The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-08-08 00:00:00, page 2

vie groonds apon which [ have formed my
+ spimion that the members of the present gov
ecament who it is expected will belong aiso
i the nexty, would be desirous of settling the
Jdt Yevences of the United Sitates with Great
) citain t 2 enable them to extricate the coun
iy and themselves from the difficu ties in
waich they are involved ; for 1t is now, [ be
i iuvey determined that Me. Gallatin_ will ac
copt his present office under Mr. Madison,
valca was at one time doubted. The char-
u. 2 House of Representatives, aud which had
Irewdy pussed in the comiittee of the whole
House: snd would perhiaps soon pass Into a
Iwy seemed to himto remove two very im
tant. grounds of difference with G. Brituin,
. ' non-importation act, as appiicable to
ety the President’s Prociamation,
ver aloti®s . ing of G. Dritain were exclad
‘whereby the Sn., ¢ the U. States while
ed from tl‘\e Forts . mitted to enter, but
those of France were ™. lok powers
now, by the non-lntercourse w "o difl not
were placed on the same foouing 3. ' e
pretend to say that this mcaaurc,l}ud beew
wen from any motives of. concession to tsreat 1
Heitain 3 but as in fuct those consequences
tollowed he conceived they might be consid
cred as removing thie two gregt obstacles to a
concilintion. ~ T'nis he wished might be the
case, @8 he inthmated o me ﬂ\& such steps.
were about to be taken by Congress upon a
nother very important suliject of the differen
ces between the two countries, as might have
*a further effeet in leading to.a famn’rubw ad
justment of them. He informed me, that 4
law was about to be proposed to Congress,and
which he believed would pass, to interdict all
Amperican vesseis from receiving on. board
cany foreign seamen under heavy penalties or
forlcitures, and that already the ships of war
of the U. States had been ordercd not to re
ceive any, and to discharge such as were at
that time on board.” T'his subject is_ also al
luded to by Mr. Giles, the Senator, in bhis
Speech, whois high in the confidence of the
Government, and it is said is to be Mr. Madi
son’s Secretary of State, Mr, Gallatin also
yuidy thathe knew that it waus intended by the
Uniged States to abangdon the attempt to carry {
oh a wrade with the calonics of belligerents in
wime of war which was not allowed in time of
peace, and to trust to the being permitted by
the the French to carvy on such trade in
peace 0 as to entitle them to a continuance
of it in time of war. - g
In,this manner he observed all the points:
of differences between Great Britain and the!
United States might be smoothed away (was
his expression) and that the U, States would!
be wiiling to put the intercourse with Great
Britain npon a perfect footing of reciprocity,
and would ‘either consent to the arrangement
that the ships of both nations should pay the’
sume duties reciprocally, or place each ather'
simply upon the {noting of the most favoured
nation, A
{ have no doubt thot these communications
were inade with a sincere desive that they
~might pradnce the effect of conciliation, be
cause it iy well known that Mr. Gallatin has
M- thowght that the restrictive and jealous
system of non-importation laws, extra duties,
aud other modes of checking a free trade with
F;rf?f,'ﬂﬁuin‘}\:a\ig been ertoneous and high
1y nnm'lmh to the interests of A merica i he
illt‘o"l;ﬂl?d me, 'diﬂﬁ!\ﬁlhl” ﬂ“\t he had . al'uys
encertained e spinion, and that he had uni
forily endeavoured w persuade the President
1o place the conduct of G, Britam and France
tovards the U. Suates in a fuir light before
_the pabiick, “He seemed to check himself
at the moment he was speaking vpon that
~subject, and | could not get him to express
_himsell more gistinetly, but 1 could clearly
collect from bis manner, and from some
sligit insinuations, that he thought the Presi
dent had acted pactially towards France. For
he turped the conversation immediately upon
the character of Mr. Mudison, snd said that
Ae could not be accused of having such a bias
towards France : and remarked that Mr. M.
was known to be un admirer of the British
constitution, to be generally well disposed to
wurds the aution und to be entirely free from
an enmity to its general prosperiiy. IHe ap
pedled to me,whether 1 had not observed that
~he frequently spoke with approbation of its
instituiions, its energy and spirit, and that he
~was thoroughly well versed in its history, lit
crature and arts. .
