The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-04-04
yoR THE BEpuBLicAK. ~ :
.PCLI7ICAL kEFLEc1IO%S.
NO. ".

NO. ".

lie
hands you will place the powers OF your s.s'o
-qovernn,ent. In order TO decide correctly,
his iiuportant matter, it is necessary for YOU
TO take candid review OF the measures Do'h
OF the national and state governments, tor
several years past. Every citizen must iee'
his individual interest seriously concerned
both in the internal administration, and IN ne
management Of the foreign affairs OF the
+ country. The consequences of these arc
soon brought home, in blessings or IN curses
to every one. But under such government
as ours, the Legislature and executive Can 90
nothing more, than TO concentrate and give
direction and energy to the pupiicK VIII
They Can contribute 10 enlighten u-they
Can encourage and animate il-they can sup
pK the mind-the providential sagacity-the
experience, and the steady hrmness, which
is necessary to its proper application but
they cannot breathe the spirit OF PATRIOTISM
|. into apcoplc, whose souls are devoted 10 tue
grovelling pursuits of seIfishness and avarice.
| They cannot faner them into love OF iree-
dom---an Indifference to ease-to weaith-
and when the necessities Of their country
demand il, even TO life ITSELF Therein,
Aey must minister unto themselves.
These remarks, at all times, and In all ma
tons, are true-are supported In our own
times, and in this nation, by the most torci-
bic evidences and receive the clcarest Illus
,ration.
The state Of our foreign affairs have been
| so disguised and perplcxed by those who
have struggled for the attainment OF power
| amidst the calamities and difficulties OF their
| country, that at length they have come to be
| Regarded as something mysterious and diff-
| dult of comprehension something's about
| which i, is impossible to arrive at the truth |;
I and hence many are induced to sit down con-
| tended in ignorance, or to believe the gross
| est OF the calumnies, which have been ipvent-
ed by the ingenuity of wickedness, sharpen
ed by a thirst for power, to blast the charAc-
tiers OF men, whose whole lives have been spent
in the pubiick service,-men, who struggled
early and arduously for the independence OF
the conntry and who have been raised to
their high stations by the voices OF large
maiorit, vf their Geliow-citizens. That we
are divided people, cannot be conceal
ed and that our national difficulties are
greatly aggravated ny this division, cannot be
doubted. 1t is in republicks thus divided by
contending parties, and above all, in repnb-
lick constituted like ours, that foreign IN
flnence m,y be most successfully exerted.
| Where the national government is formed
by the union of several states or provinces
each Of which has its separate government
and consequently its local parties--the sta
tons are multiplied, which foreign influence
may seize--fortity-an from thence direct
its batteries against the citadel of the nation
i The trainers Of our national constitution
thought they had efIectualiy provided against
1 -; ~xsl oh haA he r,IO n
so many states, by vesting the national gov.
ernn,ent with the exclusive authority o.
providing for the common dcfence-rcgulat
ing commerce--making peace and war-ane
with the care of the foreign relation Of the
. nation. They Left to each state the ample
| field of civil and criminal lcgislaion-the ad
ministra,ion of justice-the preservation o
| hfe, liberty, and property and vested thei
governments with ample powers to secur
|, these Important objects. They guarantee
to each state, arepublican'form Of government
AMI its protection by the whole force of tn
, | nation from domestick violence.
Notwithstanding the care and discrimins
? | ton manifested in this partition Of power, "
have seen the legislatures of several states
in defiance Of that constitution which the
. had sworn to support, by their resolution
! usurping the suthority Of declaring &C,
r OF congress, unconstitutional and void. Thes
d proceedings originated in the Legislature I
e Massachuset,s--From thence they wer
transmitted to the legislatures Of such state
as manifested a DISPOSITION 20 co-oherafe svi
Them in the measures they had taken in opp'
si,ion to the government of the union. The
c we're adopted by l.:e Legislature of Rhod
= Island, VINO ouistript even their guides, In Il
3 road OF rebellion, by absolutely refusing
e draft this states quota of one hundred thou
ot and militia, required by the president Of Il
If United States, in conformity with an a
of congress. ~H
Of In order that you may see with how mu'
o' o' consistency the men, who have done the
things, claim your appreciation OF their CO
duct, and your suffrsyes, take the followi