Rhode Island Republican

Philadelphia, Dec. 3.

The federal papers in the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut have of late been filled with denunciations and threats of excommunication against the people of the state of Rhode-Island, for having dared to exercise the right of opinion on that subject, for which they are only accountable to Providence. It has been usual with the priests of New-England to set apart one day, and sometimes more, of every year for thanksgiving and prayer, but unfortunately instead of sermons having for their object the promotion of morality, and good will towards man, canting speeches, replete with anti-republican political doctrines have been substituted--instead of being themselves examples of that patience and resignation which should characterize men in their situation, as teachers of their flocks--they have displayed in many instances their utter want of those virtues, and have descended from the high station of "lights to the world"~to that lowest of all, defamers; they have converted the pulpit into a place from whence only denunciations against their fellow-citizens, because of their difference in politics, have been pronounced. Republicans who had frequented their churches to hear the words of a friend, and had been obliged to decline going in consequence of such doings, have been anathematized as infidels--but the clouds, which have been so long obscuring the true character of the people of New-England, are gradually dissipating; republicanism has been progressing with rapid strides for the last 12 months, to regain the station which it held at the commencement of the revolution with so much advantage to the United States generally, and with so much glory to the eastern states in particular.

The people of the State of Rhode-Island, though laboring under many disadvantages from the want of a constitution, have done their best for the promotion of democratic republican principles: they have elected a Governor and Legislature attached to these principles, and of course have received a very liberal share of abuse from some of the neighboring states. A day of fasting and prayer has been appointed by the states of Connecticut, New-Hampshire, and if we mistake not, Massachusetts: but Rhode-Island has fallen out of the ranks, has appointed no day, but left every one to pray on such day, and in such manner, as their consciences should tell them was best. Hence the quantity of invective and of doubly distilled gall, which have been vented against every thing republican by the federal prints-hence the indiscriminate title of enemies of religion, order, and steady habits, disorganizers and infidels, which have been bestowed on some of the best and most moral men in New-England: and in all probability, instead of praying for themselves and the world, instead of endeavoring to heal the wounds which have been made between man and man, we shall on the next fast day, hear a repetition from the pulpit of what has issued from the press.