The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-11-16

sing her burbariiies, do you complain that we
charge you with being tainted? If we soy
nothing more, you may well allew Us to b.
very charitable. do not knou that any OF
the charges Of disa6scfion 10 fhe Union are
true much has been said and something
proved. Gentlemen woul1 do well TO takSI
care that their present proceedings do not
confirm suspicious or establish facts, ThercI
was prediction that this cocrse would bSI
pursued-I hold in my hand the Message og|
the President, ielative to the dcvelopc mentS
of John Henry. will, with your permission,
sir, read part OF letter, dated 7th March,
1919. After stating that he had ascertained|
the course intended TO be pursued by tho fed
cfAl party in Massac chuscus, in case OF war
with Great Britain, he observes, /" have at
ready given decided opinion, that deelara-
tion Of war is not to be expected, but contrary
to all reasonable calculation, should the Con.
gress possess spirit and Independence enough
to place their popularity in jeopardy by so
strong measure, the Legislature of Massa:
chuseus will give the tone to the neighborinE
States will declare itself peri rmanent until 3
new election OF members invite Congress,
TO DO composed Of Delegates from the federal
Statess and create a separate government for
their common defence and COMMON interest,"
Now compare what Henry said aouM bs
done, with what is now doing, end believe
that you will agree with me at least In thiii
that there Is a wonderful coincidence betwceiA
the prophecy and it's fulhlmcnt. In case Of
war with England Massachusetts, was to take
tho lead and give the fone She was to sum-
mon convention Of the New. w.Englahd States,
and the object was TO be the independents OK
these States. / do not undertake to say tbac
tho gentlemen who are supporting this nica-
sure, had any thing TO do with Hcnry's pre-:
diction ;but Il does appear that this letter hgS
q very close resemblance to your resolution
providing for the convention, both ia language
and in spirit. And apprchend that the
people of this Commonwealth will have too
much reason 70 suspect that the part wc arS
now acting, will eventuate in contamination
Of Tie fulfilment of John Henry's prediction.
Tainted with a disaffec,ion TO the Union
Good God you resolve that "the laws must
and will be resisted" You make tho State
laws control those of tho United States, and
in this very report declare that the Consti:
tuition has failed 70 secure 10 the people those
equal rights which wore the object Of its forf
-<nstioa, and complain that you arc charkea
with being tainted with disaFroction.
Your resolve, connected with the meaning
IN the preamble, is direct proposition TO dis-
solve the Union. II is proposed 10 adopt an.
other cons,ituiioh--I suppose another govern
men,. l very well know,that gentlemen who
were esteem ed oraclcs by the present ma.
jority,had strong debates whether this govern.
mcnt was not Zoo democraie. Uudcr the
name OF more energy, they would have made
il, ia principle, more nonarchical. a perfna.
ncnt Senate, stronger executive, were objects
very near the heartsof some gentlemen, before
the constitution was adopted TIE Hon. gen.
tlcfnan from Worcester suggests, and ought
to believe be is serious, that ono Of the pro.
posed amendmcn,st is TO strengthen the handi
Of tho Executive. If the design Of tho con-
vcntion is TO create constitution for New
England, have no doubt the Sentlcmars
would be willing to strengthen the hands Of
the ereeutive. He would probably at
tach to him all the attributes OF monarchy,
ercehf tie name. There would probably be &
permanent executives house Of lords both
temporal aud shirsusi, and hossi6iy d housS
Of commons. But il is somewhat doubtful,
whether gehtlemen wish to strengthen tho
hands OF the present executive OF the United
States. Wc have ever since the war was dor
clared; witnessed an unremittcd succession OF
attempts 70 trammcl the executive Of thu
United States and do confess it appears to
mo extremely Iaugbable, that scn,lemsH
should now perceive the urgent and irresistl.
bic necessity Of preventing the perhicious es..
fects Of their own pertinaeity,b BY incohsider.
aieIy altering the. constitution. But alteray
tions and res,ora,ions have become 80 frequent
and 50 fashionable, ihs. we must expect thcin
on this side of the Atlantic. We very well
know that republics are very An}ashfoaabis:
Ours 10, believe, the only ono exis,ing I;
break thissinto two parts, destroy Il, and. tho
resfsration to ancient sovereignty in Americs
is (easi6ie, il not inepifa6ie. We are told ID
your preamble, that the constitution Is" uphf
for peace or war" This, Sir, to me Is novel
doctrine. had supposed that the cons,,G;
ton was very satisfactory, sod very dear 70