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

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-
Lf,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-Warning 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