The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-03-13
TO THE FREEMEN OF r. ISLAND.

THE ensuing election is vitally im.
portant to the Republican interest Of this
Stats-during The current year, a Senator TO
Congress is TO be chosen by the Legislature,
as well as Electors Of President and Vice.
P'eslden, by the Freemen at large. Il be.
hovos every man, therefore, who has the
welfare OF his counlIy at heart, TO be sup
and doing"
When VIC reflect upon the former prospe-
ri'y OF New.England, and the imposing
weight which she enjoyed n the public coun.
ellis, we canDot but contrast il with her pres.
ept degradation, bat review tho causes vhish
have produced so wonderful change.
From the moment the Fedcralists were o.
jccied from office, they have been indcfati.
gable 10 their opposition to tho best in,eres,s
OF the nation. latent only on one object, the
acquisition Of power, no measures wero con.
side'ed too desperate for its attainment. II
the Goycrnment, TO avoid collisions on the
ocean, recommended restsic,iye measures,
they were called ,pirilIess If, foreseeing
the approaching storm, they prepared boldly
to encounter it, they we're said TO be ambiti.
Gus of mili.sry glory and fame, dangerous to
Republic. Because il was, that after con.
t'ibu,ing ty plain,ive memorials and rernon-
sirances TO the declaration Of war, they
threw every obstacle in the way OF It's pro-
gress and termination. ..,.
IN the Republics of Greece and Rome, in
time Of public danger, party spirit was ever
sacrificed on the altar CT public good. 1t
was left for America TO usher into existence
Faction, who would NOT Only behold with
stole apathy the misfortoocs OF its country,
but would cxu!t ct the prospect--who would
refuse taeir money to her government, dis
courage her enlistment Of soldiers, and per.
secute her Ctficers~-who would dctrsct from
her military reDowD, and throw the apple OF
discord to her army and navy ). in 6ne, who
would seize moment SO fraught with dsn-
ger, to destroy that hallowed constitution
which they bad sworn to support, and set a.
gsn sflost on The tempes,nous ocean OF lib
er,y, with The fragile hope, that during its
uemendous Peiils, they might grasp the
helm OF state.
In despite Of this attempt, however, the
Union was maintained, and the war glorious
ly concluded. Although no man could seri-
ously doubt Its successful issue, ye, all fels
its approach with trembling soiieitude--we,
all feared, that thirty years Luxurious peace
had almost destroyed the native courage aud
unstrung the nervous arm of our countrymen
I've knew also, that we bad to contend with
nation which boosted Of her i" thousand
Ships" apd whose armies had but jost con.
qucred in the fields of Spain, the hitherto ip-
vineible legions Of France. AS was an,ici-
pstcd, the commencement Of the copaict
was inauspicious-but time gave US expert.
ence--snd experience coon enabled US 70
achieve vietoiies more brilliant ihas the psge
Of history has as yet recorded--Nisgara,
>Bridgewater. Pia,,sburgh and Orleans will
stand impe monuments Of the militia.
" skill aud prowess Of our countrymen. On
the ocean. too, where these croakers predict.
cd that our half dozen 6r-buil, ftigates
would have been destroyed at one fell
swoop," the most splendid success cnsued.
For the last hundred years, the British nag
had these waved um2hsnt--durins thee
period ], had scarcely struck to single ship,
however well appointed, or TO Heets, however
numcrous--her Uniform good fortune had
flsttcred her thar "Britannia rul'd the wayes."
II was iefs for those very men who had sof.
fessd every thing bot death from her oppres.
sion, to suatch from her crown the IsureI
wreath Of which she had so vainlr boas,ed--
the fsse Of the Guetricre, the lava and the
Msesdooisn, the nse,s Of Erie sad Cham.
plain, auaoanced to her 10 most cmpbuic