The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-08-21
Req. Mr.. Miller
TO THE PUBLICk.

TO THE PUBLIcK.
IN answer to the repeated enquiries made,
why have changed my politicks, in reply
do offer the following brief statement OF facts
which l hope will satisfy every impartial
person.
When first attached myself to political
party, party spirit did not then run so high
as i, now does.-The federalists Chen IN
power) did brand the opposition party, with
being iacobins, anarchists, disorganizers, &c.
&c. and they styled themselves the fsiends
and lovers Of religion, order and good govern
ment confess felt no disposition to be
ranked among such company as the former,
and that felt some ambition in joining the
latter-believing they would by their actions
always me rit those distinguished appellations,
and that they never would forfeit them.
l very frequently was honoured with the
company Of gentlemen of federal poli,icks,
and was pretty regularly furnished with
their newspapers, and indeed all the knowl-
edge obtained of publick affairs was princi-
pally received through these channels.
Whenever l happened to meet a gentle
man of the Democratick party, he 10 be sure
would talk about the liberty of the press, of
measures and not men, and of preserving the
constitution inviolatc but the federalists
wou!c reply, that the Democrats were all
mock patriots and teceivers, who ought not
to be trusted in any case that if they got
into power, anarchy, confusion and disorder
OF every kind would follow, and that war, ir-
religion and atheism, would ovcrwhelm our
land.---Besides drawing all these terrihck pic
lures Of their opponents, they themselves
laid SO much claim TO moderation, and made
such fair promises 10 support the constitution
and the whole of the social compact in all its
bearings, as left no doubt upon my mind of
their good intentions.
Since these times, the Democrat have
it is true got into power, and so far has this
change been from disservice to religion,
that the number of convert, received inio
the bosom Of the christian church, is truly
astonishing ; perhaps never since the days of
the primitive christians, has the God of Isra-
ell manifested his great power in the conver-
ton of sinners, more visiby than he lately
has done IL these United States.
The government too has been as ably and
as im2artially administered, as could reason
ably Le expected from fallible men. Nor
has anarchy, nor disorder Of any kind, from
the Democratick party, ensued from the
change and our land and its inhabitants are
blessed with peace and plenty.
But retrospective view of the actions of
the federalists friends Of order, will not
stand the test of honest scrutiny for indeed
it is we'll known fact, that from these self
styled lovers Of religion, order and good gov
ernment, has proceeded all the disorder
which has happened in Our country.
The blind attachment to certain foreign
nation, in whose behalf all our sympathy is
necessarily invoked, is so notorious, that he
who reads cannot fail to see ; and shameful
to behold, no act of the government of this
foreign nation, however obnoxious, has been
able to excite their censure, nor is there one
solitary instance of any one act of their own
government having extorted appreciation from
them, every measure is alike equally censured.
After seeing the declaration made on the
floor of Congress by Mr.. Quincy, that the
union was virtually dissolved, and that a sep
ara,ion Of the States was unavoidable, ami
cably if we can, forcibly if We must !" and
also after seeing the proceedings of the
meeting held in Boston, on Sunday the Slst
of March last, when and where the friends
of order did resolve, that certain law Of the
land {" would and must be resisted :" Upon
noticing these things, hesitated not to join
the real supporters Of the constitution, and
~ the only free government upon earth /; and