The Rhode Island Republican

FOR THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN.

TO THE REPUBLICANS OF RHODE-ISLAND!

Rhode-Island, in her political station, stands equally high with the first State in your nation. She is sovereign and independent in her individual capacity, and effectually equal in her political confederation. Yet Massachusetts is jealous of Virginia. Need you be warned against jealousy! It is the curse of families, in private life; and among confederated nations, it is the curse of those nations. It crawls into domestic establishments-it feeds on air-it soon acquires strength, and tramples on their felicity. Though weak and contemptible at first; though it wilts and it dies in the sunshine of reason; yet unchecked, it grows like a giant, and soon prostrates a nation. Would you guard against the monster?

Travel back to the birth of your constitution: view the spirit of conciliation: view the necessity for it: see the feuds and the evils-the variety of interests and of prejudices which it removed, and composed, and settled: consider the immense advantages which you derived from your Union: view the vast southern country before you: consider yourselves as her great exporters: consider that the very ship, which carries her produce, is equipped by her materials. Will you sacrifice to folly, these important advantages? Will you madly force Virginia and the Carolinas to become their own exporters; or foolishly consent to divide the mighty profits with the subjects of European despots? Will you descend from the elevated station, which you now hold in the commercial world, to the mere mockery of commerce? Will you be willing to exchange these great advantages, for the pitiful exportation of a few barrels of pork-of fish and of potatoes? No, you will not.

You will spurn the wretch, who advises you to it. You will spurn the wretch who talks of negro representation; to which representation, at the adoption of your constitution, he advised and even endeavoured to bribe some of you to submit.

You will exclude such a man from your confidence. You will rightly think that he never would submit to such national degradation and disadvantage, were he not hurried away by passion, or governed by private interest-were he not in heart, a traitor, or in mind, a fool. Republicans, are there such men among you? Be assured there are. Republicans, at this important moment, enquire for yourselves. In the name of your liberty-in the name of your country-in the name of your God, I pray you, enquire. Your national prosperity-your national rights-and even your national existence-and your sacred religion are now at stake.

A FREEMAN.