The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-01-22
ID,seeiianp.
STATE POLITICS.
PROM THE PROVIDENCE PATRIOT.

kne ODIcCto LOT WHICH,, oiOucs SO'S'b
ought 70 be maintained aod hinted the ex-
istencc Of combination among some OF our
leading poltioians, which, in "a manner, con.
Srois every operation OF that government.
Having no Office to lose, and no hopes of
gaining one by change Of men, shall, as
simc and occasion permit, enlarge upon these
topics, with that freedom-which h becomes an
independent citizen. II, in the course Of the
discussion, l should be compelied, for the
better slucidation of my subject, to name
aome of the gentle men, DOW IN the admins
sralion, those Henlleme can have no Cause
OF complaint, while they are treated with
csndor. Their sitoation, as public men, is
one which is necessarily exposed 10 scrutiny,
nor did they accept il without calculs,ing tho
consequences. may, probably, consider,
with some ninuteDess, the whole public con-
duet Of these geotlem meo, and by dispas'
sionate comparison Of their p'ofessions and
measures, arrive at some, not improbable
conclusion, as to their real motives yet, this
Is not an examination from which any honest
man will shrink IL 10 one which he will ra-
Sher courty for no,hing renders man more
conflent than innocence. For myself, |
ohsll not attempt, as I do not desire, to injure
an innocent man for could not expect,
&ouStuC'mk tuO Ou tUo aCSVuut VI
good policy alone, TO escape ,ha' just indig-
nation which such an attack would awaken.
rust, however, that my motives are Of a
higher cast, than those commonly termed
personal, which degrade man to The level
OF a pecvlsh party man, or sordid Office
hun,er. If am neither Of those, IL is MOI
d,fhruIt 10 assign motives, something more
than jusih ,ble--and as Tor the means, they
Ia r<.l
Inevitable & useful roncomi, ants OF freedom
That they are inevitable, do not dispute
,hsi, utility requires some confederation. If
toc state be 90 equally divided by two con,end-
ing parues, that the change OF few viriuous
and lndependen, citizens will produce the dis
ni,sa Of its rulers, ,hose parties are really
useful The men in Office are Wig Ian, iy watch
cd, aud, should they depar, from that policy,
whicn the prosperity and safety of the public
demand, they may be easily displaced 10 this
view, therefore, parties are useful and salu.
tory. TINS few, who have rho public good
only at heart, use, someiimes one, sometimes
tho other, as Instruments Of reform. Dcs-
pising all patty names and distinctions, as
Lures for the unwsry, they attach the mselves,
exclusively, TO dooe. This may be called
tergiversation by some but, what is il, otter
shAn un honest adherence to the true and
genuine principles OF rePublicasisn, those
atornal truths, which change not with times,
seasons, or parties, which remain, unaite rably
6xed, amid the widest chaos of parry conten
cion, the anchor, hope and salvation of the
state The real pa,riot IL not the property
OF any sect or parry; he belongs to his ooun'
try alone. H. is Indifferent TO the honors
and cmoluDeui> Of place, and cares not by
WHOM hey arc posscssed, ftbcy are holden
70 the pubic kens6 have said thus much,
bec,u.e some people have in,imatcd that l
an l.defalist Ta,s intims,ion is correct
the pute and enligh, ensd principles Of .he
Washlog IN school have my wa-mest appro.
ba,inn tney are tho professsd creed of both
parties AT the p. escn, day; in them I shall
live and die; aud ., did not worship the
rising sun. neither d, I ban him in his de-
cline, wi,n the hope Of honor or reward.
II is tine. bowcvcts 10 return from this
digrcssion, 10 the confederation Of my pro-
posed topic.
When, under a republican government,
any respcc able number of ths cr~ muni,y is
desi'vus of change Of sdDinistration, their
dehee must have originated IN the conviction,
whetocr correc1 or nis aiken, that the sduin-
is,raion may bs changed for a beuer.--Ws
tive 10 ,re ceptionable for, iG il be gratih.
ed, il can produce To those entertaining II, no
other benefit, than tho one which results
from an Improve ncn, in the conduct OF pub
lic afFars.--This beneh must result equally
10 those who promote and those who oppose
the change. II cannot, therefore, be, in
s,rictness, called d selfish motive. What
ever may be tue selfish aod interested views
Of The few men, who take the lead in the pro-
posed change, these motives ought no, TO be
attributed 20 hose who cannot enjoy the Off
ces OF the yoveroment
Thi, ing then, the declared motive OF
the people, their leaders are virtually pleds-
nd. nat oo,y to those with whom they act, but
70 che whole community, for the accomplish.
men, Of The profes.ed objects Of the change.
I ,ay pledged, because tho very acceptance
of puolic Office " as binding, under such cir.
cums,soce,, a, any written agreement, drawn
up and voted with all tho solemni,y attending
public trun,sc lions Of this nature, can be. Is
the public tressu deficient, the Judiciary in.
adsqna,e, the magistracy feeble, and the au.