The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-02-28 00:00:00, page 2

n AR,
e
retary of State, 4th Nov. Page 71, Mr. Juck
son says, ‘' Never did I imagine, or any were
" attempt, to vest the right of disavowal uwpon
that ciseumstance : Indubitably his agreemen:
would nevertheless have been ratified, had
not the instructions, which in this case took
the place of o full power;been violited,” M.
Juckson here gives a conclusive unswer, ]
think, to the gentieman’s argument.
But that gentleman has told us, he opposes
the resolution, because he considers it a war
measure. If every act of Congress, which
hus been denominated a war measure, by gen
tlemen on that side of the House, was in fact
such, we shouid have been at war long since
Thev attempted to give this character, to the
non-imfortation act, non-intercourse, and the
Purchaso.of Louisiana. It is a sort jof stand
ing name, with which they christen almost
every méasure they oppose. It hus become
80 common, that it is neither novel nor alarm
ings. But if war shall resnlt from the expres
-Bton of our opinion upon this question, let us
prepare to face the foe, Although [ cunnot
80, consider it, I confass 1 can see but little
prospect of tr.uting with Great Britain but
with the sword. But shall this House be de-
But, sir, we are told by a gentleman fiem
Connecticaty (Mr. Duna) wino opposes this
resolution, that although he might vote for a
reso.ution @ approbate the conduct of the
Executive, ue wourd be cautions of censur
ing ; because it might be productive of inju
ry the to country. Wil not opposition to this
resolution in effect censure the Executive,
and approve the conduct of the British min
ister ! Tam unable to view it in any other
liyht. That gendeman is also opposed to
the resolution, hecunse it affects the reputu
tion of the British minister? Sir, while
gentieman are so tender of his reputation,
wiil they forget the character of the Execu
tive of their own government ! Mr. Juck
son ought to have remembered that he came
not only with a character, but to a character,
and to a character not to be trifled with and
disgraced by him or his natiom.
But this resolution amounts to a declara
tion that we intend to sustuin our government
against the British, suys that gentieman, Is
it for this, he opposes it 7 If this were the
sole objeet of the resolution, no considera
tions oe expediency should nduce me to op
pose it. Itrust there is no hesitation among
the American people upon this point, They
are rveady to sustain their ggC¥nment
gainst the British. They have done it omi
with success. And if it shall become nece
their treasure. and the lust drop of their blood,,
belore they would submit to British insolence
and outrage. And ulthough the gentiemen
reminds us of the exhausted state of the
treasury, that is neither suificient cause for
submissidn or ol alarm. The genius of our
government does not confine our resources o
the treusury depariment ; they are to be
found with the people, and wiil be ready when
re juired.
But, Sir, the principal argument of the
gentlemun from Counecticuty upon which he
grouuds his opposition to this resolution, if 1
understand hiim, is, that to have auchorised
the arrangemen® made by Mr. Erskine, a
general letter of credence wus not sufficient,
a full power was requisite, that our govern
ment ought to huve required a copy or sight
of this full power, and not haviniz done so,
they had mistaken their duty, which justified
the disavowal of the arrangement. Sir, this
argument goes very wide of the question be
fore us, which is whether the insinuations
or charges aguinst our government are inso
‘lent ; and on what ground that government
made the disavowy. But the argument of
the gentleman places this upon a different
basis from what Mr. Jackson or Mr. Canning
Jhave attempted to put it. [n recuring to the
letter of Mp, Jackson, addressed to the Sec-
terred from adopting these resalutions, be
canse it may displease Great Beituin 2 No.
Bir, T erast that we are not vet prepared to
:ém to the influunce of this consideration. If
h resentment is to be anprehiended, the
of our duty r- pliinly marked wofore us,
F:-:rvﬂc aluis and ammanition for the militia,
of the gentlemen in the opposition now go Lo
approbate the course the government has
pursticd for some years past. ~They would
not go to war, at least since 1801, Itisa
calamity, of which they cannot thin.k, but
with horror. I'hey would not submit they
declare, and as they would not have been a
ble, by treating, to have made the belligerents
respect the luws of nations, and the rights of
of neuttals they would have adopted the
only remuining policy, that which tue wdmin
istration bas pursued. © That opposidon
should be made to the administrution of our
government ougzht not to surprize us, more
than it shiould, to hear of a ship’s encounter
ing adverse winds in navigating the oceun ;
but there aré eertiinly times and measures,
which oupzht to commund union and energy.
