The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-05

49, l.s%'sf"ssSNr k'tsN. - Az 10 o@AN THAT TIC
great alteration III puhlick opinion had pun il
completely in the power of our executive 10
control the Vaccinations OF any future pub
lick agent, of France. Therefore Phila,cl-
phia was safer scene Of negotiation than
Paris.
Mr. Hamiltcn's erroneous conceptions Of
the publick opinion may be excused by the
considerations that he WAS not native of the
United States that he was born and bred in
the West-Indics, till he went to Scotland Cor
education, where he spent his time in SEM
! inaiy cf iesfning, I'LL seventeen years OF ape
! after which no man ever perfectly acquired
anational character then entered colledgc
at New ork, from whence he issued into the
army as an aid de camp. In these situations
he could scarcely acquire the opinions, fsel-'
lngs, or principles Of the American people.
Ills error may be excused by the further con-
sidcration, that his time was chiefly spent in
his pleasures, in lis electioncering visits, con-
ierences and correspondcnces, in propagaliag
pfejudiccs againstcvery man whom he thought
MS superiour in the publick estimation and
IN composing ambitious reports upon finance,
while thc. real business of the treasury was
cone ny Duer, by Woolcot, and even, for some
time and in part, by Tenchc Coke.
His observation that I" France will never
be without secret agents." is true and il Is
equally true that England will always have
secret agents and emissaries too. That her
parusens among our own citizens, can much
better promote her cause than any agents she
can send, is also true" but il Is at least equal
Iy true of the partizans OF Great Britain We
have seen, in the foregoing papers, glsring
and attrocious instances CT the cxcrtions Of
her publick agents, secret emissaiies and par
tizans among our citizens. But none have
yet been mentioned that bear any comparison,
in point of guilt and arrogance, with those
of all kinds that have been exhibited within
the last two or three years.
My worthy fellow-citizcns Our form Of
government, inestimabc as it is, exposes us
more than any other TO the insidious intrigucs
and pcstilented influence oil fcreirn nations.
Nothing but our inncxible neutrality can pre-
serve MS. The publick negotiations and sc-
cret intrigues OF the English aud the French
tayc cbcenemp|oyed.sfor Yfseuries, 10 every
FTosirt and country or Europe. Look back 10
the history of Spain, Holland, Germany, Rus
sia, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Italy, and
Tlrkcy, for tho last hundred years How
many revolutions have been caused How
many empefours and kings have fallen victims
to the alternate triumphs of parties, excited
by Englishmcn or Frcnchmcn And can
we expect to escape the vielaht attention of
politicians SO experienced, so keen sighted,
and SO rich If we convince them thar our
attachment to neutrality is Interchangeable, they
viii let us alone /: but as long as bopc re.
mains, in either power, Of seducing us TO en-.
gage in war on his side and against his ene-
my, we shall bcstorn and conyu!sed by their
manguvrcs. M
Never was there a grosscr mistake OF pub
lick opinion, than that Of Mr.. Hamilton. The
great alteration in publick opinion had not
then, norhas yet, taken place. The French
rcpublick still existed : The French people
were still considered as struggling FOR liberty,
amidst all their internal revolutions, their
conflicts Of parties, and their bloody wars
against the coalitions Of European powers.
Monarchy, empire, had not been suggested.
Bounaparte had appeared only as soldier
had acted on the publick stage in no civil or
political employment. A sense Of gratitude,
| for services rendered us in our revolution,
| by far more sincere and ardent than reason
or Justice could warrant, still remained on the
minds, not only Of our republicans, but Of
| cfeat numbers OF our soundest fcderalists.
/ Did Mr. Hamilton rccollcct the state OF our
| presses RccoIIect the names and popular
cloquence OF the editors of the opposition
papers !--That scofFing, sconing wit, and
that caustick malignity OF soul which appeared
remarkably in all the writings OF Thomas
Paine and Calender, which to the disgrace
| Of human nature, never fails to command at
tcniion and applause The members OF the
Senate and House, who were decided against
the administration, their continual intercoursc
and communications with French csrissa-
ries The hidcous Glamour against the alien
law, and sediiion law, both considered rs lc-
yelled entirely against the French and their
friends, and the surrender according TO The
British treaty, Of the Irish murderer Nash
imposed upon the pubIick for Jonathan Rob
bins Did We rccoIect the insnrlpction u
| pcnrevivau;a The ,niycrscl and pcrputtla