The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-08-14

kICSS VI ttlC CilIlSQ oates.
SNS
Several Gases &. ie,,r, pronounced to
bc OF malignant Dpe have occurred at
New I ork. rIgnl new cases were rc-
ported 10 the Board o. Health on Friday
last The report Oh the following day
Was more favorable, Oui one new case
being reported.
The heaith OF our cities is generally
good. In lhls town the health oi the nl.
haoiianls, at this season OF the year, was
never better.
Ii will be recollec,ed that some time
Since, III consequence Oh some represen-
sations to the Navy Department, Court
OF Inquiry was instituted TO examne in
to the Affairs OF the Navy Yard at Charles.
town, Mass. which terminated in the ex.
culpation OF Capt. Hull, the command.
ant at that depot, aud MIR. Binjy, the
Navy Agent O! that station. both of whom
had been charged with NAL. practices, by
Capt. Stewart and Lieut.. Abbot, both of
the Navy. Thsreupon Capt. S. and
Lieut.. a. were arrested OH charges,
touching the allegations made by them,
tried by u Court Martial, held at Boston,
and sentenced, the former to six months,
and the latter to two years suspension
from command The proceedings in
these trials have been the subject OF much
warm and animated discussion in most OF
the Boston papers and others in different
parts o. the United States. IN che course
of THESE discussions the names OF several
distinguished persons have been called in
question among the rest, that of Capt.
Porter, one OF the Navy Board. A Bat
timore paper gave uo;lce that seYic, O.
numbers cmtTaclng d mlnu,e inquiry III.
60 the subject, would be commenced in
that paper; whereuron Capt. Porter
Nrot. the Editor a note commanding him
to deslst, threatening him with prosecu-
ton, and all such editors as shouldrepub.
fish his structures. Tins did not seem
70 produce the desired e!scci, aad Ii,
gallant captain ia, sut iJund himaell IL
aeon p.,.c hornets nest, from which he
l,a, attempted to extricatc hHnscli BY an
uppe,.. 10 tie public. We regret ex-
rcGnclt that Capt Porter should have so
f.r forgotten what is due to himself, as
well rs 10 the people, who both feed and
cio'he him, as thus to attempt putting
shackie on the liberty of the press---ii be
is an honest man, he ought to court in.
garry, and the more strict and minute the
better satisfied he ought to be. Did
Capt. p. for a moment suppose that by
his mandate lie could establish gag law
or curtail the freedom of DISCUSSION
mons,rous presumption!
he people ofthis country have been
too much accustomed to consider men in
office as their masters or rulers; and
they themselves, many Of them, have I'M
bibcd the same ridiculous notion. BE
it known to such, that every man in Of
flee, from the President, and the several
state executives, down to the most triv.
ial officer, Is nothing more or less than a
SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE. 1t ought
to be SO distinctly understood. The
most able, the m ,st faithful, and the most
capable men, should be employed in pa-
ces of the greatest trust, and where the
greatesttalents are requiste--they should
be respected alike with all other honest
nen--bu, let it never be considered they
are our masters or rRers-and let them
never shrink from free and full discus
sion Of their official conduct---abovc al
let them never dare to threaten with the
terrors of the law, those who may think
proper to call their conduct in question,
unless their character be wantonly and
maliciously assailed. For however ele.
waited they may lncy themselves, the
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