The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-06-26

ana IL wouid DC Unfair 10 hold you RESPONSE
bic Tor the mistakes OF every laundering adj
vocate who volunteered in your behalf. But
your Speech In the Senate of Massachusetts
on Saturday last, may be taken as the delib-
crate justification of your measures. To
this beg leave to reply, and in order to con-
form to that parliamentary mode by which you
are SO distinguished, shall suppose myself
addressing your successor, in the Presidents
chair.
Mr. PRESIDENT,
THE zeal and even acrimony which the
Hon. Gentleman has discovered in this debate
need not much surprise us when we consider
the severe I" denuncia,ions" which his con-
duct in the Boston Caucus has received from
the Chief Magistrate, and the stigma which
the supposed advocates of sedition must ever
expect from the citizens OLA fice Republck
On the eve of an important election, when
large concourse of people are assembled to
witness the expected exhibition OF an orators
talents as they would to see the tricks of lIarc-
quin Or the legerdemain of nountebank, the
necessity OF the occasion and the vanity of the
individual may plead an apology when
party are so depressed and dcsponding that
only Ditrick acid can excite sensation, We
may expect ii will be administered by those
agitators Of discord who delight In tnrmoil
and party division but when a Legislator in
his place under the awful responsibility of his
character, his duty and his oath juslifes the
positive declaration Of resistance TO law, g
do not say, that his principles arc corrupt,
nor that his motives arc vile and his conduct
detestable," but may bc permitted 10 lament
thar he as abandoned by thGt deity Cf discretion
qyAich cuery SENATOR Shoxid number among
his household gods.
The gentlemap's first complaint is that the
English language affords no term 20 desig-
nate the charge of the Governors, or the
crime Of which the Boston assemLlagc arc
accused, but rcsorting to a foreign vocabulary,
he says the Governour's speech is a 6 denun-
citation" for the crime Of :. incipism." Now
though neither of the sc terms are used by
His ExceIlency, yet is it wonderful il we have
to so beyond our own language for word to
characterize the conduct of the Boston as
semblage, when We arc compelled to pass
the boundaries of all history and experience
for parallel TO their measures. That which
is done without example, may well be with
out name. But is ii worthy the character
of the Hon. Gentleman thus to spend time in
| critical discussion Of words at the moment
| he is telling you that the words of the Reso-
| lutions are more terrible than their meaning,
! that the threat we suppose they contain was
| never meant to be executed, that all their gas
conade and all their violence is the mere i'm
| pulse OF irritated feeling " full Of sound and
fury, sgniiying nothing :"
| The cIassick ears of the gentleman are al
so wounded at the term AssEMBLAeE"
which he says Z" is applied to a collection Of
| AL m rrnl do ,I
| men. Admitting the correctness of the dcli-
| milton, which but for the assertion of the hon.
| gentleman we should be inclined to deny,
! what term can better designate meeting
| where threats do not imply resistance where
the seditlon which their measures have ten
! dency to excite is confined TO the imagination,
and their attack upon the law mere ideal
opposition. Like another celebrated chief
tain they threaten but in metahhor," and
deal only 10 the weapons OF rhetorick.
But the gentleman must be undece eived
These eyasions do no; satisfy the publick.
Now indeed no resistance is intended. The
resul, of the elections has defeated the at
tempt 1t was probably never seriously con-
templated by the majority of the assem-
blage." will not SO degrade my townsmcn,
as to believe they intended resistance No
sir--l respect and esteem the great majority
Of the electors, and know, that the deu-
sion OF the moment Notwithstanding, they
would rally round and support the constitu-
ton and the laws. I will not defamc the SEN
timents, the feelings, the principles of my ma
tive town. too was born upon its shores,
too was Graded in the arms of its liberty. |
too was taught from lisping infancy, 10 prize
dea:er than life the sacred blessings of free
Il II N
devotion the principles on which it il erected
know sir, there is fuad of good sense and
sterling integrity in Boston, that when the
question came fairly 10 issue would leave, in
a most contcnlffibte minority" the advo-
Gates of insurreclion Rut there arc come