The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-06
FROM THE IUROR 1.
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I!

which calls for serious consideration. Per-
hAps the most serious subject OF all, is the
apathy which pervades the-grcat mass OF yir-
tuous men, and the general tendency OF pub
lick measures TO induce these to despair,
while others triumph in the apparent decline
OF the republick.
Look at your concerns at home, ,and abroad.
Your country abounding with all the blessings
of nature-ciimate and soil in all varieties
lands con.petcnt to supply the demands OF
twenty prolihck generations these lands al
fording ample resources TO sustain the pro-
grcss OF social wants and social Improvements;
all the rich resources of internal useuine ss
AMI foreign commerce people, hardy, tenn
pcrate, cnterpiIsing, and invincible in pursuit
vi whatever object they undertake devoted
TO the concerns OF peace and the support OF
liberty.
These advantages, beside the peculiar
form of equal government and laws, under
which alone they can De enjoyed generally,
AM with diffusion Of happiness, are such as
no nation ever before possessed, in SO large a
measure and proportion.
But il may be wellto inquire, how long our
present blessings are destined to endure -
The decline OF nations, has been often fore
told by discernln, men, but seldom with any
success while he who undertakes 10 portend
evil, with view to- avert 1t, anc incurs the
imputation of aiding in the prediction, which
he ltbours TO avert, and if he succeeds loses
all his credit gaining only the consolation
/ feel myself to be In this situation.
sat some of the best men in our country
already begin to despair OF Republican gov
ernnent, it cannot be wholly useless to en-
qure into The causes of their apprehensions.
This enquiry would open large field for
reflection, too ample to admit Of very min
ute and complete details but few of the
general causes Of discomfort and apprehension
may be tonch8 upon, leaving to some hand
win m,re lei1urc and better qualifications
tltn p,,sess,tne ampliicaton Of toplcks,the
most interesting TO the human species.
rne srca, features of our policy since the
pace OF 1893, have been different from
those for which the revolution was cemmcn-
ced.--ibery and independence were the in
tcrpreters OF bAttie, the rallying words OF war,
and for these all the Affections of the COMIC
were endured with Kowism and virtue un-
paralleled in human annals.
Peace had scarcely succeeded when nation
al tioerty became secondarY,concern, and
foreign commerce engrossed All the faculties
OF the people, and the government haveb been
directed ever since and with all the boun-
ties of nature and the peculiar blessings of IL
berry our country over the great par, of It's
surface exhibits no more the vestigcs OF civil
hzltion than Siberia and no better ideas are
entertained OF the means which liberty affords
to promote publick happiness, than Is TO be
found among those Turks and Tartars,whom
according 10 tho courtesy Of those nations
whom we initiate, We yet call barbarians.
The nation, as nation, has not now after
thirty years of peace executed any one great
or durable work of puhlick utility.
The nationa! interests have been sacrificed
Or abandoned to extend commerce or in
other words the interests and prosperity of
the nation have been abandoned IN order to
enrich a small portion of the community in
your seaport towns.
The volumes of publick laws, which have
been enacted from the foundation of this go
vernmsnt, are principally engrosed by com
mercial legislation ; and, scarcely any law
has been passed for pubiick purposes, unless
il be the laws Tor the sales of land, and the
buildings of Washington city, all of which
have III one shape or another, been objects OF
personal speculation instead Of national con-
cern.
All nations who have been governed by
wise councils, have known thIt nothing con-
duccs SO much 10 the prosperity OF a country,
as the facility and ease with which access
may be bad between all parts OF IA
t'onal communities. Every nation that has
attended TO this concern has prospered and
its prosperity at once becomes the source of
its strength and the happiness of its people.
Would any stranger suppose that the road
from Philadelphia to the seat ot government
was the road of a civilized people, of free
people, boas,ing of the superiority of their
institutions, their wisdom and sagacity.
Government can lavish thousands Of del
lars on naval hos pitals, and bring home sea-