The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-06-21

4 Wouiu take no engagement that should TIE up
our hands from making peace whenever we
pleased. Had the war with France cortinu-
ed, might have been drawn by the force OF
pub,ick opinion, or the influence of the lcgis-
iature, into an alliance with England but it
would have been against my own Judgement
| and inclination.
Let mc conclude the letter with an anec-
dotc. DIR. Franklin told me, that before his
return TO America from England, in l755, he
was in company, believe at Lord Spencer's,
with anumber Of English noblemen, when
the conversation turned upon fables, those of
lEsop, La Fontaine, Gay, Moore, Sc. SC.
Some one of the company observed that he
thought the subject was exhausted. He did
not believe that any man could now find an
animal, beast, bird, or FISH, that he could
! work into q new fable with any success and
the whole company appeared TO applaud the
j idea excepe Franklin, who was sisnt. Thc
gentlemen Insisted on his opinion. lie said,
with submission to their lordships, he belcy-
ed the subject was incxhausube, and that
many ncw-s.d instructive fables might be
made out of such maaerxls. Gun you think
of one at present If your lordship will fur
nish me pen, ink and paper, believe ] can
| furnish your lortlship with one in a few min
utcs. The paper was brought, and he sat
| down and wrote :--
| Once upon time, on eagle scaling round
| a afarmcr's barn, and cspying hare, dartcd
/ down upon him like sun beam, seized him
| in his claws, and re-mounted with him in the
air. He soon found that he had creature OF
more courage and strength than hare, for
| which, Notwithstanding the kcenness Of his
eye-sight, he had mistaken cat. The snarl-
| ing and scrabbling of the prey was very in
convenient, and what was worse, she had dis-
| engaged herself from his talons, grasped his
| boty with her four limbs, so as 10 stop his
breath, and seized fast hold Of his throat with
her teeth. Pray, said the e;Ple, let go your.
hold and will release you. Very fine, said
the cat, have no fancy to fall from this
height and be crushed TO death. You have
taken me up, and you shall stoop and let
pe down. The eagle thought it necessary 10
stoop accordingly The moral was SO appli-
cable TO England and Anne: ica, that the fable
| was allowed to be original antfhighly applaud
ed
Let HAMILTON say what he will, the
French Directory found it convenient TO stoop.
and set us down on our honest ground Of ncu-
trality and impartiality, as the English eagle
did formerly, and now does second time.
81 JOHN ADAMS. :.
Quincy, May 1909.
Cd 1-
To the Printers ef Boston Pafriof.
| Sins,
ANOTHER of my crimes, according TO
my great accuser, page 90, was nominating
| Mr. Murray, without previous consultation
| with any of my ministers To this charge
shall say but little at present.
In England the first magistrate is rcspon-
sible for nothing his ministers for every
thing Here according TO the practice, il not
the constitution, the ministers are responsible
for nothing the president for every thing,
| He is made to answer, before the people, not
| only for every thing done by his ministers,
bnt even for all the acts of the Legislature
| Witness the Alien and Scdition Laws. In
| all great and essential measures, he is bound
by his honour and his conscience, by his
oath TO the constitution, as well as his
| responsibility TO the publick opinion of the
nation, to act bis own mature and unbiased
| Judgment, tho unfortunately, it may be in
direct contradiction to the advice of all his
ministers. This was my situation IN more
than one instance. 1t had been SO in the
nomination of Mr.. Gerry /; it was afterwards
so in the pardon of Fries. Two measures
that rccollect with infinite satisfaction, and
which will console me in my last hour.
In the case now in question I perfectly
knew the sentiments Of all my ministers.
knew every argument they could alIedgc,
and moreover, knew the secret motives that
governed thcm,bctter than they didthcmclycs.
knew them then, and know them now
Believe il or disbcIicvc il who will, at tho
present time hereafter the world will be
convinced Of it.
] knew that if called the Heads Of De-
partmcnts together. and asked their advice,
three Of them would very laconcalIy protest
against the measure. The other two would
be loath to dissent from their brethren. and