The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-08-14

see among you hero many soldier Of tho
Revolution. Ask them fin the whole his
tory OF that war for independence they ev-
er knew OF such a case /? And under whose
command ives q militiaman put to death IN
the late war with Great Britain II the
General wfo then commanded on our own
frontier, WHO resides among US here, had
singled out a Minister of the Gospel, or a
father Of u family, or son ofa Revolution
ary soldier, and shut down six OF our ne: :gh-
b0rs or friends Ut a morning, under the pre-
text ot mutmy or desertlon in the militia,
he would have been followed to this day
with the unningled scorn and detestatlon
vi society, and hIs name would never have
been PRONOUNCED without a secret thrill Of
horror and disgust. ifthese men had been
even guiItyof any military crime, the IN:
humanity II ordering such sentence 10
be execntej on them all, shows reckless
nes- ofhuman life affecting 10 every feeling
heayt. When we reflect too that by that
rasrend uDiecling deed of blood, fathers
and husbands were lost TO their families
and th..Jten taken from their aged parents.
we may tbrm some faint conception OF the
desoln,io. in society that followed the ex.
ecutioB 81 that sentence. Even then we
|
our own joil--the eyed widow is not
mongst,s here-the unprotected children
which 1--we been thrown on an unfeeling
world az not st our own door, and the LOCKS
Of that q ay haired soldier of Washington
who was there berett by General jackson
of his scY, have not whitened with sorrow
under o. own eyes.
During Napoleon's campaign in Russia,
General Aalcl conspired against the In.
perial GtbernmeDt, and had nearly posses
sed himsilf OF Paris. A new RevolutloE
had aimyt reached the point OF surces
when thiTinperor fastened his return. b,
the actlvhy and fidelity Of the local author
tiles the treason had been crushed and Ma
let with twenty four of his associates were
condemned to death. I'reipe we're shot OF
the plain of Grenelles before the Emperor
reached Paris. The late biographer OF
Napoleon speaking of this execution, says,
! -" He was startled by the number of ex
ecufiOns, and acclaimed against the ndIs
crminate severity with which so many 9th
GERS had been pu, to death, although rath.
or dupes than accompllces Of the principal
consplrator" II Is ''dhldsSocrs' he SAID
"a ftsiitade Whui impression wiH II mak'
: on Pdrss ~ Such was the exclamation al
, Napoleon BOnaparte when he spoke OF the
punishment of twelve acknowledged ral.
, tors who aimed at the subversion of his
tnrone and the destruction ofhls iatnily al
~, he exclaimed ga massacre a JtsiHade'
- land yetthe blood of half q million q
! + enchnen had flowed to establish nnd
preserve him on the throne ofFrance. The
oficers who conspired against his throne
:, and his life, had received their rank ant
nonors from his hands. They had swor,
ileglance 20 hrs government, and wer,
, confessed uaitors. Yet Napoleon was con
'cious thatby this unfeeling severity, ever
. n the stern administration of justice, hi
very throne was weakened. The success
sive firing in the environs of Paris rathe
indicated The usilade of platoons between
5 contending armies than the punishment o
he public purity. lie knew that the frs
tccling ol Frenchmen wGs for the glory o
. ne Frtuth arms, but while he knew ths
? 'hc Frcich People would Enthusiast ical!,
J sustain the conquerer Of Europe, lie knew
as well that tkcy would detest tho tyran
D fwho could approve of pouring out the bloc,
IT Frarce SO freely, even under the tnruu
I Justice. rsapocon judged rightly of tht
human desr. when he asked: +" Vhat I'M
y lSeSsion IciB II make en- Paris 2" May ",
not nsk Ourselves, tco, IN this far hcrltng,
! freedom, what impression hes The exc
4" tltlon Of the Six Mi;iianen made on Ill,
= Free rcaple of America This question j
y 10 be aaswcsed by the free born militia o
u our connty. Let them LOOK ToIr. The,
u are the SOLDIERS of THEIR COuNTRY.-
IL May they never bottle SLAVES OF JY
i TANT. To THEM has been committed ~
defence of the precious inheritance we hav,
I received from our fathers. Let them re
t member that while THEY arc iaithful to IN,
5 cause ofFrcedom and their Country, ALI
y IsskFE--but when THEIR love Of hber,,
s has been subducd or corrupted. and SOM
u aspiring Cheilain shall have put his foo
q upon THEIR necks, YHEtR Country /
FOREVER LOST.
c We are invoked, my friends and fellow
y counlrymen, by all that should animate u
as fathers and children and brethren, I
g stand Up mnnially in that CAUSE which ha
!, brought rs together here. IL IS no, our ow
>. cause. sti the cause Of our children. TIL
u privileges with which Heaven has blesse
= our Country in our day, are not otr ow
. only. We hold theG, ms sacred trust 70
: our pos;eri.g. To triiie with our duty o
y this point, IS worse than folly. II is mad
r ness and impiety. "REsfsTANCE TO TY
$ RANNY is oyEDIENct TO Con" In thi
I u0Ly CAUSE humanity Pleads our Violate,
;, civil liberties plead--our insulted Cons,i
Q tuition plcads the sufierin.s ofour fathers
y the blood as the Revolution and Religion
. iiself with the People Of America, that the,
! do not disappointment tue expectations o
the world.