The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-03-07

WITH their sufisages and entrusted with the
guardianship o their liberties, arc infinitely
more to me than ever were, or ever can be,
any oil tie al,uienerts of station.
In considering the invitations given me,
three years since, by the republican mem
hers OF both branches of the legislature, to
unite with them, in administering the pnblick
concerns otgoverDmeni, knew their SINGER
ny, their patriotism, their iirmness,the sound.
ness OF their po.ilicks, their candour, and a.
Sosc all, their active, perscvcring deyotedness
10 the interest, laws, constitutions, and union
OF our state and na,icn: knew also, that
some of the leading members in both branch
cs OF the legislature, who pr iobably Influenced
NY then election, had long, even from revo-
iationary times, been intimately acquainted
With me, with my pubiick ard private pur-
suits, my economical principles, and political
creed; Tor in poli,icks, never had but one,
"a ssced according with their own. avowed
and praciiceduIcn ou all proper occasions,&
my principles we're those which your address
now approves. TLey were the principles of
Others, of every enlightened, unprejudiced
mind, devoted to the rights and necessary
provisions of representative democracy -
We were taught then by the best OF masters,
the abest statesmen, 10 whom America and
the wc,ld have been indebted for some oil the
wisest precepts and the soundest maxims of
tree eoye,nment--Ly a Washington, an Ad-
ANS, Phiiosophick Jefferson, and Madison
{" They were contained in our state and na-
uonaI constitutions" they are prcdica,ed on
the genius End spirit OF the American peo-
pie. An adherence to them is union, safety,
and prosperity departure from them is
confusion, wreichedness, and ruin. They
must be, they will be, soon again recolected
by those who have seemed 10 have forgotten,
OF chosen to reject them.
a consideration Of these facts, and conf
dcncc in those principles, with conscious
ness that l could retire with complacency
and personal qualification from an Office ac-
cepted with reluctance, and retained with diff
hdence, whenever, from a conscientious adj
hercnce to those principles, preference
should be given to some other citizen, en-
gagged in ?ublick duties at the council board.
Without the habits or inclinations for exec
utive affairs, thus aspiring to no greater pub
lick honour than to act with those, who, on
similar principles, were devoted TO the service
happiness, than TO act successfully, sure OF
candour, If acted with integrity and my bes,
abilities, was at the disposal Of my fellow
citizens. That did SO act in addition 70 my
own consciousness, l have the hattering tcs-
timony Of the majority of my fellow citizens,
at the then next succeeding elections, and
what is more, because it is from individual
and personal knowledgc, and official observa-
ton. l now have yours supcradded to the
undiminished, and by ME unsolicited sutfra-
gcs of my fellow citizens at large, at the last
election. Under sch circumstances was
happy to retire. On such principles, ond in
such company, | triumphed in the defeat
For publick Office have neither the requi-
site habits or inciinations, always considering
the discharge of highly responsible duties,
but as dignifed servitude--an official separa-
ton from domes,ick concerns, as but honour
aqlc exciie--the acceptance OF the highest
appointments by the upright the enlightened
Gnd the wise, as conieriDg an obligation, mer-
iting the gratitude of friends, md the acquies-
cence, the dccency Of respect and caDdour
from all. 8a if
The arming and exciting the members OF
the body poitick to war against their head, is,
in character, in principlt and action, the work
Of destruction. 1t would be pleasing TO for
get. but it may be useful 10 recollect the last
years events, however mortifying to our
country's pride. But for the opposition and
evasions of salutary measures, which oppo-
sition and evasions in principle, prostrated
the government Of the Union, by trampling
on its laws and defying Its authority--thc em-
barge would have saved us from the present
embarrassments, and the still greater calami-
ties which seem SO rapidly approaching. Oi
this we feel a aconviction, impressed as from
science bordering ON intuition, certainty
as are the results of cause and effect, and a
faith as strong as is the belief that interest,
and only interest, pride, and ambition, pre-
scribed for us the measures OF the warning
nations Of Europe. The success Of this pa
click measure wonld have been en- example
more precious than the mines Of Peru, more
protecting than a thousand ships and a host