The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-09-16

fhi3 dotef uitnetion. ~ 10 an astonishing ana
disgiacsfur fact, that such is the political sp-
Sthy Of your county, that one-iwen,ieih Of It's
freeholde.s are not registered. The only
privilege which the people eieit, 10 the C.
fectfve franchise, and even this, II seems,
they have not tho spirit to exercise Alter
this, what right has Ireland TO complain, il,
eiseer on the window tax question, or any
other question, representatives, will net give
themselves even the trouble Of crossing the
channel If you are con,ented to submit TO
this degradation, il is not for me 10 murmer,
capable as am, BY my own conduct, Of re-
dceming myself individually. As hear,
however, that some Of yoos news-toom Wis
cacres have taken oGcnce At an expression in
my address, and as every msp who puts him.
self politically forward, should be able 10 give
a reason ior I" the faith that is in him." you
shall have Dipe freely and fearlessly. The
declaration fwass tha, IL che next parliament
be like. the last, We may write the epItaph CT
.he British. constituiion. L repeat il now,
and Ifur,her add, that tits quite. impossible
.tnings can 60 on, unless there be some
change, either in the members we return 70
hat house, OF in The constitution Of that house
itself. A'e you aware, that OF what il. called
The house of commons, eighty.two peers
81 and thus you have, ont Of $50 members,
487 actually nominated BY 3os. constituents,
and thistbey call tho representation Of f6e
people I If this continues, is there any use
In eieciions~-is there any ose in. petilioniDg,
where hired majori,ies n,.:,fi tho ono,
and borough mongcring irhuence can de-
feat the other Does sny ruvo propose a
efornajioD OF the system He Is immcdi.
al tAt han ro<l
80 Il was J" England, with Fox snd Sheridan,
and the consequences was, shelost Anne lea.
. 30 u was amongst yourselves, with Gfauan
and with Flood, and the consequence was,
those who bopgh, you, sold you. We. were
barteIcd into province, and bst the other
dsy, IN The impeIisi psrliann sn. upon vital
question, seventy five f.yopr memhers left
you at the mercy of pappet majority, who
not only rivited yout chain, but rebUked you
Tor cIankiog il This is the way IN which !
wish to meet the queUiop----uot by empty
defamation, but by stubborn f4cts--fac,s
which arc now recorded 10 our shame, upon
no adaTnan. of hisiory-Look to The conduct
Of the very last parliament, in almost every
instance the echo Of the minister, and the
maicon,ent--which ] will demonstrate, has
done more TO disgrace us abroad, and to en-
slave US 'st home, than nero unequiyural,
unblushing despoism ever could have effect
ed. Look conduct, After pro,rsct.
ed war, u1paralied in its duration, and udpio-
soked in its origin, du'iae which, money
enough was :spcpt TO pprchsse, and blocd 9.
nough shcd!toinsula, e,dthe cont nea,--dur-
Ing which We alternately s0bsidized eveiy
taithiess despot--.now Iibeling the worthless
---now Iauding the msgnanlinous Alexandef
--;p-day, in the hHd with temporizing Aus
,lria--'omorrow, bidding the conyepien, psos-
s'a-now smiling upon PoIaDd's plunder--
now establissisg the Spanish lnquisi,ion---
now Of Amiens, acknowledging the French
consui--now st Waterloo, cheering the
6loody.c'y Of legitimacy. After this base
absndonment Of public princjple--,his bs'
baroas gambling with a nations happiness--
We found ourselves d. hast, cousissen, in noth
log but our Inconsistencies, seated in the le-
gitimate congress- Of Vienna, between the
Northern Aulocrat and q Sc, jeant Of Nspole-
on Was no, this rare, natural consuma-
'ion, well voriy the fraudfol leagues and
bloody infrac,lons which had diversified the
ccotest--wcli worthy the. orphansge and tho
widowhood which had shsdowed EngIsnd
with woe, and the frantic expenditure whic h
has alrnos, beggafd her with ceb This
nss oceu Tue consequences, anos Wnat, 90 you
remember, VIA the motive to this aggres-
sion !--Was 1t the establishment Of human
libcry-was it the advance OF humsn NOR
als--was il the vindica,ion of nationatcharac.
ter--was II even any hieh-toned and heroic
impo,so which flung a facsicious glory over
the warriors progress, and gave the battle
horrors a visionar ius,ifcnlpp Far from it,.
IL was the mos, unjusti6sble motive that ev-
err unsheathed the British sword--the most
Unconstitutional thar ever stained the British
annals. IL was . bare faced interference
with foreign country, in the choice Of irs
own governmsnl---a direct ipfraction Of the
very principls upon which England founded
her glorious rcvoIu,ion. n-wasa Legislative
denunvis'ion Of the doctrine acted on in loss,
proe'aifning James martyr, and Willism an
usurpcr, and the people no better than rebel.
lious regieides! This. war, however, OF
course, had is prctcnces. Its fret, was the
French rcpublic--urivep from this, its mex,
was peace and retribuuos,. Indemnity and
security vas the Prcmicr's -whoop--and
..,k.s L.. ~. L. l. L.