The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-04-12


We repubs,. the following Address, at the request Of
several of our reaoesss-aDd we invite the tTecmen
Of this state to give it senpGs perusal'
Republican Fellow Citizens ofMe
County Of Neytorf,
WE. beg to call your attention to the subject
OF the Election, on the third Wednesday in April next
That day will decide whether to'be kept under
the msrue of the Fcderasts for another year. wheh
CT by proper effort, yindlcate our Just titles 10 a
share in the government of the state We believe and
arc persuaded that, by making such effort, sue.
cess will be certain.
Permit us to recall to your minds some Of the con-
sdcrations which ought to animate exertions. We
have an interesting Country Interesting for what she
is and more SO Tor what she promises to be, beyond
any other that ever was possessed by hec people on
this globe. We have constitution OF government tor
this country, admirably adjusted to our present wants
and stu admirably conrlved to adapt itself to her
growing emergcncics--that blending all the excclen.
cies to be found IN former models OF tree government
with projections peculiar to ITSELF in manner that
nbes il TO derive strength from vast extension OF terri
tory, without impair;ng freedom, and of ruling large
and distant communities OF eemen with the requisite
authority preserve order and tranquility without in
frngiug single right Of single individual. con-
sttuon capable of expanding itself from ocean to ocean,
and Of aAording shelter and safety, and comfort to
all beneath its wings. This constitution, the fruit OF
our national wisdom and virtues, and happy combi-
nation Of circumstances, guided by overruing provi
dcnce, often and signay displayed i our favor,
ought to be dear TO life, and cherished aud deien-
ded as the best gift of heaven for the blessing OF the
world. Here Freedom is sac-.-rom within, by the
structure Of our institutions-trom without, by
growing greatness. Our empire is yet i'll its infancy
but what it bid fair to become from the natural growth
and development of its faculties, is visible in It's glgan
tic proportions and its rapid strides towards its high
destines. Our children will live to the day. when
our empire will be able stand against world in
and if it peases give laws to that world. But this
present happy internal condition, these brilliant pros
poets of the future, all depend the preservation of
the Union Destroy this or suffer this 10 be destroy
Cd then farewell long farewell to al these visions OF
future national happiness and glory. The final effect
would be to reduce to a set of petty, wild, barbar
Gus Predatory states, like the barbaras the southern
shores Of the to the rest of
the world, and formidable only to ourselves. The steps
Of the progression by which dsunion would degrade
US this condition, be obvious TO every reflect
ing mind. The ambition Of some of the states, and
the fears Of ALL would beget the necessity of standing
armies for aggression defence Standing armies
would not fail to produce here in time, as they have
done elsewhere in every instance dcspotc governments
IN the wreck Of Our fair Liberties, would be involved
all our other valuable interests. These would all per-
ish in this state Of things The enjoyment of prosper
ity, and the mems OF acquiring il, would both be de-
stroyed. Standing armies and despotic governments
would eat up your substance Internal commerce,
there could be amidst the selfish and conflicting
systems Of hostile states. Foreign commerce would
be but precarcls commerce. held at the suferance
of other nations; and the resources to sustain
chat, would soon be dried Up. All the arts of peace,
sr;thort fhe seclytv Of and