The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-09-17

government, Tie aiJiser Of our f.te. Our
constitution end laws, laudabIy jealous of the
rights Of the citizen, may protect bim from
judicial vengeance so fatally abused in dark
ages but we IN ainiain, that juss in the de-
gree in which the laws of a free government
are in such cases inefficient, public opinion
should be active and imposing. That free
dom OF opinion and OF language, oral or writ
ten, is entrenched with so much circumspec-
ton, from the conviction that in a yirtuous
community, IL would be directed to ends pro-
motive of the public welfare. When, there's
fore, either bad or incorporate men abuse it,
there is The strongest call OH good men TO use
It tor is legitimate purposes: These men
call themselves republicans. But can he be
justly considered as a republican who refuses
TO submit to The will of the majority fairly and
legally expressed Expressed, too, in their
s7pn way. We say in their own way. Fer, the
war that is now waged, has been declared in
direct obedience TO that very Constitution Of
which they were at its adoption the warmest
advocates? Who, that is sufficiently old,
does not recoIlect the enthusiastic strains in
which the tederalists Of New England urged
lis adoption In the excess OF their zeal, ,they
arroganty claimed TO themselves its exclusive
merit, and assumed name Identifying them
selves with it. This very constitution says,
tha;" Congress shall have power TO declare
war, gran, letters OF marque and reprisa!,and
make rules concerning captures on land and
sea-" And now ibese very feaerahstS, apos-
,atising from their creed, are busiiv occusied,
by night and 5y day, in sowing the seeds of
disafcctlbn. In paraiizing the energies ci
their government, in uttering the mos, afro
oious libeIs, which they know TO be false, for
The basest or most ignoble .nds. To seize
such an opportunity of signalising their hos
lity TO their government, can spring from
but one Of TWO motives. Either they are de-
termineG permanently TO unite the destinies
Of their country with England, or they are
ready, for The palIy aJ,ainnent, Of office, to
sacrifice the best interests, the dearest rights
of their country Let them take either ala
tentative, and they Will equally merit The de-
testation OF good men and we may add,
they will also receive it, These Edtriots
should not deceive themselves. Their local
fervor is very limited. There is no sympa-
ihetic~i feeling either in the middle, the south
ern, or western states. There II is the pride
Of men of all parties to rally round the stand
ard Of the union and there the man, be he
who he may, who, in such times, refuses 10
bow to the majesty of the laws or to enforce
the energies OF the nation against her power
lul enemy, Is pitied or despsed. /, is true,
that this sentiment, though indignant, is
calm ; ii does not yaunt itself in vapid words,
or buoy itself on the waves of noisy meet
ings but il is not on this account the less
solid, nor will il he the less Fesolute and sta
BILE. Those who feel it ale babitually aucus-
toecd 10 realize the blessings OF the Ccnsti-
tuition under which they live and prosper.
Satisfied with the enjoyment Of equal rights,
they bear the inesiimable valcc of maintain
ing the empire of the laws, even when those
laws are in some respects rcpugnant TO their
feelings. Witness the memorable insurrcc.
ton in Pennsylvania, when in common with
their felow-citizeus, OF every party, they
marched with alacri,y. at the call of their
country to enforce IN obedience TO laws
which they condemned.
1t has been the misfortune OF the leaders
Of the federal party, in the paroxysms oftheir
passion, on several memorable occasions 10
throw OF all disguise The effect on the
public mind has been uniform. Reprobation
and defeat have invariably cnsued. The
same cause, on the present occasion, will
produce the, same effect. There is not dis
passionate man of the party, that is not dis
gusted with the unyusufiaDie lengths TO
which the d:saffecton of Boston has pro-
ceeded. -.