Rhode Island Republican

From the National Intelligencer:

THE approaching session of Congress will bring before the public, two of the most important and interesting subjects which have ever arrested the attention of our National Legislature. We allude to the proposed amendment of the Constitution, and the convention for the purchase of Louisiana. On both these subjects the Republicans will have to contend with the ardent and undivided exertions of the Federal Faction. The parts are already cast: Each individual member of the opposition has had his post assigned to him,--the mode of attack and defence has been long concerted--and every inch of the ground will be obstinately contested. To an indifferent observer, the resistance of the enemy will be rendered ludicrously amusing, by the reflection, that almost every individual concerned, in combatting either of these measures, will be at war with his own reason, and struggling against the force of conviction. Like mercenary troops, who are hired to take up arms against their principles and their wishes, they will move on reluctantly to the scene of action; but when their ardor is roused by the heat and tumult of the battle, they will forget the cause in which they were engaged and their ferocity will outstride the impulse of their opinions.

With respect to the proposed amendment of the Constitution, it cannot be doubted that every intelligent Federalist, considering the object abstractly, and without any reference to the preponderance of party, has the fullest conviction that it would be expedient and useful. We have never yet heard a single plausible argument, in favor of an indiscriminate vote in the choice of President and Vice-President. If the thing was ever discussed in the Convention which framed the Constitution, it must have been recommended by some fine spun subtlety of reasoning, which is at present far beyond the reach of comprehension. We are more inclined to believe, that it passed sub silentio, and was adopted without a serious consideration of the nature and tendency of the provision. This may be doing injustice to the wisdom and prudence of that venerable body: but until we have heard some plausible defence of this exceptionable part of a structure, (otherwise approaching to perfection) we are compelled to resort to it as the most rational conjecture.

However the fact may be as to the origin of this provision: Whether it was silently adopted, or whether it was ingeniously supported in theory; practice, experience, reflection, and anticipation, all conspire to convince us, that in this essential particular, the Constitution calls loudly for amendment. Of this there was no Federalist who pretended to entertain a doubt, until it was necessary to doubt, from the hope of defeating the wishes of the people, and the desire of "preserving them from their worst enemies--themselves,"--If they can retain the present mode of voting, until after the next presidential election, they flatter themselves they may have a possible chance of placing in the chair some person whom no individual of either party would elect as a suitable candidate for the first office in the government. Convinced, as they are, that it will be mere "vanity and vexation of Spirit," to attempt to push a candidate of their own; it will be their sole object to thwart as far as possible, the views and wishes of their adversaries.

If they can succeed in ejecting the candidate elected by the people; it would be a matter of almost perfect indifference, to whom the vacant chair should be given. While it shall be filled as it now is, they would as soon attempt to scale the battlements of Heaven, as to pass the impregnable barrier, which stands between them and the accomplishment of their wishes. A change which might happen by a secret coalescence with the Republicans, in favor of the candidate of the second office in the government, would afford them a glimmering hope, and relieve them from the dull despondency of their present hopeless prospect. They have once tried the force of intrigue & corruption. They have once dragged the nation to the very margin of a precipice.--Until the way shall be closed, they will travel in the same course, and are ready to "topple down headlong" with their country, rather than see it prospering in the hands of the present administration.

With these impressions, we shall see every Federalist at his post, in the next legislative campaign, contending against his own reason and conscience, and supporting the present mode of electing the two first officers of the government.

Each man is pledged to his party. He has entered the sanctuary--he has touched the ark of the covenant--and has sworn upon the altar, in the presence of the High Priests of the tabernacle. His faith is in their custody; and to exercise the right of conscience, would be worse than heresy in the sight of his leaders.

But although we may calculate on finding the whole army of federalists in battle array against the measure, yet there can be little doubt that the proposed amendment will be accomplished, before the next Presidential election. Two thirds of both Houses in the ensuing Congress will deem it necessary, and when it shall be proposed by them, we have little doubt but it will be ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States. New-Jersey, North & South Carolina, which have been vibrating for a season, are at length fixed at the point of Republicanism. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, the last Van-Dies of the Union, will undoubtedly hold out to the last. If they should succeed in entangling Vermont in their toils, they will constitute less than one fourth of the whole number of States, and, with all their boasted influence, they must yield to the amendment, or Sever themselves from the Union.

With respect to the business of Louisiana, the same indiscriminate opposition may be expected. The very essence of Federalism at this present day, consists in an unyielding and unqualified resistance to every measure of the ruling powers. Whoever, from the impulse of the moment, is betrayed into an unguarded approbation of a single act of the government, forfeits, at once, with his own party, the character of a Federalist, and, by a summary process, is convicted, condemned and sentenced as an apostate. He can only make atonement, and ward off the execution of his sentence, by a public confession of his folly, and by redoubling his diligence in reproaching, reviling and opposing the very measure he has thus unguardedly approved.

If there be any undiciplined member in the whole corps of opposition, who has suffered himself to speak of the purchase of Louisiana, without condemning it in terms of unqualified abuse, be it known to him, then, that he may save himself from the pains and penalties of political heresy, by joining the pack in full cry, at the next session of Congress, and clamouring without measure or mercy, against the ratification of the treaty, or against the necessary appropriations for carrying it into effect. That all will be ready to make this atonement, may be easily inferred, from the past conduct of the party.

Ross and Morris are relieved from a distressing dilemma, by being relieved from any further engagements in the deliberations of the Senate. We should have been curious to know, what course they would have pursued in answering the arguments which they themselves adduced, at the last session of Congress, to convince the public that the possession of Louisiana was necessary to our existence as a Nation. Pickering and Adams have never committed themselves in the discussion of this subject, and they will therefore be untrammelled in the exercise of their sophistry, and in the exhibition of their strength.

But the efforts of these mighty champions of New-England Federalism will be feeble and unavailing. The subject is already understood by the people. The measure has been matured in the Cabinet. The scope and tenor of the opposition is fully comprehended.--Their labors will be baffled; and the spirit of Republicanism will be again triumphant!!

The next session of Congress will, we trust, witness the commencement of the most important improvement in our Constitution; and the completion of the most interesting change in our local situation, which have ever happened to the government or the territory of the country, since the establishment of the one, and the emancipation of the other.