The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-13
To The Feemen Of RhoGe- Island.
FELLOW-CITIZLNS,

DELEGATED to express the views
and wishes of the Republicans of the State 10
a General Convention, to take the liberty tc,
address you, at this time, and offer for your
reflection some of those sentiments which
are entitled TO your serious consideration.
That the mass of us have common interest
is not 10 be denied, and the difference in our
opinions must principally be owing to our ob-
serving objects through difieren, mediums,
and TO our having more or less confidence in
the political integrity of certain men. We
do not arrogate unto ourselves elfectability
which belongs not to human nature we may
be wrong, and when convinced of our srrours
are willing to renounce them. But we feel
a consciousness of the correctness of those
principles tor which our Countrymen fought
and blcd for seven successive years, and
Which the most ilustrious worthless of our
country have sanctioned by their precepts
and example. We are therefore Republicans
by birth, fortune, interst and from conviction
We believe that the people possess the right
and ought to have the freedom of choosing
their rulers, and that tn ese rulers ought, at
certain stated periods, to return again TO the
general mass, to be clothed again with dele
gated power, or left to enjoy the privileges Of
citizens in private stations. We are opposed
to Monarchy and to Aris,ocracy, and would
not wish TO see President with the power of
King, or Senate composed of Nobles,and
1t any OF our fe'low-ciizens are desirous to
behold or participate in such distinctions,they
have right to their own spnions, but not
to our or your confidence.
Such is our political creed, and such we
trust is the political creed of those whom we
recommend to you for Gover1o1r, Lieutenant
Governour, Senators, Secretary and General
Treasurer Of the State for the year ensuing.
Happy should We be, were we as well sat-
listed, that our opponents had none OF that
leaven of Monarchy, a Rft!e Of ss'iich " ieav-
enesh the ~hoie lumh." 1t will not now be
denied, that the plan of Constitution for the
United States, which Mr.. Alexander Hamil-
ton submitted to the Con- ntion, If adopted,
would have given us the substance as well as
the form of the British Constitution and we
recognize in the measures which he after.
wards proposed when Secretary Of the Trea-,
sury, desire TO infusc into the government
Monarcbical and Aristocra,icai influence,
which might in some measure remedy the
Republican defects of the constitution. And
no doubt, had he not been at length opposed
by the Repubicanism of the country, anu
b"o thS bONC'h'DSnt tdFS OcCu uDtli tHis titI1
intrusted to the hands of those who have a.
dopted his principles, the people of these
United States would have found them selves
so surrounded by standing armies, sedi,ion
laws, excise officers, observation-disclosures,
Bank directors, stock SPECTATORS and govern
ment dependents, aided ard assisted by an ar.
my of Judges. that they would have enjoyed
all the blessings of an energe,ick government,
and been effectuaiy protected from fheir
osn svors e.evies--themseires. But thanks
TO the great ruler OF Nations, a Republican
Administration has destroyed Monarchy in
its cradle, and administered the government
in Republican simplicity.
We are also hrmly attached to the Union
Of these States, and consider il as our only
security against external and internal enemies.
Our opponents indeed call themselves .fed,r-
ahsfs, but YOU are not COW TO he told that there