The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-12-18

was equal, in patriotic merit, TO the opposition
our Fathers offered 10 the oppressive laws of
Great Britain. You were tolc that this opposi.
tion nigh, be peacsabe might be constitution.
ally nade-that you might enjoy all tho advan.
toges of the Union and bear mono Of its burthens,
eloquent appeals to your passions, to your State,
pride, to your native courage, to your sense of
real injury, we're used TO prepare you for the
period when the mask which concealed the
hideous features Of DIsusIoN, should be taken
or IL fell, and you W ere made to look with
comPlccency on objects which not long since
you would have regarded with horror. Look
back to the arts which have brought you to this
state--look forward 10 the coDss quences to
which 1t must inevitably lead Look back to
what was first told you az an inducement In on
ter into this dangerous course. The great po-
liiical truth was repeated to you, that you had
the revolutionary right Of resisting all laws that
were palpably unconstitutional and intolerably
oppressive--it was added that the right to null
hfy law rested on the same principle, but that
IT was a peacesbls remedy! This character
which was given TO it, made you receive with
too much confidence the assertions that were
made Of the uncenstitutionality, of The law and
its oppressive effects.
Mark, my fellow-citizens, that by the admis-
sion OF your leaders the stitutionality must
be Palpable, or il will not justify either rssis-
truce or nulliAcaiion. What is the meaning Of
the word PALPABLE in the sense in which il is
here used !-that which is apparent to every one,
that which no man Of ordinary intellect will fail
to perceive 10 the unconstitutiona lity Of these
laws of that description Let those among
your leaders who once approved and advocated
the principle Of protective duties, answer the
question !; and let them choose whether they
will be considered as incapable, then, of per-
ceiving that which must have been apparent
to every man Of common understanding, or as
imposing upon your confidence, and sndeavor-
ing TO mislead you now. In either case, they
are unsafe guides in the perilous path they
arge you to tread. Ponder we'll on this circum-
stance, and You will know how to appreciate the
exaggerated language they address to you -
They are not champions Of liberty emulating
the fame Of our Revolutionary Fathers, nor are
you an oppressed people,, contsnding, as they
repeat to you, against worse than colonial vas
salage You are free members ofa fourishing
and happy Union. There is no settled design
to opprsss you. You have indeed felt the un-
equal operation Of laws which may have been
unwissly, not unconstitutionally passed but
that inequality must necessarily be removed
Al the very moment wheE you were madly
urged on to the unfortunate course you have
begun, change in public opinion had sommen-
ced. The nearly approaching payment Of the
public debt, and the consequent necessity of a
diminution of duties, had already produced a
considerable reduction, and that too on some ar
ticlss Of general consumption in your State.
The importance of this change was understood
and you were authoritatively told that no fur
ther alleviation ofyour burdens was to be ex-
pected, at the very time when the condition OF
the country imperiously demanded such mod
ihcation of the duties rs should reduce them to
a just and equitable scale. But, as if apprehsn-
sive ofths effect Of this change in aaying your
discontcnts, you were prcciptatod into the
fearful state In which you now find yourselves
] have urged you to look back 20 the
means that were used to hurry you on
to the position you have now assumed,
and forward to the consequences it will
produce. Something more is necessary.
Contepplate the ceEdit;an of that cean.
try OF which you still form an important
part !-consider its government uniting
in one. band of common interest and gem
eral protection SO many different States
giving to all their inhabitants the
proud title Of American Citizens-protect.
ing their commerce-secnring their lit.
erature and their arts-facIlitating their
intercommunication-- defending their
frontiers-and making their name re-
spected in the remotest parts of The
earth Consider the extent of its terri
tory-its increasing and happy popula-
tion-i,s advance in arts, which render
life agreeable, and the sciences which e.
evate the mind: See education spread.
ing the lights Of religion. humanity, and
general Information into every cottage
in this wide extent ofour Territories and
State Behold it as the asylum where
the wretched and the oppressed find q
refuge and support Look on this pic
ture of happiness and honor, and say,
WE, TOO ARE CITIZENS OF AMERICA: Car
olina is one of these proud States: her
arms have defended; her best blood has
cemented this happy Union! And then
add, if you can. without horror and re-
morse, this happy Union we will dissolve
this picture Of peace and prosperity
we will deface-this free inte recourse we
will interrupt-these fertile fields we will
deluge with blood--the protection oftha,
glorious flag we renounce-the very
name of Americans we discard. And
for what, mistaken men for what do
you throw away these inestimable bles-
sings-for what would you exchange
your share in the advantages and honor
of the Union? For the dream Of a sep
arate independence--a dream interrupt.
ed by bloody conflicts with your neigh
bors, and a vile dependence on a foreign
power. If your leaders succeed in es-
tablishing a separation. what would be
your situation I Are you united at home
ARE you free from the apprehension OF
civil discord, with all its fearful conss-
quences I! Do our nsighboring republics,
every day suffering some new revolution
or contending with some new insurrec-
tion-do they excite your envy? But the
dictates of a high duty oblIge me solemn
ly To announce that you cannot succeed
slyL<a l.,.u. e, e H. IIxssad S4ax<u L n