I'hese observations he made at the same
sivne tor the purpose of contrasting the senti
ments of Me. Madison with those of the Pre
sidents as he knew that 4 must have observed
that Mr. Jefferson never spoke with approl -
ton of any thing S was Boitish and always
thok up EFrench t&cks in Lis conversation,
‘i always prased the people and country of
crance, and neverin®t an opportunity of shew
e his dislike to Great Britain. ‘
At the close of my interview wich My, G,
Je said in a sumilar way, © You see, dir, we
oukd settle a treaty 1 my private room, in
= hours, which mijht perhaps be found to be
© s lasting as if it was ‘bound up in all the for-
sorer of Mr. Gallatio must be well known to
v, 10, be held in the greatest respect in this
countey fpr bis uavivalled talents usa inancier
and as a statesman. There gannot [ think
wd any reasonable dount entertained that he is
aeariily opposed to. French agerandizemeat,
wmd to the usarpations of Bonaparte He was
anenthusiast in favour of the French revolu
tion, in the early period of it, byt Ras lang
.;.damm_ﬁmubh opiniviis he
+ Wil vy
va lities ol a regular system ; and might be
toiined as reciprocally useful asa trewy con
-shing of twenty-four articles in which the
iatricate points of intercourse might be in
i aftempted to be reconciled to the oppo
sitey and perhaps jealons views of self-inter
#sl 'of the vespective countries.”
“ 1 mave taken the liberty of detaiting to you
twe substance of this unofficial conversation
w.ch Mr. Gallatin, in order to explain to you
had entertstied respéeting it, ond has viewey!
the progress towards universal dominion with
jealonsy and regret. _
: Howyfur the geod will *,his government
and country towards . Britain may be worth .
in the estimation of His Majesty’s govern
ment, the sucrifice of the Orders in Council
and of the impression which they might be
expected to mane on France, it would be
presnmptnous in me to venture to calculate,’
but T am thoroughly persuaded that at shar
firice it might be obtained.
I hiave endeavonred, Ly the most strict and
‘-".'-!igcm’cnquiviés ilto the views and strength
o Bieco o pirty to ascertain to what ex
tent they would vl willing and able to resist
the measures of the pally In power, and how
far they could carry the opinions of this coup
try along with themn in their attempts to Tre
move the Embargo, withiout recuring to hos
ilities againsy both Grgat Brituin ane {’ranrf.
Upnn a natare consideration of thls’ squ
jcct, [ am persuaded thu} great as the (esive
is which generally previils for the removal
of the L.mbargo, that the federalists would
not venture to recommend that it should. be
withdrawn, without propoesing some measure
of grcaf energy as a substitute, Some have
indeed hinted at the propriety of at once de
claring war against France ; but few, howev
er, of those who have been. most *clamorous
against the Embargo, have yet offercd their
opinions to what course oughi to be peisued,
altho’ all have declared against the submission
to the restrictions upon their neutral rights,
When 4 mall number of those who have
pointed out the propriety of going to war with
U'rance alune, is considercd, cven by the fed
eral party, Licannot believe thut stich a mea
sure wrwd suceeed.
Al the leaders of the Republican party in
Congrgess and oot of ity declave that they only
prup& the cgqt,i;guancc of the Embargo fo
a short timye, and that it the voice of the peo
ple at larire is for niore uctive resistance, (hat
they shail be’ willing and ready to put forth
the strength of the country for that purpose
—Tlhese declarations are to be found in the
specches, some printer! copies of which I have
have sent herewith ; you wili find, however,
that in some of them a great stress is still
loid upon the effects 1o be expected from the
Embargo in coercing the belligerents, partic
nlarly G. Britwin, to rzlax in her restrictions,
from the distress and inconvenience which is
likely to be produced by the wint of the pro
duce of this country.
