The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-11-26

with the solitary exception that the presi-
dent shall be a rafipe born citizen. With
such an organization and object, therefore
every law or regulation at variance with the
will, or at war with The interests of the peo.
pie, is, its shi,ifs, null aod void, aod oush,
10 be repealed. In most, if not in all OF the
governments in wha, is called the civilized
void, (our own accepted) there arc fou'
seperaie and distinct classes Of society,",
those Of royat bloodi 2, the nobiiiy5 s, the
hriesthood aud, 4, all The resl eJ me hofa!a.
zion. Az the FIRST three exisl only upon and
through denial OF NATURAL RIoHTs 10 the
fourth, an uneoly combination is formed be-
tween them 10 carly On perpetual war
against the peopis--and on the suctess OF II
mainly depend their rank, distinction and
fortune. And SO they manage by blaspho'
NOUS Interpretations OF the will OF God,
and by all sorts OF lying aud fal.ehood, to-
gelher with the hos1er thereby obtaioed Oyet
40 ignorant populace, superadded to- the
force of tae mercenrry bayonet, that the
silly people suppose themselves 70 be the de-
pendents, instead Of the principles 10 the
sovereignty and feel grateful for the re.
laxalion oi an oppressive rule or regulation
which IL may have appeared 10 have been
the policy Of their masters TO adopt. Bui,
in the United States, the people, in their
collective capacity, are superior even to the
constitution, aud every law must necessary.
iy be presumed TO pass for their Advantage.
This is the living principle OF our form of
government, and as ii fails TO opei ate, We ap-
p,oach tows'ds dcspo,ism.
These remarks, on such important sub.
jec,s, may be considered as unnecessarily
ex'ondsi to apply to the purpose for which
we took UP the pen but their principle
cannot be too strongly impressed upon the
mind Of all, and they afford US the most
reaty arguments in favor Of our proposilion,
which Is--!aot fhe Hostage on nezvshohers
should te abolished altogether.
The people, tor their own convenience and
not as source of r,penue, established the
post-ofiice department., and their whole pur-
pose is accomplished, il it bears its own ex.
Penses ;--Ihey do not want any hr.fe, from
It ;--they would rather that all b.. .1nd its
necdiul disbursements should ciiaer remain
with themselves, or be Immediately reimburs.
cd 10 them. X is very irue, that the pns'age
a, present collected OH newspapers does no,
deiray The cost of lranspor,ing ,hcm---being
ooy one cent for each, for any distance ii
within the state in which they are Published
and one cent and an talf, N carried more
than 100 miles and not 10 The state as afore-
sa'd--bu, the charg made upon letters not
only brings up the deficiency, bat c'en'es
considerable prohs 10 the whole. 1star!ish-
Wsnt :-Ssh.s prohl is Sufficient 10 pay tos
ths carriage Of newspapers, fses nf expenss
to soSseribers and, in my opnion, mishs-be,
bes, appropriated 10 tha, purpose. For, In a
government Of laws originating in the peo-
pie, il is of the first considerations thu, they
should bo enabled 10 act undcrstandirgly on
eve'y subject presented TO them : and it
seems that newspapers are the best medium
through which they can form correc, opln-
ions OF 'ncn and things. That the freedom
Of the press is abused, and facts much dis
tor;cd by II, cannot admit Of doubt--for
printers ore not only meie men, but more Ii.
abe than other persons to be acted upon
by crafty and dishonest individuals--s,ilj,
the sober season Of the people at large dis.
criminates between truth and error, and the
ptcss remains 10 be the palladium OF civil and
religious rights. 1t is more powerful than
The sword--lnd, in every country, is the
terror OF tyrans. One free press 10 France
and another in Spain, would, Of their Own
physical force, sink The Bourhons into their
h"'Nc "s'bbaSsubC Au sta "tbtuos ouu Yot
to fight their hosts Of soldiers and p,iests,
coaiesceis~ tinst the people.
The iusiiious Jgsrson, seeing how i'm
portant it was that light should pass among
tho people unobstructed, and feeling that
our ines,imable coosti,ulion, had for its base
Q virtuous anil enlightened Community, long
since proposed an abolition OF the postage
on newspapers. This recommendation did
not prevail, because, perhaps, it was thought
that the pi,tance required for transporting
them was too smIl 10 have any material
effect on their circulation. Bot this was
mistske--a little thing will prevent a man
from doing that which ne Is only haD mei,n-
cd to do; and it is in such a humor, proba-
bly,, that ,ws.thirds Of the subscriptions TO
newspapers are made; and, what is more
su .ngc, very many think thenselveso enti-
lied TO DO called patrons, aud assume IL 10
themselves as q matter OF grace aud |avsr,
TO meet thoie contracts with the editors
Newspapers are regarded as things tha, can
be dispenced with--as costing money that
might be saved. So Is the schooling Of our