Rhode Island Republican

From the True American.

TO THE PEOPLE CALLED
Quakers,
Residing in the State of New-Jersey,
worthy of the perusal, however
of every class of Citizens
in the United States.

[Concluded from our last.]

THE foregoing points of comparison or contrast, are but
a few of the most prominent. The
same disagreement may be traced
through almost all the official acts
and sentiments of the two Presidents. in fact, not a trait of that
peaceful, economical, prudent, & liberal
policy which distinguished the
administration of Washington, is discoverable in that of Adams: which
is remarkable only for profligacy,
turbulence, corruption, and oppression.

Let not henceforth the ashes of
Washington be disturbed, to cover
the living guilt of Adams. Let not
his respected memory be loaded
with a share of the reproach, which
has justly fallen on the character of
his successor. The principles of
the two were so different, their conduct so directly adverse, that no one
can praise one without conveying a
censure on the other. And those
who applaud Adams, indirectly condemn Washington.

On the other hand, between
the principles of Washington and of
Mr. Jefferson, the most perfect resemblance exists. And those who
bestowed their approbation on the
former, may with consistency and
propriety transfer that approbation
to the latter. You have seen by
the foregoing contrast, as well as
by other documents, what were the
leading traits of Washington's administration: The following extract
from Jefferson's Speech, will show
you what are to be the governing
principles of his:---

About to enter, fellow-citizens,on the exercise of duties which
comprehend every thing dear and
valuable to you, it is proper you
should understand what I deem the
essential principles of our government, and consequently,those which
ought to shape its administration:--
I will compress them within the narrow compass they will bear, stating
the general principle, but not all its
limitations.

" Equal and exact justice to
all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political--peace,
commerce, and honest friendship
with all nations, entangling alliances
with none--the support of the State
Governments, in all their rights, as
the most competent administrations
for our domestic concerns, and the
surest,bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies--the preservation
of the general government in its
whole constitutional vigor, as the
sheet anchor of our peace at home
and safety abroad-a jealous care
of election, by the people--a mild
and safe corrective of abuses which
are lopped by the sword of revolution, where peaceable remedies are
unprovided---absolute acquiescence
in the decisions of the majority, the
vital principles of republics, from
which is no appeal but to force, the
vital principle, and immediate parent of despotism-a well disciplined
militia, our best reliance in peace.
and for the first moments of war,
till regulars may relieve them--the
supremacy of the civil over the military authority--economy in the
public expense, that labor may be
lightly burthened-the honest payment of our debts, and sacred preservation of the public faith -encouragement of agriculture, and of
commerce as its handmaid--the
diffusion of information, & arraignments of all abuses at the bar of
public reason--freedom of religion
--freedom of the press, and freedom
of person, under the protection of
the Habeas Corpus--and trial by juries impartially selected."

From the character Mr. Jefferson has always sustained, we have
no reason to doubt that the above
sentiments were the legitimate offspring of his heart ; and that he will
strictly adhere to the principles here
announced as those which " shall
shape his administration." Judge,
then for yourselves, whether he is
worthy of your support, or deserving
of your confidence ? And whether
those who calumniate and abuse
him, and condemn or misrepresent
his measures, are actuated by good
motives ; or whether their hearts
are not desperately wicked, and the
poison of adders under their lips.

I shall now leave you seriously
to reflect on the brief statement I
have made : and your candor. love
of truth, and good intention, will, I
doubt not, guide your judgment to
a just conclusion.

A Friend to Peace, Liberty,
and the Constitution.