This reliance upon K such consequences
from the Embargois greatly, indced, almost
entirely diminished in the opinions of most
people, and I conceive that the only reason
why the ruling party wish it to be continued,
arises from a hope that time might afford
them an opportunity of beiter judging of the
probable issue of events in Europe, particu
larly of the successes or fuilure Ol;‘ Bonaparte
in Spain. ' -
It may be doubted whether the privations
and inconveniences produced by . the Erbar.
go'in this country, will not compel the Con
press to take some hostile measures in order
:{Jo have a pretext for its removal, of so tiifling
a nature, however, as to leave it to the beilig
erents to overlook them, if they please; and
Since the arrival in the Delaware river
on the/JOth last of the American despatch
vessely the Union, from Lngland and France,
I have had an interview with the President
(Mr. Muadison) and the secretary of state,
(Mr. Smith) who expressed their sentiments
to me freelyy relative to theinwelligence which
was braught by that vessel, :
The president abserved, that the alteration
in his majesty’s orders in council by the re
cegy order which had-been communicated by
you to Mr. Pinkney, suspending * the opera
tion of the acts as far as relates to articles
being the growth, ;produce, or manufacture.
of any country being in amity with his majess
tyy" &ec. did not in fact remove the objections
entertained by the United States a®uinst the
orders in councily, in any degree worthy of:
notice. That they stiil violated the neutral
rights of this country, as they made it neces-'
sary for the American ships to pass through
England, which was not only an infringement
of the independenee of the United States but
was completely destructive of their coms
merce, since the American vessels were pro
hibited from going to the continent after they
had been forced to touch in England.
He remarked also, upon the circumstance
of Russia and Denmark being comprended
in the operation of the orders in council,which
he soid was assuming & new principle, as the
orders had been hitherto rested upon the
ground of rewliation, whereas Russia ani
Denmark had never issued ah’ decree viola
ing neuteal rights. . e compluined sevor'e;'
of this, and went over the same arguments
unon these points which he had made nse ol
wiile he wds secretary of state, and seamerl
to be greatly disappointed and vexed that o
change in the relations of the United States
with the belligerents scomed likely to take
slace during the meeting of the new con
gress in May next, as he foresees the setiows |
save the ruling party from the necessity of
going into war measures of great expence
and danger not only to their own popularity
and power, but perhaps even to the safety of
their union. T propose to have the honour of
offering some remarks upon this subject in
my next number of my despatches.
With the highest respect, I have the hon
our to be, Sir, your most ob’t humble servant.
D. M. RRSKiNE.
’ (No. 10.)
Despateh from the Hon, Lavid M. Erskine to
Mr. Secrctary Cunning, dated Washington.
16¢th of Marchy 1809==reccived 15th of
Aprid,
SIR,
——
) s and embarrassments in v hich the
United Statis will be involvéd,in determining
upon the course of conduct which it will be
tﬁ@t&. thedient for them to pursue, sil is now u
niversally thought that the non-itercourse Jaw
cannot last longer than the next session of
congress, and it will become necessary at that
time 10 abandon 21l idea of resistance, or to
determine to adopt measures ef hostility a
gainst both belligerents, which could net be
carried in the last congress, and therefore are
still less likely to be adopted in the new,which
will consist of a larger number of membrrs
averse to such a desperate and unavaiiing
course.
The secretary of state (Mr. Smith) repeat
ed the sentiments which be had often expres
sed to me, when secretary of the navy, of re
gret that his majesty’s government seemed
not to believe that the Übpited Stutes would
resist the decrees of rance. He thinks the
carrespondence between the American minis
ter at Parfs “iwn. Armstrong), and the
French government, proves the determine
tion' of this governiment not to subuit 1o
them. He declared to me also, that he knows
that war woulgj have been instamly declared
against France, upon Great-Brtain’s relaxing
fer orders, which he said were issued before
tke United States had an opportunity of us
certaining the illegal interpretation which
France meant to put upon her decrees ; he
added, that' he was convinced that even now
measnres of auctual hostility would be adopted
against Frunce, without hesitation, shiould
“Great-Brituin relax her orders so as o aftord
the United States an opportuntty of doing so
- with honour ; butthat it would be impossible
that they should single out. France as an ¢p
ponent, while Great-Britiin, contrary to her
own.declarations, entorced her orders before
uny actjuiescence on the part of the United
*States in the IFrench decrees had been prov
ed. ,
He acknowledged that it mizht be difficult
to bhringz on a state of actual bestility between
this country and Great-Britain, upon the
grounds of any subsisting diilerences, but
that he was desirous that an amicable under
standing should prevail betwgen the two coun
tries, whicn the present state of their rela
tions, wouid entircly prevent.
