The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-08-12

side, wealth and high sounding names, and conse-
qunt influence; much Learning too we admit.
wish could, also add, much disinterestedne.; for
that would be the desirable qualification for the high
office you have assumed, Of teaching the people,
how to vote. But admitting all these things; where
are you who are youl where shall the people find
you, or know you when found! In old countries
the arstocracy in a permanent, stationary body !;
but if that be the character you would assume pray
do give us your marks and numbers, that we may
give credit to no spurious mpostors Say that such
a sum Of money such an education shall cOnsti-
tute a Counsellor.
But then alas how shall we guard against the
constant mutations Of money, from hand to hand,
from family to family, in this speculating country
and how shall we measure the mental qualifications
of the Caleb Quotems of u Country, whose versatil-
ty of genius is proverbial
The embarrassment was ever great, but IS vastly
increased by your own shifting forms. Shall the
people be led by federal lghts' BE it so. They
seek for these infallibe guides; and 10 they are
not to be found new sect has taken their place,
called Wings or by some other name. If we con-
suit their tenes, and ask whether they those Of
their predecessors the answer is yes. and no, ac
cording to circumstances which circumstances are
a new mystery The people ask for bread, and you
give them stone they look for light, and find
naught but darkness.
If you were federalists we should know were to
turn for federal doctrines and could learn how to
shape our course in conformity; if Whigs we could
90 back to old England, and find the arguments and
measures used in opposition to aristocratic rulers
or we could consult the Wings of our own revolu-
ton. But we have neither alternative /: and your
language is obscure that of the Pithian oracle
You puzzle us again, by calling yourselves Re-
publicans, and sometimes Democrats. This we
thought we understood, but your versions of it are
to unintegible.
We must then conclude with you, that the people
are too ignorant to understand their own interest,
and too corrupt to be trusted with the uncontrolled
use Of the ballot box. And now having come to this
concusion are'ready to agree to any honeac
you may propose leading to good Government, for
of the ends of conference. We say honest en-
phaticaly, because canno. admit of any kind of
fraud, mental reservation or deception. Nor can
you as of the party possessing large
share of public and private morality propose any
tnlnS OF tne Sort
We abandon the voice of the people, since it cam
not be obtained in its purity, for the want of those
wise prompters, who we thought we had found in
your ranks but who now, like fitting shadows, es-
cape grasp.
Now gentlemen 1t for you to propose substitute
for popular elections; which you admit have been
too ufton deceptive to be trusted again. Say if you
please, that man shall be an elector who is not
worth $4,000. This is what yon would eventually
come to /; and since it is so desirable result, we
had better arrive at itby bold leap, than creep
through thousand degrading and disgraceful wind
ngs. HONEST Policy.
We are apt to consider the election of members
of Congress, of less importance than that of our
Governors, and other state officers
But New-Englanders who reflect on the source OF
their prosperity and take into view their inferiority
in climate and SOIL must be aware, that any course
of policy, which may put at hazard their present
means of thrift is to them matter of serious import.
1t does not require much penetration to forctell
that if general government were to fall into the
hands of the opponents of the present administration
they would feel themselves under the necessity o'
pursuing course dametrically opposite to the one
now i'm progress Now: what would be the conse-
quenccs In the first place the United States Bank
would he re-chartered, with fifty, or one hundred
millions ofcapital probably hence every State Bank