hope, will have moro conf
dencc in the solidity Of any thing may sug-
gcst, than have myself.
revere the upright and enlightened gen
cral sense Of our American Nation. II is
nevertheless capable, like all other nations,of
general prejudiccs and national crrours. A.
mons these know not whether there is sj,y
more remarkable than that opinion, SO uniycr-
sal, that it Is IN our power to bring foreign
nations To our terms, by Withholding our COM
mcrcc. When the executive and Legislative
authority Of any Nation, especially in the old
governments and great powers Of Europe,
have adopted measures, upon dcIbcration,and
published them to the world, they cannot re-
ccdc, without a deep humiliation and disgrace
in the eyes Of sFcir own subjects, az well as
all Europe. They will therefore obstinatcly
adhere to them, d; the expcnce even Of great
sacrifices, and in defiance Of great dangers.
In l774, Congress appeared almost unsni-
mously sanguinc, that nonimportation and
non-consumption association, would procure
an immediate repeal OF Acts Of Parliament
and Royal Orders. l went heartily along
with the rest in all these measures, because [
knew, that the sense Of the nation, the pub
lick opinion in all the colonies required them,
and did not SEQ that they could do harm,
But had no confidence in their success in
any th,.,g but milling The .dvcfean fectie.
expressed his opinion freely to some Of my
friends, particularly to Mr. HExarJ OF Viz
ginia, and to Major HAwLEr, Of Massaehu-
sets. These two, and these only, agreed
with me in opinion, that VIC must fight after