The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-05-08


which the resolutions declare mass and 7viil
be resisted" is persisted in" longer than is
expected, those who think they suffer by It's
provisions much charge the advoeates Of re-
sisfance with all the evil. For rely on it,
sir, the governm ent of the United States will
never be made to wayer in its course, by all
the artillery Of paper resolutions which Bos-
ton caucus Can collect.
OF the hoHcy of this measure TO your par
ty, they must be the judges. should think
il injurious to your political friends. Many
Of them hold lucrative Offices. Can they con-
scentiously retain them after having denoun-
ced the government, and threatened resist
ance TO law I Can your MILITIA OFFICERS
animate their troops to resist a Foreign enemy
ifthemselyes have proclaimed hostility to in
fernzi government /? If either OF your great
LAW oFrIc ERs has encouraged insurgency by
declaring that a law /" must and will be re-
sisted" with what propriety can he arraign at
the bar a poor miserable culplit who has
merely put into execution the doctrin he was
taught Between ALExANpER and the Pr
RATE the only difference was in bol1ness OF
depreciation. One was a pluRderer Of ma
tions and gloricd in the fact, the other covert
" despoied the community and eluded the
the CRIMINAL 81 ,le such parallel might be
drawn. The miscreant would with proprie,y
remark that the law which protected his
neighbours property was sanctioned by no
higher authority than that which prohibited
intercourse with the enemies Of the country !;
if the one may be openly denounced, the other
may be Violated
But, sir, although caucus-rcsolutions de-
claring, that law " must and qviH be resist
ed" even when advocated by the 6rst talents
and responsibility in the state, do not alarm
us with any apprehension OF regular actual
resistance although confidence in the great
body of the people convlnees us that they
would reject with abnorrence any systemat-
ick violation of the laws although the cf-
fccts OF such resolutions are TO injure their
advocates, and proIong the evils they threat
en- to remove yet there is one serious mis-
chief resulting from them, for which their
advocates are Justly responsible.
II Is the tendency they have to undermine
he constitution, and DISSOLVE THE UNION of
THE STATES. The constitution of the Unit
ed States derives its strength from publick
opinion and the attachment of the people.
He who destroys these, destroys the founda-
lion OH which the temple is erected. What,
let me ask you, will sooner destroy it, that
for men of great responsibility and character,
men who enjoy the esteem and confidence Of
their fellow citizens, men whose influence
has been acquired by the splendor of talents
and the charm Of private virtue, boldly to
declare that the laws of their country 4" MUST
AND WILL BE RESISTED 20 A constitution
under which they can be resisted is not worth
preserving. A government which has not
SUFFICIENT strength to carry its laws into oper-
alton is mere mocksry, Of Legislation. A
state where individuals dictate to the laws and
oppose them at pleasure is a seat Of arnachy
and confusion to which any despotism is pre-
fcrable. Let it be once fairly understood
that powerful men may resist particular laws
eNd there ends our publick security; The
wood ostution is dead letter. The Union is
cd, to lie III sand. 1t were better to be again
TO endanger Great Britain.
and andy ucal,ev rly hope, sir, that extensive as is
is alw4gs susp,ce it will not at present pro-
tuced them to effects. The people have too
given them. soa,ion to permit it. Yet these
brought up "Ihave not been harmless. The
a,eo"soAm, is not impeded in its operation,
Ieavnr her s,tion on the next day was conduc-
those who feelh with s,orc anger and violence
Thyt persons former occasion. Respectable
become objees were insulted. Officers of gov
respect .n'wcre pelted with mud and dirt. The
1 ard ,U%s vs, ri of anticipated triumph WAS nces-
time .,s CO boisterous. The boasted head
l1arters of good principles" rescmbled
camp Of sedition and insurgency.
LEOLIN.