Aud wg are told by the gentlemen that war
wiii unite us. But, Sir, are we Lo wait to see
the enemy landing apon our shores, unturling
the banners, hear them beat to arms, and pro
ciaimn to the dis.Fected invitations to juin in
the attack, before we will upue in rallying
round the stundard of our government?! |
bhad boped, aud T will still hope, thut we ave
Dot yet 80 10st to a sense of what concerns
the Gonour and saicty of our common coun
try.
ministered. And, Sir, let us fora moment
chunye the scene. Suppose the outs had
been in, for several yeurs past, what would
have been their administration ? It the gen
tlem.n’s Ceclaration be correct, and I am not
di<posed to ~uestion the truth of it, they must
have pursued the same measures, which
have been wdopted ; for their only objection
is thut they were not the authors ot those
me.sares. And I voderstand the arguments
sary, they would exhaust the last cent 0
complete your unfinished fortifications, erect
such others as may be deemed necessary, e
quip and call into s rvice that portion ol your
navy now in ordinary, and thus give that di
rection to the energies of the nativn whick
the times muy require. And when we are
lold to cournt the cost of war, let us temem
ber the price of our independence and the
worth of iiberty.
Sir, 1 wiil not detuin the committee by at
tempting to answer all the objections gentle
men have urged aguinst these resviutions, 1
wauy however be permitted to say, in answes
to an honourable golleague of mine, who for
two duys favoured the committee with his re
marks, (Mr. Emott) that 1 think be has ex
actly misconceived the intentions of Luth gov
ernments, and is twice mistaken. First, in
believing that the British government were
willing to treat with-us, and seccondly, in sup
posing that our government have not been
anxious to settle by negociaton aii the points
in dificrence between the (wo nations. h
gentlemen fall into this twoloid errour, it
may in some degree account lor their uot be
ing able us they declare, 1o perceive any thing
like insult in the letters of Mr. Jackson.
When the Lixecutive of my country, solemn
ly affirins a fact, 1 will not pernnt myseit to
wander in the field of conjecture, m sewrch of
an apology for a foreign minister, who has
insolently contradicted it.
Another honourable colleague of niine
(Mr. Gold) condemning the modern mode ol
blockading by proclumation, only deciaring
his opposition to the Orders in Councily and
assuring us that he would not have submted
to -the conditions requived by the despatch
from Mvr, Canning to Mr. Lrskine, expresses
his surprize that the Ividsii should be charg
ed with disavowing the wrrangement for thc
purpose of conunuing their deplcdutions up
on our property. ‘Lhis he says, wouid b
downright swindling, of which that govern
ment would not he guilty. Sir, when gen
tlemen undertake to exercise their charity ior
the conduct of the british towards us, it not
the outrages they huve comumitted be foigot
ten. The definition of the term swinding
informs us that her Orders in Couuncily unu
her blockading Decrees have given to swina
ling the sanction of a * system ol great bu
tional policy.” To retalicte on the cnemy is
a false pretence for their ciptures ot neutral
property.
Both of my colleagues have urged as a con
sideration aguinst the message of Liis resolu
tion that it is to tead to an hnmmediate war, an
event for which the state of New-Yoik is no.
prepared. lam not insensibie ot the situa
tion of the state of New-York. I kncw that
in the event of war that state has much to
visk ; but I also kmow, that Ler spitit is too
independent und patrivtick ever to truckle to
the insolence of uny torcign power. Buo
why wiil gentlemen contempiate wur as the
ip:xi}able result from the pussuge ol this re.
