Rhode Island Republican

Observations on the conduct of federalists in Congress, relative to Mr. Randolph's late Resolution respecting Louisiana, which passed the House of Representatives, 50 to 25.

During the discussion of the resolution, Griswold and his partizans completely unmasked themselves, and exhibited their naked deformity —The resolution Contained an expression of confidence in the president, not of general confidence in his principles and conduct, but of confidence that he was pursuing and would continue to pursue such measures as the interests of the country indicated. This expression the feds moved to strike out of the resolution, avowing on the floor of Congress, their want of confidence in the chief magistrate of the nation, constitutionally elected and delegated by the people, and this motion was supported by them to a man—There was something singularly novel in their proceeding and which only a pupil of Loyola as of Yale college could have contrived. The feds seemed as mad for war as hounds on hearing the sounds of the huntsman's horn, are for the chace, and although they were thus keen for plunging the nation into war, they declared their want of confidence in the officer who was to conduct it! Is it possible that such men can be suspected by any of having their country's interest at heart? what! distrust the integrity or the capacity, or both of the president, and at the same time wish to change the state of things from peace to war, in which a want of integrity or capacity in the chief magistrate, might entail endless evils upon the nation! Does this comport with patriotism? Does it comport with professions of affection for the people and their government? Chequered as this policy is and Unintelligible as it may ever, the solution of it is not difficult—men in desperate situations most resort to desperate means to extricate themselves. The feds are in as desperate a situation as any political party ever was, and they are compelled therefore, to the alternative of plunging the nation into a war, in the hope that some turn of the wheel of fortune may thereby take place, by which they will be reinstated in the administration of the government.

Why this rage for war, so contrary to their policy in the case of Great Britain, unless some benefit was to be derived to themselves from it? Had Spain recognized the misconduct of her officer in the infraction of the treaty? Had she refused to fulfil her stipulations with us, or had even time been allowed to hear the result of our representations? Was it not apparent, on the contrary, that the intendant acted unauthorizedly? And did the unauthorized act of an officer of the Spanish government demand a prompt and hostile redress? No. The prosperity of the nation, under a democratic administration, was the prospect which maddened the faction, and federal phrenzy sought relief from its anguish and despair in the turbulent and bloody scenes of war!