The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-05-05 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

of the mode by whiefi-Greatßritein may defeat the
great intention of the -.American Government ii
paising it. But as the sort of impunity recom. ;
mended, might, in its application to every species of
commerce that would be carried on, be deemed by
Great Britain a greater evil than war itself, a middle
course might easily be adopted, which would deprive
France of the benefit resulting from an intercourse
with America, without, in any great degree, irritat-
ing the Maritime States. •
The high price of all American produce in France
furnishes a temptation which mercantile avarice will be
unable to resist. The consequence is obvious. But if,
instead of condemning the vessels and cargoes which
may be arrested in pursuing this prohibited com-
merce, they should be compelled to go into'a British
port, and there permitted to sell them, I think the
friends of England in these States, would not utter a
complaint. Indeed, I have no doubt that if, in the ;
prosecution of a lawful voyage, the British cruisers
should treat American ships in this manner, their
owners would, in the present state of the European
markets, think themselves very fortunate, as it t
would save them the trouble and expellee of landing'
them in a neutral port, and from thence re-shipping
them to England, now the best market in Europe ;
fog the 'produce of this country. The Government
probably complain, and
a the United Slates would
Bonaparte become peremptory; but even that would
only tend to render the opposition in the Northern ,
States more resolute, and accelerate the dissolution
of the confederaiy. The generosity and instice of
Great Britain would be extolled, and the commercial
States exult in the eneeess of individuals over a Go.
Vernment inimicat•tio commesoe, and to whose men-
tares they can no idnger submit with patient aqui...
escenee.

for the smallness of the majority. In Connecticut
uo change is necessary, and none is to be apprehended.
In Rhode Island, it is of no consequence of what
party the Governer is a member, as he has neither civil
nor military powers, being merely President of the
Council. In Massachusetts, it is certain that the
Federal candidate will succeed. A few weeks will
be sufficient in order to determine the relative
strength of parties, and convince Mr. Madison that
a war with Great Britain is not a measure upon which
he dare venture. Since the plan of an organised op..
poifition to the projects of Mr. Jefferson was put
into operation, the whole of the New-England States
have transferred their political power to his political
enemies,—and the reason that he has still so many
adherents is, that those who consider the only true
policy of America to consist in the cultivation of
•peace, have still great confidence, that nothing can I
I force him (or his successor, who acts up to his sys-
Tem, or rather is governed by il) to consent to war.
hey consider all the menaces, and " dreadful note
of preparation," to be a mere finesse, intended only
I to obtain concessions from England on cheap terms.
' From every sort of evidence, I confess I am myself
of the same opinion—and aM fully persuaded, thnt
the faree, which has been acting at Washington, a ill
terminate in a full proof of the imbecility and spi-
ritless temper of the actors. A war, attempted is it h-
out the concurrence of both parties, and the general
consent of the Northern States, which con,titute the
bone and muscle of the Cointry, must commence
;without hope, and end iu "disgrace. It should, there.
tre, be the peculiar care of Great Britain to- loiter
visions between the North and South—sod,by sac.
Caiding in this, she may carry into etketherown pro-
-I,3iNts iu &rope, witka toopkimitigirot I* resent-
' aunt of the democrats or this opiery•
1 am,

of the Non-intercourse Law; and if they show any
spirit at the neat Session of Congreaa towards France,
it will be only because they find Bonaparte deaf to
entreaty, and insensible of past favours; or. that they
may think it safer to float with (he tide of public
feeling, which will set strongly against him, unle4s
he keep pan passe with Englund, in a conciliatory
policy. When I began my Letter, I intended to
make some observations, in relation to the boundary
line.—[Here ten or twelve lines of the manuscript
are eresed.]—l am 8a
$ •

No. XIII.

