The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-07-13


which they fought; but also that for which
they did not fgLt,) imperishable honor and
glory.
The war, however, was at last ended -
the victory was won ;-Independence was
achieved: and we can now look back dis
passionateIy at the history of those times !;
coolly dwell on circumstances which then
stung the colonists even to madness We
can regard the British, as we do all other
nations, "Enemies in War, in Peace
friends" vet every American should re-
member, that as a Government, and to a
certain extent, a rival Government whose
people speak the same language, are en-
gagged in many of the same pursuits,
which has large Province contiguous to
us, on one side; possessing several Colo
nies in the Islands on the other side, and
claiming to be the Mistress Of tie Ocenn,
the very elements whereon we have often
met her, and nearly as often as we have
met her, could say, with our gallant Perry,
" We have met the enemy, and they are
ours" not merely that they were our enc :
mics, but, that having been our enemies,
they were our captivcs, our prizes, and our
prisoners: in this point of view, ! say that
there cannot be, there never has been, be-
tween us and them, that kind of friendship
which may well subsist between individuals,
or in private societies.
If English publications; if the speeches
made in their Parliament; if the writer's OF
travels and tours, who have visited the
country, and caricatured and DETAINED us,
and our institutions, furnish either sngIy or
together, any standard byi which to judge
of the feeling of the British Government
towards our country, then we hesitate not
to say, that they entertain "A deep rooted
jealousy of the prosperity of the United
States, in its Maritime, Commercial, aud
Naval affairs 1T is natural that such q
sentiment, after defeat in two wars, should
SO prevail and it is equally proper that we
should be aware of the fact, and be con-
stantly on our guard against It's probable
effects. On this subject policy would die
tate to us the language of the willy Trojan
>, T'imeo Danaos, et dona terentes," Il fear
the Greeks, even when they make us pres
ents.
Having thus explained to you the topics
that it was deemed incxpedient TO enlarge
upon, chiefly on the ground, that with them,
you must be already fully acquainted that
TO you, as well rs to any of our countrymen
the CAUSES of the Revolution, as well ms the
INCIDENTS, "by field and flood" that oc-
Cured in the prosecution of il, to its final con-
summation, from the burning of the Gas
pee, and the stormng of Bunker-hil-to
the surrender of ~ British Army, under
CORVALLIS, at Yorktown, that the names
OF Washington, Greene and Perry of
Hancock, Adams and Warren; are "fa-
miliar as household words" let us turn our
attention for moment, to what may be
deemed Of vastly more consequence 10 us
Of the present day: to consideration of
the CONSEQUENCES of that Revolution. so
far forth as they have been already devel-
opcd by the progress of time and to such
others as speculation may body forth, as
dependent on futuiity.
These, shall be presented to you, under
the first part of the proposition, without re-
gard to any chronological order or arrange
ment; because they do not seem either to
admit of or require it: some of them have
been silently and simultaneously working
themselves into obvious notice, by n rradu-
al and impercep,ihlc action; whilst others
have been Of such a cast and character. ne
admit Of noticing their operations from be-
ginning TO end.
OF the CONSEQUENCES that have resulted
from the War Of the Revolution, the first in
point of Importance, rs having command
ing and controlling power over some others.
that will be mentioned, was the adoption of
the Constitution and we owe unbounded
and endless gratitude to the men, who with
sagacity enough to frame it as system of
General Government, had sufficient in,rep-
edity to propose it for adoption, to thirteen
distinct, and independent States, then as
well as now having differing and conflicting
Interests; and perseverance enough almost
q gainst hope, to cause its adoption by them
all. Ii is needless to consider its provisions
in detail, although occasion will be taken
10 mention some of them: it is sufficient,
at this moment to say, that it proposed TO
Ihe American people a glorious experiment
in self government by. laws; capable of al
most unlimited extent, as to its geographic
cal application, and vet leaving all the or
lginai states, together with such new ones
ms might thereafter be admitted into the
Union, in the possession and enjoyment of
their own distinct Sovereignty: an experi-
ment, which if unsuccessful, must have in
yoiyed this whole country IN on, ,,,,,,oo