The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-07-06
MR.. PRESIDENT


gistrate to both branches of the Leglsla-
ture, at their first session, and their An
swers to it, usually give tone to the poll
tics of that ensuing political year; and
the spirit they breathe is i1nbibed by as
many citizens as can respond the senti-
ments. Hence it is of importance, that
they be always correct; such as become
the dignity and duty of the Legislature,
and are suited to the times in which we
live. The present time, more than any
we have witnessed for thirty years past,
calls for the union and energy of this ma
ton. The collected wisdom and patriot
ism, and whole physical force Ofthe Unit
ed States will be found little enough to
meet the crisis of affairs, and to save us
from impending ruin. Whatever, there
fore, tends to irritate the public mind, to
excite jealousies and suspicion, to raise
discordant passions aEd feelings, to alien
ate the citizens from each other, ,and from
their national government, TO which we
all owe allegiance, ought TO be carefully
avoided, and if advanced, ought to be
repelled and suppressed. Such appears
to be the tendency of some parts Of His
Excellency's Speech, and more especial
ly so of the Answer Of it, now under
consideration. 1t represents the national
government as hostile to our interests,
cruel in their policy, unjust in their mea-
sures, and deaf to our complaints and,
therefore, instead Of seeking protection
and redress from them, itdirects the peo-
pie to call on the Legislature of this State
to interpoSe it's authority for their relief.
This virtually sets this State in hostile ar
ray against the Government of the States
in union. 1t passes compliment on the
proceedings OF the General Court of the
last year; which threatened open opposi-
ton to the laws of the Union and which,
if persisted in, would have soon led us
into civil war; and it promises to pay
to those documents, at this time, all the
attention that is due to them. As the
threats they contain were then wisely sus-
pended, hope they will now be wholly
abandoned, and that they will be permit
ted to sleep in silence. This conceive
to be the attention, and all the attention
that is due to them.
But what will be gained by this, if the
same feelings are excited in another form ?
1t is painful to witness the false charges
brought in this Answer against the nation
al government, and the abuses done to
them and the officers and men under their
command /; and | cannot but observe,
that in the same paragraph which contains
these unfounded charges against our ha-
tional rulers, the committee have taken
special care to exculpate the government
of this State (at least by implication in
their neglect OF duty to the governmen
and laws of the nation. They say" in
the prosecution of war founded in false
hood, declared without necessity, and
whose real object was extension Of terri
tory by unjust conquest, and to aid the
Tyrant of Europe in his views of aggran-
dizement, our rulers could expect no
further aid from this State than the Con-
stitution required Of u.s." Is ,here
gentleman at the board, who can substan-
tiate these three distinct charges against
the governmental either of them? Were
the complaints brought against the gov
ernment of Great t-Britain, and on which
the war was declared, all founded on false
hood T? Hail they not real existence ?
Were they not SO viewed by the dis
interestedy generous and noble Emperor
Of Russia? Have they ever been all deni-
e by th3 enemy himself The plea of
Great Britain, that her Orders in Coun-
Gil were jbnly to retaliate on France, thro'
the medium of us, who were neutrals, is
MT c,t,Jc,ct<r,, For n ,vropcr bone b,,