The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-08-07
MISCELLANY.
From the National Mieidgeacer.

comments upon the pamphlet oil Nir NQoert
Smith, besides the review more at large,
which appeared originally in your paper.
Your short comments appear to be chiefly
collections OF the opinions OF Editors OF Ga
zettes, species OF publick men, as II were,
living in large cities, amidst the hustle and
agitation of political discussions and divisions.
III the subject is not now grown too old tor
further notice, IL mey not, perhaps, be who'll
ly uninteresiing or unamusing, by way ot VA
riety, TO learn in what colours the same sub
jvct presents itscn TO the minds Of plain citi-
zens who think for themselves, living retired
ia the country, who read publick prints To
learn the passing events of the day, and the
Calm state OF whose feelings, perhaps, rem
ders them more competent to pass cool and
dispassionaie juogme upon the dissentions
OF our great men, than many OF those frcm
whom you have chiefly extracted. / ann, sir,
orc ot those plain private citizens, living In
a manner sequestrated from the noisy world,
ana here Cfer YOU some Few of those retec-
tions and conclusions which have naturally
suggested themselves from skimming the
surface OF Mr.. Smiths publication.
The first sensation which the mind fcels,
after perrsal Of the book, is a painful disap-
poin menl at no, having found any thing hike
the shadow of solid reason or justifiable
motive Tor making any kind oil publication
whatever: In place of showing cause, we
are abruptly toisled of with hardy naked
arbitrary assumption OF " owing 10 the poo-
pie of the United States an exposition OF the
ciicumatapces which produced his ,eSigna-
lion - and dn assumption equally arbitrary OF
T" an irresistible necessity OF obviatlng ,he
hone st misappreh tensions OF some, and wan
ton Misrepresentation oi others s. and Oh
these misapppreh decisions and misreprcsena-
lions we hear not sy.lable more throughout
his book, with the single exception OF the
imputed concert between him and others 10
oppose MIR. Madison at The next election |;
and this. imputation he denies, and disposcs
of in few lines. II is then from under this
flimsy shelter of gratuitous obligation and
feigned necessity, that Mr.. Smith darts the
most malignant shafts at the man who had
conferred on him the highest honour, and re-
posed in him unbounded d confidence for many
years and what is the indgnity which he
has revived from MIR Madison, 10 warrant
this rash and unprecedented measure Let
us attend TO what he tells us himself, which
is substantially 10 this effect !: {" that Mr.. Ma
Olson offered him The most honourable mis-
sion TO Russia, accompanying the offer with
many respectfuk observations upon the coi-
ttaiieiy Of opinion which had unhappily exis-
ted between them respecting certain mea-
sures." How was 1t possible for President
to act more delioa,eiy towards minister
who .ad become unacce ptabie 10 him He
tells him respectfully and candidIy what are
the re asons which have rendered bin unac-
"a ~ n
his feelings and preserve his political stand
ing, offers him the most honourabie ioteign
mission in The gift oil the government. For
this re respectiulness, deiicacy and cahdour,
Mr. Madison is repaid with the utmost viru-
lence and rancour which lniuriated prldc can
furnish, becaus, Mr.. Smith afterwards learnt
that certain members Of CCngress,on return
ing to their homes, had stated, that this l.
IDENTICAL offer would be made, with the view
of putting Mr.. Monroe in the Department; of
State bu, Mr.. Madison protested that he
haG not autbrized such report, or even such
al !dea, and VIC must conclude, from the
complexion of Mr.. Smiths pamphlet, (altho.
he has not dared to sly soy that we believe
Mr.. Madison to have prevaricatcd Tor upon
no principle CT rationaliiy can his furious at
tack be accounted for. il he only believed
that Mr.. Madison had been the incoDsiderate
dune OF an intrigue. Again, we are met
with Mr.. Smiths profession OF his object be-
inc to vindicate himself but from what
CHARGES or accusations re arc not told, and
throughout his whole book all vlndicaiion is
los, sight of, with the single exception be-
fore mentioned. Thus are our expectations
of something only raised to be elisappoint-
ed IN place OF correcting misapprehensiops
and misrepresentation. and Of vindicaiing
himself from any charges or accusations, we
hear Of neither one nor the other, but a,e
furnished with most wsnIon and unprovok-
ed attack upon the President Of The United
S,atcs, without reason or csuse assigned.
From what charge or accusation docs the
long catalogue of articles, wherein he states
-. L.aa.onec 1,f ouinion with the Prcsidcn..