The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-14
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF RHODE
ISLAND.
FELLOW CIT7zEAS,

APPOlN LED by our brethren In the
town OF Newport, We beg leave to address
YOU AT a moment, when the dearest inter-
ests OF our country demand the most active
exertions of her citizens, it is con6denriy cx-
pected, that you will readily unite in assisting
and supporting her.
When foreign powers, unsatsfcd with past
aggressions, continue 10 violate our rights, as
an independent nation, and even dare to pre-
scribe rules to Us, as a mcnial colony-when
foreign ministers, pretending 10 be the mes
sengers OF peace, in the very face of the na-
ton, dare to insult the constituted authorities
of our country, and afterwards to Insult that
country itself, by publickly endeavouring 10
excite it against those authorities which it
haC just appointed--when men are found a.
meng Us, base enough to support those viola.
tions, and to justify these in.ults--when they
dare to do it, even in the great council of our
nation--when, unfortunately for Rhode-Isl-
and, three fourths of her representation are
found among them-when Legislative resolves
are raised in battle array against the consti-
tutional powers OF our .government-when
those resolves, without moderation, and with
out argument, seem only intended to produce
anarchy among us-At such q moment, we
conjure you to come forward in your strength,
and with one mighty effort to resist foreign
aggression, and to punish domestick treach-
cry.
We will not insult our country SO much as
to suppose her inundated either by France
or by Great Britain. When an infant, she
boldly met her enemy in the field, and defeat
ed and despised her now then, when she is
almost grown into manhood, and when her
strength has increased with her ysafs, she
surely cannot tremble at the windy nenaces
of a miserable old woman, bowed down with
years, depressed by misfortunes, ruined in
her credit, and debilitated and impoverished
by corruption and extravaganza.
In the name OF your country in the name
of liberty ; in the name of those brave men,
who died for that country, and procured that
liberty, we again conjure you to uDite--if, at
the commencement OF our party, the reasons
for union were strong, at this critical mo-
ment, those reasons are still more command
mg--lf there have been any groundless pref
udices ii there have been aRy unfortunate dis
putes among Us, let us endeavour to destroy
and to forget them-let us endeavour to sac
rihce those prejudiccs, and even our passions
on the altar of our country.
useful, to travel back to the birth of our par
ty, and to consider, for a moment the causes
which brought us together. We had been
oppressed, and we were determined to remove
the oppressor--if then it were necessary to
remove him, at that time,ought we not to be
extremely careful lest we place him in his
former situation ! We had seen land tax !;
unequal and imprac.icable--an excise slav-
ish, burthensome, and unproductiye--a sedi-
non law; cruel, degrading and oppressive--an
army OF officers, raised without cause, and
those officers appointed without merit the
veteran being passed, to promote the STRIPPING
--extravagant loans, and unprecedented in
terest.-a debt increasing, while the revenue
increased-a Judiciary created in darkness,
and created for party very convenient to the
holders of Office, but rather inconvenient TO
those who paid them--a navy, which roted
faster than il sailed-foreign intercourse fool
ishiy extended, and necessarily burthen-
some; extended to provide snug births for
party, at the expense Of the people. These
were among the causes, which brought us to-
gether--if they were loud enough to awaken
US at that time, ought we not to be extreme
ly Careful, lest, through fatal sleep, we again
subject ourselves to the same evils
1t must be unnecessary to remind yov OF
the wanton murder in your own waters, Of
the uDofending PIERCE the insulting So
lemnities of amock-trial, for the perpctration
Of that murder---of the still more insulting
promotion OF the villain, who perpctrated 1t
--of the daring attack on the Chesapeake
OF the savage murder of some of your sea-
men and the cruel slavery of thousands Of
others--in moment snstched from freedom,
fortune, denjoyment---depriving their eoun-
try of their aid, and them of their country
compelled to 6ybf against their owe sriends,