The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-09-04

definition, and common law punishment. IL
i, possible that the Legislature should have
repealed so important law (arter having, been
in full operation. by common consent, fsr 90
great number OF years,) wi,hou, promulgat-
ing the rule, which 10 10 govern the greatest
crime in the criminal code, and that the FIRST
int;mation wc have of II 10 tho narrow, Incl
dental, and oral communication Of Chief
Justice II 10 not merely that tho applica-
ton Of common law principles to certain ca
ses pronounced or applied by those calling
themselves judges, who in their proper per.
sons may be contemplate in point OF ability,
or legal knowledgc-it is not merely because
those OF the gentlemen OF the bar, who arc
repu,ed to be the 6rst in point OF legal knowl.
edge, and who arc known publicly at every
term to differ very widely 10 opinion relating
to common law principles, but because the
books, some of which contain opinions and &C.
cisions, which are signal absurdities--andy yet
those books are the standard rcsorted to by
the legislature, and referred 10 as a rule which
ought TO be known, definite, inflexibe and
Uniform, not subject to tho cspricioos opinion
Of an Ignorant, or even an enligh'ned court.
What necessity is there that the common law
Of England, in It's origin, the prejucices Of
barbarous age, arti6eially kept alive, should
be entailed upon the present civilized state,
or 1t 1t were necessary, that principles so
vague and uncertsin must prevail, why not
declare by legislative act tho definition Of
the crime, and the punishment consequent
thereon. One offhe People
~>-As40E>>N~
Every thing relative to The /" coalition Of
Church and State" is Interesting TO the pub.
lie the confession Of a confirmed Je6sraGn
on this subject is doubly interesting. 10 man
would crimina,e his own party without strong
reasons. In pamphlet recently published
by Captain JOSIAH DuSHAM, late Editor of
OF the Washngtonian, Mr.. d. observes,
There seems to be sort OF" mystical con-
nexion" growing up between certain eorhO-
rations, societies and individuals, net only IN
relation to affairs of science, but TO hose also
of CHvRcR and STATE. We know this re-
mark will alarm. Many will deny it's ex,s-
tcncc. Others will look grave and declare
that at any rate il can do no harm, and ought
no, to be mentioned. They may, perhaps,
dcnopnce the writer as o I" heretic," an sjufi.
del or democrat. But truth is mighfy--and
ais convictions on this point are irrcsis,ible."
This coalition (he con,inucs) is so formi-
daG!e, ifs machinery so hosyer/ui, and is farfs
90 vrH arranged, and 50 adrois!y conducted,
ihaf hs influence, musf sooner or later, be er.
tenupeiy JrH. Indeed, il has already opera.
ted much farther than the people are aware"
Prep. Paf
The little state OF Delaware 10 convulscd by
the divisions existing among the federaiis,s.
Tbis party arc scrambling for power and office.
They have no less than IL candidates for gov
ernor, 30 for members Of congress, snd 30 for
sheriff Of county. ifthey ell start fair,thc
result will not be doubtful. ma. advocate. :,
--oo
Motives Of humanity towards the suffering part Of
our race, induces US 10 make few remarks on the
common but often injurious habit, Of visiting the
sick. All are liable to disease. 1t is therefore
topic which ought TO iaterest al.
We have repeatedly been called TO attend upon
friends dangerously i'll. The strange and unnesn-
ing, or msmeAnng conversation. Of the visitors who
come from time to time, leads Us TO observe that il
would be kinder in them TO remain at home, than 10
trouble those with their visits who cannot but be
panied with them.-Many persons, by their trouble.
some and iDQuisiiive manner, aggravatc diseases,
which of themselves, seem quite enough 10 battle
the skill OF the best physicians Their cosyersaiion
is most likely directed to the sck person, and they
ms particular in their enquiries about tho symp-
toms, and every thing relating 10 the disease, as
they were professors Of the art Of healing while
the poor patient is frtquce,y compelled 20 answer
over and over again, to continual round Of mper-
tinent questions.
To the greatest number Of sick persons. visitors
are always troublesome they frequently cause the
pa,eot 10 delay something much wanted, perhaps
from decacy. or it may he merely because visitor
is present. II in health they took delight in CON-
pany, they cannot, when very sick. hnd any Joy IN IT,
Il is wrong then TO ascend the chambers of the sick,
TO 20 to their houses, unless with the design
Of doing some useful service.
There is yet another common evil, so liable to do
much injury, that ough not TO be omitted IN our
femArks about the sick Il is the practice Of re-
commenting medicines where the advice IS unasked.
friend Of ours was recently III, and using G,i,s-
bic remedy by judicioS direction a person sd.
ysed different medicine, obstoa'ely persisted in
its being taken. pronounced it igHi6ie. The course
persaing god I,r nothing. and was much offended
because the ridiculous subtsrfugc was eyaded.-
Similar conduct, not equally censurabe. was cxho-
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