The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-11-12
MR. JOHNSON'S LETTER.

1rous that we Law before our readers the eloquent
letter of A. B. JOHNSON, Esq of Utica, to his friend,
the Hon. NATHAN Williams, of Geneva. MIR.
johnson has touched several of the great questions
which now agitate the country, with the hand OF a
master; and we hazard nothing in saying that ev-
ery republican will he gratitied with its perusal.
Mr. J. is n gentleman of fortune who has much to
lose. while he can gain nothing by bad rulers.
He is a man of retiring habits, and although he
early took the side of democratic principles, he
has never taken very active part in politics, ex-
cent on those great occasions when the country was
in danger of some great evil, either from without or
Within In the time of the last war, when the fed
eralists threatened to nullify the law providing for
calling out the militia to defend the country, Mr. j.
was the Secretary, and his friend Judge Williams
the President of great republican meeting in On
cida, assembled for the purpose of maintaining
tho laws, and upholdng the government against all
its enemies When the country again threat
ened by an enemy more dangerous to our liberties
than the British-when the Bank and its partisans
were attempting by panic and pressure to bring
bout civil revolution, Mr.. J. once mere came be-
fore the public; and those who read the Argus will
not have forgotten the able speech which he made
in March last lat a meeting of the friends of the adj
ministration in Utica. Again do we commend this
letter to the attention of our readers.
OF the late PANIC and its AUTHORS, Mr.. Johnson
Justly observes and rcbukes them in manner wor-
thy of remembrance.
How wonderful the goodness of Providence in
the abundant harvest of the past SUMNER contrasts
with the wckedness of man in the affections of last
winter! Heaven by a dispensation Of more than
ordinary general health, tranquility, contentment,
and prosperity, seems To rebuke the-imprecatIon of
war, pcscnce and famine, which infuriated
statesman dared once to utter, and which the events
of the last winter sought to produce, as far as the
mischief so gigantic is placed within the power of
man.
Opinions may differ as the origin of the late
troubles, but all must admit that opponents adop
ted them as political weapon. If they caused not
the conlagration, they famed the flame and scram-
bIed for plunder. Were the mischcfs of the winter
indctabe offence, aver as n lawyer, and as the
best dictate of my judgement, that few of enc
mics could escape conviction as accessories.
The cruel acts under which the country suffered,
may have been commenced without concert but they
resulted in daring conspiracy to obtain, by sort of
Sabine rape, the suffrages of the people. An organ
lied party became intent to rule ruin, a
hand of mutinccrs who should hold torch to fire
the powder magazine Of ship if the captain would
not yield to their control. We bcleld reversal of
the common princi pie of human nature. Men re-
joiced at their own embarrassments, and merchants
proclaimed commerce at an end. Notes of the most
solvent banks were denounced, in the same breath
that cried, like Sarah Of old, give money or we
die Bankruptcy no longer excited pity, but undis-
guiscd qualification. The meritorious the VIC
tim, the louder was the shout of triumph. The
stable the fabric that sunk before the Storm
the more diffused became the exultation. Magni-
ty cmulated death, in its love of shining mark.
While these events were transpirng within every
mars observation, falsehood and exaggeraon filed
the opposition newspapers, and made terror and dis
tress epidemic. sort of friendly cross-fre was q
carried OH between distant cities The north pub
shcd lies in aid Of the panic at the SOUTH and the
south published lies in aid the panic the north
run on banks for specie recommended and @
for the avowed purpose of producing ruin. Like l.
skilu nquistors, who said to know the parts of
4 human body that most sensitive to torture ed n
orS directed the panic with equal skill to the banks
and Individuals which were most accessible injury.
OF THE PROSCRIPTIVE CONDUCT OF Il
TtiE BANK JUNTO, he gives the following pic
tnrc, which reflects the conduct of the Bankites in
tins State, most accurately. A more infuriacd mo- !,
incnt no country ever exhibited. Mechanics dis :,
missed their journcymen for exercising freedom of
Opinon, and merchants dismissed their aborers. =
sloop load of wheat was wilfulIy precluded market
in the city of n York, and wifully returned to Al
bany. Multitudes of men, under the names of COM
mittces, were poured into Washington to ntmidatc
the President, and to debate personally with him on
The discharge of his constitutional duties. Lcgisla- J.
tiOn IN Congress ceased, and the speeches of the
members were declared interminabc, and the coun-
try was pronounced in a state of revolution. The
"'uS '" "e government were Ill every part Oh the ,
country sought to be overawed and browbeatcn.
Even the humble individual who is addressing
you, for presumng in Utica, where he has lived since
Pc was fourteen years old, to utter peaceably his
thoughts on the passing events, was deemed fit
tictm to the madness of the moment Handbs of
I'c vlest character, As am told, for never read
isem) directedto me by name, were posted over the
tity and the surrounding towns to take from all
hat ever asked from my fellow citizens-ther good
gpiniOn. Even my house was entered i'm the night, |
lad these ofsprings of intolerance scattered
bund the domestic altar, in the faces of noffensive
hildreu and females.
So systematic were the efforts which have fee
iy enumerated, so furious the onset, and so
beriay was our state the object of attack that |