The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-03 00:00:00

IVO . I VV 1 LZet . - - ....z . ...: I t _ • .2.: - 'Z . ...= --- •i ' 2'7 4,4, 4 44,... - ''3* , , - 1.- .• • „ T f .... • •, A I 01 1 A R EGIsTEr i ..t. .... 1 • a ,1 1 • te 0 • , . . • 4 PrucE 9d. N°. ni Th verun tore, hostil rnity vitall but lei in se: ledgn Sorer rican .4 . 4(lent on ou " not ions e by the timor prom ‘ festov forme true, 1 they itrecte inkier), EON ilate ill I Lions , atioT %ad] gill o 1 iv;cn, er w of th , enjoy cannc ing e; _raisin ; long it is give policy pearai Vol • t I ~!: Y 4 in. • , , TIE NATIONAL ( . Our tong, €i ion, anD IL SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1911. POLITICAL )11.' No. 155. MISTAKEN POLICY OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. The long Wavering policy of the American Go sterument has at last assumed a more decided fea ture, and we regret to find that it is one that portends hostility. We regret it, not becaulethefriendship oren inity of the United. States can ever be deemed objects ifitally important to the interests of this country, but because the new measure adopted by Congress, in servile imitation of France, is a strict acknow ledgment of the superior influence, not to s:ty Sovereignty, exercised by the latter over the Arne iican councils. We grieve, not because the Pre- L f,ident has been empowered to arm and let loose • on our trade, a pigmy navy of seventy-five vessels not exceeding in tonnage one hundred and thirty each," but because the ascendancy thus obtained Le French party,will extend farther than the most props politician - has hitherto conceived,and unless ;ptly and forcibly chycke4.-,.wi11 , uitina . ntely tore the iridepetident States . of America to their er condition of colonies. They will then, it is be under the dominion of a different power : • will' even be perhaps formed into a kingdom, •ted into an empire, and blessed with the name of pendence, and with a Monarch of the NAPO- N family, but their boasted liberties will be anni led for ever, and their commercial prosperity 11 have•ceased to exist. These are the consider ions' that make us feel for a Government and a ion blind to their own interests. From our tch tower in the ocean, we have witnessed the of so many States, that experience has made us , and we can discern the first symptoms of dan which threaten the most distant lands. Conscious the value of freedom by the blessings which we c.))- in the midst of an enslaved hemisphere, we cannot refrain from viewing with pity the approach ng extinction of liberty in the new world, and from ~ isinkiiiii- W arning voice, although it be an enemy gong cla(iii the garb of deceitful friendship, whom it is likely to save. In this disquisition, we will give a brief historical sketch of the conduct and policy of the American Government since the ap pearance of the French Decrees and British Orders Vol. IV. CLXVI. in Council ; and in the next we shall point out the calamities which it, would have speedily to de plore, should its imprudent adoption of French measures, and its subserviency to the plans of NA POLEON involve it id a war with this country. ReMoved, by their geographical position, from the sudden grasp of the power of Prance, they had hitherto maintained, not only their independence, but a politiC and useful neutrality. Rejoicing at the exclusion of our ships.from the European Con tinent, they -first becat*W the carriers of our trade, and without incurring the risk of losing their pro perty, obtained immense profits. The subsequent Edicts fulminated by NAPOLEON against our mail- • factured goods and colonial produce, only 'served to open a way for the introduction of their own. Their East India trade, in particular, grew on the decrease cf ours, and whilst no hostile flag was suffered by British valour to wave on the seas, - their vessels, under allied colours, performed the office of enemies, by supplying the nations leagued against us with every article which their wants required. Our Orders in Council. checked , the rapid strides of :their -cororbereial prosperitl; not only.b.y..subjecting'iheir ships. and meichandise to the :p4ment of duties here, before they were allowed to proceed to the Continent, but by calling forth counteracting Decrees from N4POLEON, who declared, that all American vessels that should sub- snit to be visited by British cruisers, or repair to this country to pay the new duties imposed on*neutrals, should, cm their arrival in a Continental port, be confiscated and deemed lawful prizes. • It was evi: dent tp every impartial eye, that the means adopted by France was the most severe and unjust or the two. We had only. extended, to an unusual length;. the right which a Belligerent possesses of disabling his opponent, by depriving him of the aid of neu. trals, who by the very act of yielding assistance; should be considered as having renounced their neutrality ! He complained of our hating violate(' the laws of nations, insulted and denationalized thc .Americans, at whose ill-treatment he expressed the greatest prove the ing his compelling us certain honour and indignation and pity. But how did . e sincerivW4lit friends... We had " insulte t t`.) n duties, he invited theM to vii‘We cud dernads4c, et4irjugfam4.* S. k a