The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-01-29

connected with you in the exercise OF power.
Yet, regard to the lucrative protection,
which they eDjoysor to speak more chari,a-
bly, Of some men, mistaken seal for unity OF
action, whore no sincere corgenialiiy of priu-
ciple exists, has sealed tho lips Of thoses
whose duty, IS representatives. OF the people,
should have prompted thom to speak -
Though l, Sic, neither feel the obligation, or
allow the sanity of the argument, make no
claims OF disintorcsted patriotism, while 1
expose those really con,emtikie measures CO
the vulgar great, the whole scope Of which
has been TO secure an accumulation OF power
to themselves. To man OF your experience,
a claim Of this nature would appear but emp
~ defamation and, reasoning from your.
self to another, your own breast v-vid tur-
nish an argument, a Jorsiori, against u. Yet
no one, moro Than yourself, perhaps, laments
the general absence Of sincerity in proies.
sions Of this nature
What then, Sir, is tho excuse, which vir-
tuous and uprigh, man would ronder to his
fellow citizens. for q neglect Of du,ies, Tho
Observance Of which is necessary TO the hap.
piness, had almost said, the exis,epoe of
the community I Would he soy, tha, he p d
sacrificed on the affairs Of s,raoge idols, white
the guardian genius OF his county ia, onpro-
pitiated In hor neglected shrine Would no
confess, tha, tho sordid ambition, which be.
gins and terminates in self, war the oniy ruis
of his CONDUCT Or, would he give tho only
reason, which ought 10 be received in iu,i6.
cation, in such h case, the u,er impossibilny
Of any practical and beneficial discharge Of
duties 90 momentous With yos, Sir, no
choice remains facts, themselves declare
ath h,sv
iating moMenlo Of talents misspp,ied, ccDa.
denco and power abused, and evoiy noblsr
feeling OF the heart outrageously iosulttd.
Behold then, 10 the aggregate, all ths bess
interests Of State, small indeed il wc ron-
slider oniythsextent Of fitstsrritory, bu' ~ prp-
ulatitn, agricutulre, manufactures ava sm.
mcrcc in refinement, literature, the 'sieo,s
aud patriotIsm OF Ws ri';-~"-, go aHs1, ih,hs-
which contributes 20 political inpof,sb,s,
highly respectable, sacrificed TO the Isw,e.s
ambition of four or FIVE individuals, i,s te,r,,
tory pardtioncd among them by mr,rs aud
bounds, its offices 10 their gift, is judiclsry
undermined, its treasury starved, fraud eps ,
couragcd, guilt patronized, and sven ibo
grades OF society in private life regois,ed by
the smiles aod frowns OF these patrons of
scrvility.---Behold yourself, the prineipsi hg.
urs Ia this scene Of misery sndsde ISOLATION, iike
the spirit Of the storm, rejoicing IN tho havoc
which surrounds you. Such state OF ,hings
seems almost 10 require commotion, which
would agitsto every atom Of our political eic.
ments, arouse tho dormant principle OF mem
tsl aud moral grsvitstion, and sink the d,egs
of intellect to their proper lcvcN
You havo ever wished for the posscsu,eh
Of power; yet not with the view of using 10
Far he bar k,f OC, ,ts OOsh "a
further, from your wishes than this. Ar at
tachment to ones country is by you eonsid.
cred, IL we may be permitted to judge Of
motives by actions, as belonging to that class
Of passions commonly termod ronsh,lc or
cbivalric, which exist only In the distenper.
ed brains OF Iove.siek giris md mad phiioso.
pliers. Indeed, you have turncd your power
10 . much better account. Two methods OF
gaining and consolidating power, presented
themselves: on the ono hand, an open, DIS
interested pursuit Of the necessary reforns7
on the othor, cunning, mysterious and equiv
ocal conduct, calculated to attach TO your
person the admiration and regard Of the nost
vicious mon in the State. You did no, long
hesitate between the two, for tho siissciion
OF affinity, one Of the mos, powerful IN ua,ure.
inclined you to the latter. You saw, 'hst the
establishment Of sn independcn, judiciary,
and the paym, Mt Of the debt, would isoiea
our annual taxes to thirty thoussnd dollars,
and that such an addition might ondshgsr
your popularity with those, Who would choose,
rather, to have no government at all, than bo
obliged to pay for II. You like coDsid-
cred, tba, the dismissal Of twenty y>ise Com
mos Pleas Justices, and The transfer of iDsols
vest petitions from tho Assembly to tho
courts, would greatly lessen your means Of
patronage and eocrsiop. Similar motives
with the addition Of ,hs, desire which Mr..
Bssss felt to save his own share Of the taxes,
prevailed with the other members Of the
Csbal.
You will, perhaps, say, thst you we're nos
in any State stEeevtiIl very recently, and
have, therefore, had no voice in public mess-
ures.--Adnit.ing the truth Of The hrst, I de.
ny the latter What other proof Of your par
,icipstion do We need, thsn the notorious fact,
that nearly all the Offices In the southern eoun.
ties have been filled by your converts md
favoritos l You were content to divide v,,h