Rhode Island Republican

ALBANY, November 20.

THE speeches of certain republican members of the Legislature of Rhode-Island, on the subject of appointing a Thanksgiving, in which there is not a sentiment unjustified by the purest regard for Christianity, have been reported in some of the anti-republican prints in language which never fell from those members, and which is calculated to fix upon them the stigma of infidelity. We allude to the speeches of Messrs. Pitman and Greene, correct reports of which the reader will find under the Rhode-Island head, in this paper.

It is a stale trick of the anti-republicans to represent their opponents as infidels. But it has been so long played off, without producing the desired effect, that we should suppose its authors would ere now have been convinced of the folly of such an attempt. Tho' the Republican Editors have not perhaps been so much in the habit of boasting of the religion of their party, as the federal Editors have been, of proclaiming the orthodoxy and piety of theirs; yet we presume, on the best grounds, that there are as many sincere believers, who "shew their faith by their works," among the one party as the other.

But Newspapers are not the channel through which Deity is to be made acquainted with those who worship Him in sincerity. The Pharisee proclaims his religion on the house-top; whilst the man of true Piety seeks not the applause of men, but rests satisfied with the promise, that he who sees in secret his good works, will in due time reward him openly.

Let the federal Editors boast of their religion, and scoff at the infidelity of republicans. It may do more harm to the cause they espouse, than perhaps they are aware of. It may induce men to compare the works of modern federalism with the precepts of our religion. Many are the instances in which the volume of inspiration might be quoted to the condemnation of the late Administration. Can there, for example, be a more accurate or more lively description of that Administration, than our Saviour gives, when speaking of the Pharisees, in the 23d chapter of Matthew: "For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

How far this Text will admit of the application we have made of it, let the honest farmer determine, who has paid a heavy land tax, to support a useless army, and other equally absurd and extravagant measures.

Our Saviour continues.. "But all their works they do to be seen of men." Remember this, ye whose Religion is displayed only in the columns of a Newspaper, and in street-brawlins or ale-house disparations. Indeed the whole chapter is deserving of serious attention, as being a complete picture of the federalism displayed under Mr. Adams's Presidency; and if John Wood, who proposes to write a History of that period, shall delineate as faithfully, we have no hesitation in saying, that his book will deserve general encouragement.

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