The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-05-29
FULLER's RECANTATTON.

FELLOW w-CIrIzENs--Not for the purpose
Of acquiring popularity with any political par
tv do address you, neither have a design
TO influence you in the exercise OF your right
or suffrage al the approaching election but
solely from ust sense OF what owe TO my
self under the pubIick denunciations and per-
sccutions Of those who were once pleased to
honour me with their political confidence,
have felt myself constrained publickly to
declare some OF the principal reasons which
a conceived have rendered 1t my duty to
withdraw myself from the federal party.
IN republican government like ours,
when the whole power OF the nation is vested
in the hands of the people, | confess il be-
comes the duty OF every friend TO his country,
fuly to possess himself of knowledge of its
political interests but the early part OF my
life having been necessarily devoted to pfi-
yate avocatons altogether foreign TO that sub
jec,, | too much relied on the political homes
~ Of others, who | believed were thoroughly
infol med, without examining so scrupulousIy
for myself as is the duty of every elector to
do.
In the year 1909, when | was by your suf-
frages elected member of the Legislature of
this state, believed the views OF the federal
parlyIo be correct, and their only object the
pnblick good. But having been constrained
from Conscientious motives TO alter my opin-
ion, and consequently 10 withdraw my small
iaau>n nee from the party, am denounced as
atun coat, and branded with the opprobrious
s.j,&eis Of ahostate and traitor. Neverhe-
li. from a consciousness OF my own recti-
u... could have submitted to these re-
shes, aud it was my intention SO to have
e, tan nut my reasons Tor abandoning the
" 3i tho federal party ocen publick!ly de
r.nlcd aS l matter oi right, and my cautious
u opcc iGjbor.y construed into motives oI
topulaIlty, lhan which nothing can be more
,.-.s.ig GAY design and.tectiugs, and here
-lhtirEiy release tie republicans from every
hga,ion, which ] might otherwise be sup
,,1scd 10 consider Us due to myself, with the
.Ncst assurance that | have been influenced
ayr. party views, but solely from sense oi
.he uu,y which owe to my God, and to my
caunty.
nc mild, yet nervous speech ot Govern
rI. rompkins, which | now believe TO have
y h-.n ;ru,y American, and perfectly consistent
A a The most rigid principles OF truth and
~ ,lce, became the first important subject OF
l~elslatlre delbcration after my induction as
3anr repre- sentative. 1t was treated IN a Cep-
49, X ous and undignihed manner, and in reply to
declarations that the outrage, sc. commit
te.i on the frigate Chesapeake remained una
r-ncd for, he was told by the popular branch
D he legislature, that if it continued unaton-
ca isr il was owing to the imbecility OF our
t0a government, thereby transferring the IN
lc iGe to our own ruiers-ln support ot
Nvtfy n, il was asserted In debate, that our ad-
u .u ,trAticn was partial to France that
.o.a. me British minister, came with the oi-
54Hck, authorised to do us ample lustice,
~ ,l was refused by the president that
tA.on bad not insulted our government, or
-nr. YtcG any act whereby the dignity OF the
.r3uuA ,epui, ed, or the administration could
'v hten justified in his dismission, togeth-
or Vi-b lnauy other assertions, which subse-
Cu.a, .Qvestigations have convinced me be-
Yaad doubt are false, abominably wisked,
art cnl.ulated 20 divide the Union and arrest
t. aNerpmens from the hands of the peo.
p'c ,nd aothing do more regret than that
o.r 1.lag stands recorded as one OF their CO.
acwla.s.
Ae ppendages to the system otoppositon
tbl .tse Of Capt Ferris and the schoo-tund
ia-e.l .lpaiion, know 10 have been called up
aea .,poused FOR elecioneering purposes on
ly italy regardless of the characters which
ro ii be unjus,y sacrificed in tac event oil
tac;r succeeding, in which, conduct was cvin-
-et hy the federal members OF the cgisla-
ave, base in itself, and altogether foreign
-om the duties of sworn representatives in
tarir Legislative capacities.
Daring that session, it is fact that los:
ny influence, and scoame odious TO the par
~, b. cause could not consent to sacrifice
certain puhiick officers, who were known to
1re % be possessed of talents, integrity and
ip1eecnaepce of principle, to give place to
sore time-serving sycophants, for the promo
ION oi party views.
THESE, with many other facts which
c,a,d relate, while they disgusted me with