He added, that he was airvaid the irvitations
which were likely to be produced by capture
under his majesty’s orders in council might
lewd to serious consequences, wlhich he said
he should deprecate, as he was unwilling to
see the United States thrown into an ailiance
which he thoughbt diready too powerlui for the
interests of the world. He did not pre‘erd
to entertain any partiality towards England,
but considered that the interests ot the United
States was the same @t the present moment
with that of Gereat-Britain.
These sgntiments, as expressed to me by
Mr. Robert Smith, are, 1 believe, “veéry sin
cére. 1 Lave been much acquainteq with
him, and cannot I think be mistaken in the
‘opinion which I have formed of his disposi
tion and feeling npon that subject.
Both the president and secretary of state
are, 1 understand, much offendcd at the e
pointment of Admiral HeYßlgy to a high com
mand, pending the seri®fiy“tomplinint prefer
red against him by the United States ; they
have not mentioned the subject to me, a 8 no
authentick account of the fict has been yet
received ; Lut I expect to hear strong repre
sentations upon the subject, should it prove o
be well-tounded.
As I have already had the honour to con
vey to you ray sentiments upon the subject of
the non-intercourse law in several precceding
numbers of my depatches, as also upon the
general aspect of affuirs in this counuy, I
wili not troubie you with any ®ormer remarks,
but bey leave to refer you to the enclosed ex
tract from my No. 12, which was sent in his
majesty’s packed with the mail of last month,
as it cont«ins my opinions upon these topicks,
which are unchanged.
This despatch, as aleo my Nos. 14 and 15,
will be carried to England in the Am _rican
despatch vessel,Pacifick, which will sail from
hence in a few days,with a messenger, Lieut.
Read ; another vessel is going at the same
time to France with a messenger and de
spatches. Mr. Coies, the private secretary
of the late president, is to be the bearer of
them, 4
I continue to he firmly persuaded that Mr,
Mudison, who has now been prononnced to
be the next president. would most willingly
seize the first opportunity of recommending
to the next congress to assert the neutral
rights against France, should his mujesty
deew it to be just or expedient to cause his
orders in council to be withdrawn in conse
quence of 4 determination being evinced by
the United States not to submit to the ageres
sions of France. And 1 conceive that it is
not at all improbable that he might authorize
Mr. Pinkney to make a communication to
you to that ¢%uctyas he had frequently said to
me in conversation, that no hesitation would
be felt in this country of entesjog upon hos
tilities wih France, if she did not recal her
As the ruling party perceive that it would
not be in tiwir power to carry the Easiern
States clong with them in a war with Great-
Britain, on the grounds of any subsisting dif
ferences between the two countvies,they nope
that the frequent captures of the vessels be
longing to the eastern states, which are like
ly to wke place in “*nsejuence of his majes
ty’s orders in council continuing in eperation,
may excite irritation in the minds of peopls
of thosé states, and lead themn to take a part
in the next congress in any measure which
might be pointed out against Great-Brit
ain. '
(Inclosure referred to in No, 10.)
Washingron«City,
‘ _ Vsth of ebruary, 1809,
docreer, but Le always adlicd, ihat it wsim
possible the United States could take suci: 2
step while Lis mujesty’s ordlere were in force,
becsuse their justification could on'y be 1.
tempted upon the grounds that the United
States had acquiesced in the decrees of
France,which he uniformiy contend. Las ney
er been the cuse.
It is evident to me, that he will he sup
ported in this sentiment by his own pary iy
congress, and in the country generelly, o f: v
as to prevent his feeling himscif con pelled
to single out I'rance us an enemy, while his
majesty’s orders in council continved in
force ; but am perfecily confident that it
wouid be impos:ible that they could bring on
a war with England, unless it wonld be ocea
sioned, as 1 have before mentioned, by an ir
ritation produced in the minds ol the eastern
States, by the losses which might be sustain
ed by them in their ships and commerce by
ciapture under his majesiy’s orders,
The weight and influcnce of the Fastern
states have been‘sufficient to force the ruling
party to abandan their fuvourite system of
mbuargo, and that too without the ¢ painfi]
alternative” of President Jciferson, of wur
being substituted ; but I doubt extremely
how far they could compel the congress wp !
president into a wiar wiih France, uniess the
United States could be called upon to assers
its neutral rights by a temporary removal of
his majesty’s vrders in councii to give them
that opportumty.