"...aon ! det them louk at the correspan
once, the resolution, the siate of our cyun
"y, the situation of Engiland, anda L&Y heptile
s towurds us, and then tell us it war be the
k‘:ult, who will have been the aggressor, und
at the causes. No one will preiend, thut
in the whole ol the correspondence uciore us,
there is to be found the uppeurince even ol «
disposition on tlie part of tne Briish govern
ment, to treat with this government. Are
we then to submit to ail the injuries we have
sustuined without the hope ol redress, nor
dare to express the opinion we entertuin up
on the insolence and outrage we expergnce !
If so, the American spirvit has abandoned our
country. But, Sir, if the British government
shall not immediately recal the minister,
whose conduct has occasioned this discussion,
I venture to say, there will be manifested
throughout this nation, a spirit of indignation
and resentment, which it becomes us, as the
representatives of the people, and the guar
dians of their rights, neither to stifie or im
pair by our debates and divisions in” this
House. And 1 regret, Sir, to have witnessed
so much debate and opposition upon this oc
casion ; I had hoped the question woulc have
been taken without delay or division. I was
unwilling to add o the time, or debute, this
question had occupied, und 1 certainly \‘ld
not, if 1 could have seenyas I wished, a pros
pect of deciding it without further debate.
It is not a party, but a great national ques
tign, in which all are equally interested. I'he
consequcaces of division may be disustrous to
our country. - Unless we can unite on sub
jects of great national cencern, our liberties
are destined to speedy ruin. Cun we so fre
quemly und Leclingly lament the fate o* oth
er nations, whose divisions and distractions
bave proved their destruction, and not take
warning ourselves |
Secrrow L. BE it enacted by the Senate and House
o[ Representatives of the United States of .imerica, in
‘ongress assembled, That from and after the passage
of this act, the entrance of the harbours and waters
of the Uniind States and the territories thereof bey
and the same is hareby interdicted to all the pubfick
ships and vessels betonging to Great Britmn and
France—excepting vesscls enly which may be forced
“ As welk might you go and stand upon the
beach and bid the main flood to abate his usu
al height,” as to entertain the hope of nego
ciuting with the temper which has been man
ifesu‘ by the British government towards
our country for years past. Our cause is
justy our means are abundant—llet our union
be perfect, and we shall then give a proper
divection to the energies af the nation, com
mund respect, and not add another to the list
of rained republicks.
Respecting the commercial intercourse be
tween the United States and Great Britain
and France, and for other purposes.
Mit. MACON'S BILL.
A BILL
in by distress or which are charged with despatches.
or business om the fo\'cm,mcm‘uf wiich ikey be-’
long,u.db:ho packcts having no curgoes nor me, chan
dize on board, And if uny publick ship o vessci as
sforesaid lot beng included in exenplions above
micntioned, shail enter dny harbours or waters with.
i the junsdiction of the United States, or of the
territonies thereof, it shull be lawiul for the Piesident .
Of the United S.ates, or such other persons as he
shali have cupowered for that purpose, to en.ploy
suchi part of the land and neval forces or oIP the
mithta of the Uni ed Swites, or territorics thereof as
he shall deeni necessary 10 compel such ship or ves
scl 10 depuit.
Sce 2. vind be it further enacted, That it shall not
be Lwtul for uny citizen or citizens of the U, Stutes
or Lhe terrilories thereof, nor 1v wny person or per
subs residing or being in the sme ; to have any in
tercourse with or atiord any aid or supphes to uny
publick ship ¢r vessel as utoresaid, wliuch shall con-
Wrary 10 the povisions of this act, huve entered wny
Lwbours or waters within the United Stutes, or
tie terrrories thereof—and if any person shull con
trary to the provisions of this act have any intercoursc
Witk such siip or vesscl, eithier in repairing the suid
vesscl or i turnisiing her, her officers or crew, with
supplies of any Kind, or in any manner whatever ; or
i iy pilet or eilier person shall assist in navigaiing
or puoting such ship or vessel, unlcss it be tor the
puiposs of carryirg her beyond the lunits and juris
wicion of the United Stutes, every person so ofiend
g shudi forfcit and pay « sum not iess than one hun.
didd aollurs, nor exceeding ten thousand dollers ;
ald shall also be imprisone& for a term not leas than
viie onth, nor more than one year.
