Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-25

pretended sons Of sanciity and virtue, who
would hurl us to tho pit of perdtion, and de-
nounce US as infdcls, because We do not hap
pen TO contribute TO further the objects of each
and every wandering preacher who secs fit to
| visit our town.
Thatpious clergyman, and "Iqrent Divine,
the Reverend JAMES WILSON, is well ac-
quanted with our society, o'm morals and our
habits and has he thus far discovered that Our
State is the ground for missionary labour, and
| that VIC arc the vile wrctches our foes would
make us! lie has lived with us for the
last forty years, and thus far We venture TO
say, that he has not discovered that We are
any more vile than our neighbours; and we
| know that he will bear witness to our liberal
zeal in support Of the Church. The evidence
Of such man as Mr.. Wilson, is worth far more
than all tho unmcri.ed denunciations Of the
whole tribe Of vagrants, who come among us
from " time to tme," to pour their strains Of
piefy into our ears, merely for the sake ofpick-
ing our pockets; and We venture to assert that
| he will say, that he never met with a more
moral people than the citizens Of Rhode Is
land
We would appeal TO the Reverend NATHAN
| B. CRocKER, a clergyman, who has over been
esteemed by the people for his piety und
| learning, If We thought it necessary to do so,
| to say, if he considers Rhode Island to be so
lost and depraved, as to be subject to tho
charge which has been so swecpinsly and
falsely preferred against US, by wandering
adventurer, who, whilst he professes TO watch
and pray for the happiness Of the people Of
Rhode Island, has his eyes upon the "ser,"
and prays "in sincerity and TRUTH" that hc
may be enabled in the end 10 finger our pock-
ets.-
Ifit were necessary, we could appeal to all
the clergymcn in the town, to say if the cit
izcns of Rhodo-Island are any worse than their
neighbours; If they are peculiarly addicted to
vicious habits, and if our State presents vast
field for missionary labours! We know that
the people Of Rhodc-Island are as moral as any
of their neighbours, and to the eternal credit
OF our Little State, it is emphatically avowed,
that our ancestors were the first to intro
duce the freedom Of conscience and religious
worship, unrestrained by the cdicts ofany par
ticular sect, or established church. Scarcely
day passes over our heads, but what some re-
ligious prctender unaccredcd and unknown,
comes among US, and setting himself up as the
pink of morality, with u degree Of impudence
and insolence, which but for the charm that is
attached to the gown and surplcc, would not
be tolerated, undertakes to tell US, that we
shall all be damned, unless we listen to his ad
vice and follow his infalliblc instructions. If
we need instruction, and reformation, we have
among us, clergymcn whose picty, talents and
learning are well attested, who are capable Of
instructing us, and who are never unmindful Of
the duty they owe to themselves, their country
and their God, and who are watchful Of the
best interests of mankind.
Very recently, q NAV, but who he is, or
from whence he came, we have not been in
formed, has very modcstly told US, that we are
all drunkards, and, in his wisdom, has under
taken to reform us, and to dash from our lips
the nebriating cup. AS TO his sincerity we
know nothing; and we will not undertake to
say, that he is not actuated by pious and pro-
per motives But as he asks us to loosen our
purse strings, and to assist him in creating q
fund, to make us men Of sobriety, his objects
certainly wear very questionable aspect; for
to our minds, it needs no money to make q
man sober, whilst on the contrary it requires
some funds to make a man drunk. Men ofre-
al benevolcnce, in carrying their plans into
execution ask not for cash-and it is known to
most of us, that that philanthropist, the celc-
brated HOWARD, performed all his deeds
of christian philanthropy at his own expense,
and to carry his plans into execution, he ask
) ed no one to support him, or to give him an
extravagant salary.
As to the vice Of Intemperance, it is one Of
the most damning sins that ever befcl ma
ton, and it becomes all good men to make a
vigorous effort to suppress it, and if it were
suppressed the world would be rendered CON-
pletcly happy. That the vice does exist in
hode-Island, We shall not attempt to deny;
and if this press could do any good, it should
be actively employed to put an end to its Grim
} inal existence.
Believing for ourselves, that We have clergy
men enough of our own to protect the morals
Of the State, we are opposed to the idea, Of
having foreigners come among u to preside
over our destinies; and we sincerely believe,
that tho varv ahia and aIoouapf discourao