The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-14
Political @isreHanp.
From the AURoRA.
THE NATIONAL STANDARD.
No. ~.
TO THE PEOPLE.

TO THE PEOPLE.
Tristes MT irx-------
-----Et aliis urblbus ultne
stetcre perirnt
Fusdtus nerme etque murIs
Hostile aratum excrcnus insolens.
And angry parties rage--hsth been the cause why
lofty cities bowed the head and nsoicn with con-
quest, why the foe hath drose lAe plough share
oer her ruined walls
MY preceding numbers have anticipated
some of the considerations which, il | wrote
with more method, would have properly
found their place in this. 1t was not easy to
avoid skctching some of our present evils,
while ! endeayoured TO shew, the probability
Of their continuance. might here resume
the subject, and entering into long details.
demonstrate those losses which are but too
severely felt. might swell my paper with
listof captures and detentions, OF rsnsoms,
burnings, and the different forms OF national
exac,ion and individual rapacity. But con-
fess repugnance to this part of my task
Is it necessary that should pursue il ! DO
you feel that mark you, my countrymen,
when persuade you to pay to interest what
you owe to honour, when | suppose II neces-
sary to enlist the most solid motives in the
purest cause, to hire you to be independent,
and calculate for you the wages OF patriotism
that may entice you into It's service. DO
you resent this as an indignity! Do you re-
proach me with calumni.tinG Jour character,
undertaking. your spirit and doubling, with
out cause your disintercsted love of country
If so, my work is done. | acknowledge with
pride that you are worthy OF .he name by
which have addressed you. To you the
STANDARD Of your NATION will not be raised
in vain. You who have inherited the spirit
of your fatbers---to YOU your country looks
for defence, and in your virtues she beholds
the germ that is TO regenerate, revive, and
invigorate her sinking fame.
know that there are some too few fear
who understand this language. But there
are many who would listen to me with pes-
sure, and imagine give them serious advice,
If addressed them with the ironical excla-
nation of the poet
Gives Gives Qusrenda pecunia primum est
Virtus post nuInmos.
And am sensible Of theridicue to which,
among this class of readers expose myself
by yenturing out as the advocate OF antiquated
patriotism, and the good old principles OF the
revolution. On these keep my eye con-
stantly and reverently fixed. They have In
spired me with an hatred of opptession,
taught me the futility Of any reliance but in
our own exertion to resist it--and convinced
me that the paths of honour only, are those
. which lead to peace and safety. A firm con-
viction of these truths has formed my judg-
mcnt ON these measures which ought at this
juncture to be pursued. Immediate war does
not, as have said, form any part of my plan.
On the contrary, am persuaded that if peace
is to be secured, such steps as / shall re-
commend can alone preserve it.
We have with both the belligerents Just
cause of war. Shall we use cocrceive mea-
surss as to both ! The renowned knight of
La Mancha would scarcely himself propose
it. The object of war is to assert right, or
to procure AN indemnity for wrong. HostiIi-
ties would be inhuman, and war manifestly
unjust, il these could be honourably attained
without recourse to arms. Admitting then
both the warning powers to be agressors in
the same degree, if by forcing our rights a
gainst one, we can obtain voluntary reperation
from the other, it would be worse than mad
ness TO assume AN hostile attitude against
both. Apply these propositions (and they
appear Scli>eFiucnt) to tnc prescnt Case. Dy
coercing one of the rival nations can we OBJ
tain Justice from the other And does this
apply inditferently to both The enquiry is
important, but IL is easily discussed.
With France We have an heavy account Of
inroads on our neutral rights to settle, With
England in addition to the same charges re-
lative to commerce and spoliation, we have
several other items Of high national impor-
- -
own seas--,lie unatoned murder of our citi-
zens--the impressnrent Of some thousands Of
urseamcn--,hcirde detention IN spite ofrcmon-
strance--and the asserted right to continue
the practice. We have the refusal to per-
form solemn pact, and The insult of Min
lister, which may or may not be ayOwed by his