Sec. 3. vtnd be it further enucted, That the en
runce of the harbours and waters of the U, Statas
und he terrnones thereot be, and the same is here
by inierdicted to ull ships or vessels suiling under
Le fag of Greut Briam or France, or owned in
whole or in part by“uny citizen or subject of either,
‘esscls Lirg, charteied or eniployed by the gov
evanent of enber country, for the sole puipose of
Cariying letters o despatches, and ulso vesscls for-
Ced by wisiicess, or e danger of the sta only ex
cepled, And if wny sip or vessel sailmg under
die tag of G. Britan, or owned in whole or in part
by any ciuzen or subjeet of either, andnot excepted
as wloierad, shalt heredfier wrive either wils or
Without & cargo, withun the imuts of the U. States or
lei rituries thereof, such ship or vessel together with
the caryo it any wlucn may be found on board, shall
be togteied, wa liay be werzed and condemned in
any court of the Uniied Staies or the erritories
Wiercor, having competent jurisdiction, 4
SEC. 4. vind be i jurther enwcted, That from snd
afier (e possege oi uus ket at shall not be lewful o
MLport 1w wie United States or the territories there-
OF i any vessel or vesscls not owned wholly by cii
zews Of Uhe United St 08, and regisicred wccording
W law, any goods wures or merchandize whitever,
foom woy purt or place situated in Great Britain or
lickand, oi m any of the coionies or dependencics of
Gicat Batin, nor from any port or place in actual
possession of cither Great Britain or France. Nor
shail it be lawtul o imiport into the United States or
Ui weriiwnes tercol, trom any foreign port or place
Wlhawever, i any vessel or vessels not owned wholly
by citizens of the United Stutes, and registéred ac-
CUrding w daw, any woods, wares of merchandize
whaiever, from any port or place situated in Great
B or bickand, or in any of the colomes or de
pendencies of Great Britin, nor from any port or
place in actusi possession of either Great Britain or
Erance. Nou shait it be luwful 0 import in the U.
Slates or the territories thereof, from any foreign
post o 1 pl ce wha.ever, inany vesscl or vesscls own
ed whalty by eitizens of the United States, and reg-
Ltered according to luw, any goods, wares or mer
chundize whatcver, being the growth produce or
manufacture ot France, or any of her colonies or
depeudencies ; or mm; theé growth proaduce or
munufactwie of Great Biituin or Ireland, or of any
of the colonies or dependences of Great Britain, or
being of the growth, produce or munufacture of any
Place or country in the uctual possession of either
Frunce or Gieat Brituin,
soce. 5. vind be wt furiher enacted, That from and
after the tenih day of' April next, it shall not be law
ful to import in any manner whatever, in the United
States, or the tertiwries thereof, any goods, wares
or merchandize whatever, being of the growth, pro
duce or manufacture of Great Britzin or Ireland ;
from any place other than a port or place situatcd in
Great Britain or Ireland ; nor any goods, wares or
merchandize whatever, being of the growth produce
or munufucture of any colony or dependency of G.
