The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-14

by which they have long been distinguished.
With this hope have continually Inspected
the records OF their debates but must con-
fess that have found but little in them thas
oueht to characterize their deliberations
Party animosity, could have. withheld the as
sent Of one side, from the most salutary mea-
sures, should they have been proposed by the
other. Even il personal views, state intei-
ests, electioneering intrigues, had not hithei-
to prevented trial of the experiment. 1--we
months OF most precious time has elapsed
since the situation Of your country was known
to It's representatives, yet no one measure is
taken for defence. We are debating the
propriey OF permitting our merchant ships
to visit the ports of Britain, while they are
preparing to enter ours with their fleets, and
theeix weeks We spent in throwing light on
the obscure passages Of an impertinent letter
may have put our enemies in situation 10
make q bonfire of New-York. The fatal
errour that, We can defend ourselves by law,
returns upon Us like topical hallucination.
Reasonable on every other point, on this VIC
rave. Strike but the chord that sounds OF
war, and We fly as regularly to proclamations
AS Quixotte to his arms. They are the bat
tered basin and the broken lance with which
we are to combat in the iis:s against the gi-
gantick knights of the ocean. Meanwhile the
people, as II like the simple African, they
believed in the efficacy of charms, gaze in si-
lent establishment, while the college of state
conjurOurs prepare the spell, they wait pa.
tienty till the mystick characters are traced,
and when the Oti-horn is filled with ends of
parchment and fragments OF paper, they fas.-
cy themselves invulnerabie, and believe that
all their evils will vanish when this wretched
mummery is at an end. What can be the
cause Of this delusion Do they see any
prospect Of favourable change Are they
content with our present situation, and do
they seriously think it can be maintained or
is it a criminal inattention to your interests |!
The first of these suppositions we have seen
cannot be admitted consistent with the re-
spect due to their undcrstandings-thc last
is equally incompatible with the idea hope
we entertain of their integrity We must
then believe, and certain sentiments express
sed in the house, confirm the opinion, that
our present situation has some occult charm
which renders il desirable, and that paper
measures are supposed sufficient to ensure
its continuance. Admit the first part Of this
position, and we must have strange conf.
dence in the second, not to provide for the
possibility Of its faiure.--That war will be
nearer by making preparations for carrying
1t on with vigour, is the reasoning of the do
tard, who fears to make his will lest it should
accelerate his death. If indeed the consent
OF parties were necessary to bring on that e.
vent--if wars we're never made until both
the champions agreed on the conditions Of
the combat, and were ready to enter the lists,
we might then safely delay our separations:
or even III our present fallen state, if like the
coward which history figures in the jest book,
we could obtain an assurance of not being
struck while We were down, we might then
trust to the humility OF our position for de-.
fence, and be disdainfully permitted to grove
with safety in the dust. But no such promise
has been given, our adversary has not the
generous simplicity of Joe Miller's hero,
though we rival the degradation, but not tho
ingenuity of his opponent. We may creep
and fawn in vain blow will succeed to blow
---indgnity will be heaped upon injustice,
until we lose every feeling of self respect
and become fit only for the degraded state to
which we shall be reduced. This is not de-
clamation, it is sober serious truth. Listen
to it men of all parties 70
You who proudly cake your name from the
constitution of your country federalists,
shewthat you merit the distinction, evincs
that energy, which is the boast of your friends
and direct in proper course those high SEN
timents of pride with which your adversaries
have reproached you. Let your country's
cause call forth that energy and shew that her
honour is the object of your fride Enter
into new and glorious contest wkh your adj
versarics and conquer if you can in the strife
Of patriotism. Give up the paltry ovation of
party, that you may secure glorious triumph
to your country, and shew by the sacrifice OF
personal considerations thar you are worthy
of that confidence which you challenge-
Compare, pray you, the character Of aa
apologst for the enemies of your country.
with that of the independent asserter Of hcr
rights-and continue no lorger to buy Tie
reputation of consistency, by advocating an
which x.nsald