The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-10-09


suEeiipg cen be opened 10 he victim of n
pcsileniai dungeon, they mey perceive !, in
contumeliou. and opprobficus sppelIa;ions
bestowed on the government and nation Of
their prisoners.
The advantage is NOT a common one of
having minute account Of the treatment Of
our prisoners, contained in a journal, purrst-
leg the facts as they occur, by one OF the pris-
oners, and having almost trsnsiused into il
the feelings Of hope, dependency snd soici-
tude which agi,stc the the sufferers ! but the
opportunity is sill mole rare Of having such
an accoun, in vigorous and animated style,
and accompanied with much acute and ss-
curaie discrimination of national character.
These objects are exceedingly we'll accom-
plished 10 the Journal ofthe Prisoner of War;
but those who have strong American attach.
mems, will be still farther gra,ifed in fn5ing
the influence Of foreign oppression, in sllsy-
ing those uohsppy party snimosi:ics, and,
what to us appear anli-national prejudces,
but TOO much indulged in by federalists st
home. Americans abroad, constitute but one
party, and that party is for ,heis country.
There the cold apathy, the freezing indiffer-
snce to nationa, misforiun is felt by no rer.
son Of whatever party he msy bc, under tho
iion that suffers, and not the couAry. The
young American fnds abroad that the admin
istration 10 identified with the government,
and the government. with tho country thai
the degradation of his rulers involves an in.
dignity to himself and the nationsl pride
which he feels excited in his breast is equally
gra,i6ed with the success of his government,
IS il it had been administered by tho party Of
gb he n n rx,s sVshe 4fve
IN Europe there aro no advocates of Hartford
Convcniisns {; no worshipper Of Strong for
Advocating he cause Of our country's eDcmyi
no infalua,ion which surrounds with the man
tic Of Washington man Of very ordinary tai
ents, whose patriotism was never displayed
bat IN embarrassing his own government, and
10 eulogizing the ayowsd enemy of his coun.
Try. In foreign prisons, the native Ameri.
can feelings prompt the true expressions Of
indignation which such conduct excitcs. Fed
| eralists and democrats ore lost in the broader
| character Of Americans, and Hartford Con.
ventonists, assacboscus led ralists, and the
red allies of EngAnd, sre grouped and exs.
Grated in the sane breath, which shouted for
Madison and American triumph.
But some persons whose national sttach-
ments were never suffered 10 slumbey, TO
provo Of q publication which has tendency
10 excite Indignation agains, power with
whom We are at peace, and whose friendship
we are disposed to cuI,ivate.--They think IL
better tho sponge Of Oblivion should be drawn
/ across the records OF our injuries, with one
hand, when the other accepts tho proaercd
emble m Of pcscs. We, Eovevsr, think this
| sentiment not only unwiss, but unjust. Not
| tha, are dssirous q exciting any feelings in.
I compatible with subsisting amiesble rslstions.
--bu, that the people should Vudsrstznd the
uuc character Of foreign satioHss not only A.
I means ofreg olsiipg the condolences We should
! place In thSr smieabIe pre,eusions, bur also 10
| prepare against the repetition OF snch inPro-
per ussges m . renewal belllgerest relation.
II r unjust TO oar countrymen who have been
made the victims Of bsrbariy. When The
| usages Of civilized states have been disre-
| gaIdsd to their injury when foreign nation
has used their power over prisoners In man.
| ner that makes humanity sicken-the victims
| cherish one sentiment that breaks like ray
I OF heaven on the darkness Of their despair
that their countrymen will copmiserate their
misforlunes, and If possible, svenge sheir In
jufies. IF vengeance be precluded by tho
sudden intervention Of peace, il 10 neither .
political nor a moral virtue, that We should
be insensibie 10 their wrongs, and shut eur
ears to tho murmurs Of their complaints.
Tho record Of such transactions should DO
imperishable /; they should be imprinted on
our hearts while our country has name, and
awaken feelings Of commissera,ion so much
the more acntc, as The complaints were una
vailing, end their snfferlngs unasenged. Ae.
cordinC 10 sueh men, the story OF the Jersey
prison ship should be obliierated from the
annals of the seyolution; aud future Amsri.
cans should never know that tho liberties
which descend to them as the 6rst OF earthly
blessings, were achieved against The sppses-
sion Of our mother country, aud were 'he
price Of suffetings that history sanoot record
without ths language of eommisseration, nor
humanity psruss, without sentimeAt Of ven'