Britain situated beyond the Cape of Good Hope from
aly port or piuce other tham a port or place situated
in some of the said colonics or dependencies ; nor
uny goods, wares or merchundize whatever, being of
the wrow h, produce or munufacture of any colony
or dependences of Great Brituin situated in the W,
Indies, or in uny other purt of America south of the
United States, from any port or place other than a
port or place situated in some of the said colonicQ'or
dependencies ; nor any goods, wares or merchundize
whatever, being of the growth produce or manufuc
ture of any province colony or dependency of Great
Britum situated on the continent of North America,
from any port er place other than a port or plice sit
uated in some of the said piovinces or dependencies
nor any goods, wares or merchundize whatever, be
ing of the growth produce or manufacture of any
other colony or dependency of Great Britain, not
otherwise herein particularly desciibed ; from uny
port or place other than a port or place situated in
some of said colonies or dependencics not otherwise
herein purticularly described ; nor any goods, wares
ar merchandize whatever, being the growth, produce
or manufacture of France, from any port or place
other than a port or place situated in France ; nor
any gooyis, wares or me' chancize whaiever, being
the growth, produce or manufacture of any colony’
~or dependency of France situated beyond the Cape
of Good Hope, from any port or place other than a
port or piuce situated in some of the said eolonics or
dependepeies ; nor any goods, wares or merchan
‘dide whatever being the growth, produce or munu
facture of any colony or dependency of France situ
ated in the West Indiesy or in any other part of A
merica south of the United States, from any port or
place other than a port or place situated in some of
the said colonies or dependencies ; nor any goods,
wares or merchandize whatever being of the growth
produce or manulacture of any colomy or dependen
¢y of France, not otherwise herein particululy des
cribed from any port or Ilm situated in some one
of the said colonies or dependencies not otherwise
lierein particularly deseribed,
Sxe. 6. Aud be it firther enacted, Tha' whenever
any article or articles, the invportation of which is
swohibited by this act, shali be imported into the U.
&‘tea or territories thercof, mmnri 1o the true m
tent and meaning of this aect, or shall be put on
board of any ship or vessel, boat, eraft or carrie,
with intent of thns impocting the same into the U
states or territories thercof, all such articies, as well
as all other articles on bourd the ship or cwrriage,
helonging to the owner thercol, shall moreover for.
feit and pay treble the value of such articles.
Sac. 7. JAnd be it firther enacted, That if anv arti.
ele or srticlesthe vaportation of which is prohibited
ed by this and which shall nevertheless be on board
of any ship or vesvel, boat, ruft or carviage, arriving
after the passage of this act, in the territories there.
contrary to the teue intent and meaning of this
shall be omitted in the manifest report or entey
the master or person having charge or comm nd
of wich ship or vessel, boai, cruft or carrage, or
shall be omitted in the entry of the goods owned by
the owner, or consignee, Lo the cone gee of such wr
Sec. 12. vnd be it furier enacted, That this we¢
shall contimue in furce unul the end of the next scs
sion of Congress and no longer.
Mr. Montgomery moved un amendment, authori
sung the seizure and bringing intq port for adjudica.
tion by tie urmed vessels of the United Staies, any
vesscis found evading or violating this law in the U,
Stutes or within four lesgues of the same.
The question on the amendment was, after a short
debate, tuken by yeas and nays and carried—Yeus 75
-—Navs 353.
Sec. 11 Jiud be it further enacted, That an act
entitled *“ A act 10 umiend and continue in force
certain purts of he act, entitied * an act to interdict
the commercial nteicourse boiween the. U, States
und Grear Botain and France wnd her dependengies,
and for other purposes,” be, and the sume is hereby
repesled ; provided, that all pensities und forfeiturcs
which may have been incurrcd or might have been
recovered by virtue of the said act, or of uny pro.
visions thereof, shull be recovered and distributed in
like mwnner, as if the said act had continued in full
force e viriue. o
SEc. 9. vind be ut further enucted, Vhat the Presi
dent of the Unied Swtes be una he is hereby au
thorised in case wither Fruance or Grest Britain shall
su revoke or nwdiy her cdicts, ws that they shall
cease to violute the nevtral comumejce of the United
Stuies, 0 declarg the sume by Vrocl mation ; atter
which the proquibiuon kaa by s act on the com
merce and navigation of the nwtion so doing shall
cease 10 operate : Provided that all penalties and for
feitwes winch shiall bave been previowsly mcuired
by virtue of thus act sh.d be recovered and dis ribu
ted in ke munner ws of the same set had continued
in full force ana virtue,
Sec 10. vind be u further enagted, That all pensl
ties and lorfeitures wsing uncer er incurred by vie
tue of tus act, shall, durmg the contimuance wnd af
ter the eapiration thereot, be recovered and distriby.
ted, ana may be renaticd or mitigated in (he same
manner which was prescribed by the “ uct 10 inter
dict the connercial iercourse beiween the United
Slutes wnd Great Britan and France and aheir de
perdencics, ind for other pwiposes,”—and by the
act therem i cefeired to.