It appears by the reswlt of th 2 state of the
votes tor presicent and vice-president whicl
was delured in the senate yesterday, that My,
Moadison had 122 votes wut of 175, and that
all the vates except S in the Southern and
Western Statgs, were in Lis fLvser, besides
Peunsyivania : wnd that twg-thuds of the
votes of the Stae of New-York, were piven
to him. He had also all the lotes of Ver
mont, but that was inconséquence of the rotes
bo'il)g given by the legislature,which bdppop.
ed 1o be democratick ; besides having nine
;.)nt of twelve votes of the swute of Mary.
and.
I will not, bowever, trouble you with ax;y
observations upon that huportant topick ot
pregent, but condine mysel! to the consetiuen
ces of the measuies about to be sdopted in
congress, attecting his majesty’s interest.
Whautever may be the motives of the coi.
gress for the passing of a nan-interconise
law with England and France, I conceive that
great advantages may be reaped from it by
England, as she has the command of the seus,
and can procure through neutrals, any of the
produce of this country, besides the im
mense quantity which will be brought direct
to Great Brituin, under varvious pretences ;
whereas France will obtain but little, at «
great expence and risk, and will only get that
little in consequence of the high prices iu
their markets. s
Thisaneasure will operate ip so partinl
and “scouraging a munner upon the Eastern
stutes, which are commercial, that it wouid
not be submited to very long, and lits eflects
in preventing the introduetion of British ma:-
ufactures would be trifling, as they*would Lo
smuggled into the country, with the greatest
fucility, since the people who alone cou!l i
terfere with effect, would ¢ncourage such o
truffick between his majesty’s dominions §
Caneda, and the adjucent territoiies of
United -Stages, and in varions other ways.
Another advantage arising to Great-Buitj
from the non-intercourse law would be, th,
the interdictien of ships of war from ente
ing the ports of the United States, wonld |
generaly instead of being directed soiely
gainst his majesty’s ships. The non-impc
tation law wouid be also general, and the ce
sequence would be, that his majesty’s subje
would get a great guantity of goods into ¢
United States, but French subjects couifi
introduce aiy. ol .
Should his majesty deem it propzr to ¢
sider the non-intercotrse law in the ligl
a municipel regulation, which the Uy,
States had a right to estublish, and net
meosnre of hostility, | am persusded ¢
would not be in the power ol sy party i
country, even if they wished, 1o bring
war with Great-Britain.
( D. M. ERSK{
(Mr. Gallatin's letter in our next)
- The ultimate consequences of such differ
coces and jealousics arising between the
Eastern and Southiern states, would inevitably
tend to a dissoiution of the wnion, which hua
been tor some time taiked of, and has of leto,
s I have neard, been seriousty contemplateg
Ly mauy of the leading people in the Eastert
division. , "
This vast majority would enable the presi
dent eiect und his puriy, to resist the sclicita
tion ol the four Lastern states, . should they
uige the next congress to sinvie ont Franc =
as an enemy, becavse the sowie power whicl
has proved incomiperent to enlorce an illega
oppressive wund iuinons lew, wouid still be
suflicicnt to withstd a requisition to wige a
war which, kowever just, would not be likely
to be attended with any profit or advan
lage. .
[t is true that non-intercourse law may ba
considered by the Eastern states very objer.
tonable, but as it would be rather & nom ival
prohibition than a rigorous enforcement, arce
sistulce o it wonld be leys likely to be made
and of less importunce, - if it should tiks
place. . $
BRITISH NAVY. '
' The progressive increase of the Brit’?
which *yrannizes cver the ocean, has beer '
the same ratio as the incrcase of the pd ™ '
which oppresses the British natiem. nihe
tonnage of the Rritish navy amtunted ‘
tmn.hlﬁ&).ton.«h'm;wnﬁ ‘
tesa ; and i 1908, 1o 500,000 s—N ¥ 4 ‘
W Ne 4 _ .