The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-07-03
REV. e. X. AVERY

that it was very liable TO misinserprcta-
ton. What zee intended should be con-
veyed by the signature, was, that we
wou,d endeayor 10 send forth truth from
many points-but under various forms or
shapes-ehanging from one point to ano-
,her, and still keeping truth as our aim.
Such was the more easy, rs well as the
more natural course for us to take. Nor
do we suppose that change OF form I'M
plies change of principle. We think
ave can he "Proteus" without being
call things to all men," This change was
never alleged against us--and the only
enemies we hive nre those whom we gdt
for fearlessly expressing what we' hon-
estly conceived to be the truth-by truth
we mean what ever conduces TO the gen.
eral good. Our style, mann r and matter
will be changedble-but truth honor, JUS
tice, shall remain essentially the same
one and indiyisible geable-lhe
polar star of our pen. If we can win her
more effec,ually under various forms and
changes-thuse forms and changes being
within the bounds of utility-we can see
no reason why we should not thus win
her. The monster vice assumes It's thou
sand forms-still it is vice and essenti-
ally the same. Soon the other hand
virtue may appear in her thousand forms
each possessing its peculiar charm
vet, virtue in its own essence is the same
We hope this explanation viii prove sat
isfactory--and we will now -rccur to our
task, and harrow the ground that we
ploughed last week.
We may, as doubtless we shall, incur
the ill-wll of those who come within the
sphere of our observations If they are
offended because of the facts we shall
disclose-we cannot help it. We do not
intend to sit ourselves up as censor gen.
eral. The same rule by whichwe would
measure others-by the same rule, under
UKecIrcumsruncrs would 10 ,noas~red
This, we think, is fair dealing. is 1t not
Justice I? To combat vice we must ex-
pose the authors, however unpleasant
the task mny be. '.Rebuke wise man
and he will love thee; but he that rebuk-
eth wicked man get,e,h himself blot"
Our remarks may be felt as something
more than rebuke. We think that the
nature of the case calls for something
moro. The ignorance-ihe incompetent
CIV, and the shameful criminality, which
has been exhibited by the co-workers in,
and governors of the Avery plot, shall,
he me, in this instance, as justice shall
dictate. Public acts are public property
not only the individual, but the state,
and the county are interested therein
and when criminal misconduct shall be
committed under these circumstances, il
behooves the public to look after the au-
thors and reward them according to their
works. If we would sustain public and
private virtue, let i, be respected, and
receive that homage which is its due. II
we would have n healthy state of things,
the doers Of dark deeds sLould be laid
open, whatever may be their callings
When community, n state, or coun.
try, shall pu, its refo on such exposure,
then liberty shall have already sunk
meath her horizon, ,and her dim shadowy
twilight shall but for q moment send fortl
her expiring glmmor ere she be eniomb
ed in utter darkness 10 sleep her death o.
ages
Ii is admitted on all hands that the
peculiar situation Of Jury should cx.
cmpt them from public animadvcrsion
But when in consequence Of this immu
nifty, there shall be found those SO shame.
lessly lost to honesty as TO seek 10 place
themselves on the high seat Of Justice for
in'quiious purposes intending to shield
themselves with the privilege Of their
caling-ihcy should he dragged from
that sacred security, which they have
thus prosiituted: and made 10 know
that the high calling which they have
violated in the face oftru,b and justice