ticles, or shall be impcrted or landed, without a per-
WLy Uit seflae peiiclues, hues wid foiiciues shali be
incurred and may be recovercd as in the case of sim-
Har onassions, landing, miporsuon, oF stichpl o
land or aupoit, in roieion W sibcies lichlc w v ics
on thoir imiporiation 1w the Unncd dltes,
Suc. . Lind be it jurtter enccted, Tha. cvery cols
lecior, naval office:, survepors, ot viber ofiiccis of
the customs, shail have the Lhe power, wna suthonty
W seize goouds, wales and melclundize, amporied
contrury (o the intent and meznng of s wct, 0
keep the sume m custody unih it shall bave beon us.
ecrained whether the seme buve been toifaed or
BOt, and 10 cnler any slup o vegsel, dwellng-house,
Blore, buliaing o 1 ouicr place for the puipose of
scarciing for and seizing any such goods, waies or
merchandize which be or they hove Ly Lw i ielas
uon 0 goods, wales anu merchandize sul ject w gu-
Ly ; and if wny person or persons shail conceul or
buy any goods, wares oF mierchanaize, knowing them
to be hable 10 scizwre by tus wet, such porson or
persons shall on ceonviction thereot, tufeit und pay a
sum double the smount of the goods, wares wnd
nerchandize so concculed o puichased.
To the Members ol the Honourable
General Asvembly of the State of
Rhuode-Island.
( Concluded.)
“ That property wi'l ever be unequal is cer
tain. Industry superiority of wients. dexter
ity of manigeniént, exueme frugality, for
tunate opportunities on tle opposites, cr the
means of those things wiil ever produce ihat
effect without having recourse to the harsh
ill-sounding nanies of avarice and oppres
sion ; and besices this, there are some men
who, though ticy do not despise wealth, will
not stoop to the diudgery, or the means of
acquiring i, nor wiil be troubled with the
care of it,beyond their wants or their indepen
dence ; whiist iu others there is an avidity te@ -
attain it by every meuns not punishable. Tt
makes the business of gheir lives, and they
follow it'as their religion. Alithat is recuir
ed with respect to property, is to obtain it
honestly, and not employ it criminally ;. but
it is alwuys eriniinally employed, when it is
made a criterion for exclusive rights.
“ In institutions that are purely pecuniory,
such as that of a bank, or a coin™mercial com
pany, the rights of the members, composing
that companyyare wholly created by the prop
erty they invest therein. and no other rights
are represented in the government of that
company : neither hus thut government cog
nizance of any thing but property,
« But the case 1s different with respect to
the institution of civii goveérnment, organized
on the system of representation. Such a
government has cognizance of every thing,
and ecvery man, a 8 a member of the com.
munily, whether he has property or not ; and
thercfore the principle requires that every
man, and every kind of right, be represented,
of wiich the right to acquire and to hod
property, is but o.e, and that not one of the
most essential kind, The protection of a
man’s person is more sucred thun the protece
tion of his property ; and besides uf-, the
faculty of performing any kind of work, by
which he ac/juires a liveilboou, or mainteins
a family, is of the nature of property. It is
propeity to him—lie has acouived it ;3 and it
is as much the object of bis protection, as -
exterior propefy possessed without that fuce
ulty, can be the ooject of protectivn to anoth
er person.
“ I huve always believed that the best se
curity for property, be it wuch or litte, is to
remove from every part of the community,
s far as can be done.every cause of complaint,
«nd every motive of violence ; and this cun
only be done by an e juaity of vights. When
rights are secure, properiy is secure in cone
se' uence. But when properly is made a
pretence for one jual or exciusive rizhes, it
weakens tihe right to hold the property, and
provokes indirn tion and tomnit—for it is une -
n.nral to beiieve that ropeﬂy cun be secure
under the guar ntee of & society, inued in
its rights by tie influcrce ol Wit property.
FOR THE RHODE-ISLAND REPUBLICAN.
Mi{ceilany.