A. B.

Bostne, May 5, 1809.
Ste —Althougl: the recent changes that have oC.
curreS, quiet all apprehensions of war, mut cothea
quently lessen all hope of a separation of the States,
I think it necessary to trausmit by the mail of eau.'
week, a sketch of passing events. On local politico
I have nothing to add ; and as the parade that is made
in the National Intelligencer of the sincere disposi-
tion of Mr. Madison to preserve amicable reletions
-with Great Britaiu is, in my opinion, calculated to
awaken vigilance and distrust, rather than inspire
confidence, I shall (has-41g nothing more important
to write about) take leave to examine his motives. r
am not surprised at his conditional _removal of the
Non-Intercoerse Law, with respect to Great BK..
lain, becaose it was made incumbenton him by the
Act of Congress; but the observettiotas made on hit
friendly dispositions towards Great Britten, is a
matter of no little astonishment. The whole tenor
of his political life directly and unequivocally contra.
diets there. his speech on the British treaty, in
.1799; his attempt to pass a lawfor the confiscation
of '4 'British debts" and British property; his, corn.
mercial resolutions, grounded amttently on aft
idea of making America useful as a colony to
France ; his conduct while Secretary pf State, all,
No. 1:1. ! form an assemblage of probabilities tending to
. Boom, April 13, Itlo9, f convince me, at least, that he does not seriously
St a,—l send to Mr. R. a.pampblet entitled cc sup.: desire * treaty in which the rights and pretensions
of Great Britain would be fairly recognised. It
pressed Documents." The notes and comments were
I oritten by the Gentleman who has written the seems impossible that he should at once divest
No. ix. 1" .dnulysis," which I sent by a former conveyance. , himself of his habitual animosity, and that he
Owen, March 19, 1809.' These works have greatly contributed to excite the I should deprive his friends and supporters of the be.
Sri,—You will perceive from the accounts that fears of the men of talents and property ; who now . nofit of those prejudices, which have been carefully
will reach you in the public papers, both from Wash. prefer the chance of maintaining their party by open fostered iu the minds of the common people towards
ington and Massachusetts, that the Federalists of resistance and a final separation to an alliance England, and which have so materially contributed
the Northern states have succeeded itt making the with France, and a war with England. So ihat should to invigorate and augment the Democratic party.—
Congress believe, that with such an opposition as the Government unexpectedly and contrary to all ! Whatever his real motives may be, it is in this stage
they would make to the general Government, a war reasonable calculation, attempt to involve the coon. of the affair harmless enough to enquire into the
must be confined t. their own teeritorY, and might try in a measure of that nature, lam convinced (now cause of the apparent change. He probably acts un.
be even too much for that Gov ,rnment to sustaiu.—t that the elections have all terminated favourably) der a conviction that in the present temper of the
The consequence is, that after all the parade anti . that none of the New England States would be a party Eastern States, a war could not fail to produce a
menaces with which the Session commenced, it hat!, he it. But, as I have repeatedly, written, the Gene- dissolution of the Union ; or he may have pro.
been suffered to end without carrying into effect any! rat Government does not seriously entertain any
I Med by the mistakes of hit predecessor ; St
rove is in.
of the plans of the Administration, except the inter. I Such desire or intention. Had the majority in the eihted to seize the present opportunity to pto
diction of commercial intercourse with England and New England States, continued to approve of the I the world, that he is determined to.Lkthe Pret.ident
France—an event that was anticipated in my former' Virile measure s, it is extremely probable that Great iof a Nation, rather than the head of a faction; or
letters. . 'Stain would now have to choose between war and !he has probably gone thus far to remove the4mpree.
But the - .t of this - sion en the mind of many, that he was under the
. .

The elections are began, and i pregame no vigi-
lance or induatri :rill be remitted to insure the suc-
cess of the Federal Part.—I am, &c.

A. B.

A. B.

P. S.—lntelligence has reached Docton, that a
Non-intercourse Law has actually passed, and that
Martisique his surrendered to the British forces.

Under what new circomstaMes the Congress will
meet in May, will depend on the state elections and
the changes that m;y in the mean time take place in
Europe. With regard to Great Britain, she can
scarce mistake her true policy in relation to Ameriat.

• upon which the commet . carry,
the agricultural States Import their 'surplus produce.
alt this is as well kncrwtv to ellordeaseerats as to the
other party ' . therefore they will avoid a war, at least
1 ' until the whole nation is unanimous for it. ' Still,
when we consider of what materials the Government
i Is formed, it is impossible to speak with any certainity
'of their measures. The past administration in every
transaction presents to the mind only a muddy cont.{
mixture oC folly, weakness, and &Vicky. Tire spelt'l
; by which the nations of Europe have been rendered
Inert and inefficient when they attempted to shake it
ff, has stretched its shadows across the Atlantic and
z made a majority of the people of these States alike
i blind to duty and to their true interests,
I am, .etc.

concession. _ it tl aspect . things in respect
i; changed ; and a war would produce an incurable
alienation of the Eastern States, and bring the whole
country in subordination to the interests of Englalnd,
whose nary would prescribe and enforce the terms
--tad States should and

-
influence of France, in order that he may, with a.
better grace, and on more tenable grounds, quarrel
with Great Whale hi the progress of negociating a
treaty.--Whatever his motives may be, !am very net..
tain his party will not support him in any manly and

If pease be the first object, every act which can irritate
the Maritime States ought to be avoided ; because the
prevailing dispel... Won of these will generally be saki-
slat to keep the Government from hazarding any hostile
iseasure. If a war between America a,ul France be
a grand desideratum, something more must be done ;
.ste -iudulgent conciliatory policy must be adopted,
which will leave the democrats without a pretext for
! hostilities ; and Bonaparte, whose passions are too
hot for delay, will probably compel this Govern-
ment to decide whether of the two great Belligerents
kto be its enemy. To bring about a separation of
the States, under distinct and independent Govern.
merits, is an affair of more uncertainty; sand, how.
ever desirable, cannot be effected but by a series of
acts' and long continued policy, tending to it-
*tate the -Southern, and conciliate the Northern
ie.—The former are agricultural, the lat.
ter. a commercial people. The mode of cherish.
lei sod 'depressing either, is too obvious to r'
;etre illustration. This, I 'am iware, Is an ob.i
fot of much interest in Great Britain, as it would
r ever secure the integrity of Ms Majesty's posses.
ukases this Continent, and make the two Govern.
inente, or whatever number the present confederacy
aght form into, as Useful and is mach subject 'to 1
the influence of Great Britain, as her colonies can
be rendered. But it is an object only to be‘attainedi
-by slow and circumspect progression, and requires
for its consummation more attention to the affairs
Which agitate and excite parties In this country, than
',Great Britain has yet bektowed oportit. • An unpo.
inter war—that is twafproduced by the hatred and
prejudices of ono party, but against the consent of
the tattler party, can alone kroducea Sudden seyara.
• of tiny itArttiart 4:4ltia.#4l)try from the common
head. ips's
'' ' •
At all siva*, It wirinot be necessary to the preser.
vation of pearei.tisiit'Great Britain should make any
great concession at the present moment ; more esp.-
rcially as the. more important changes that °emir in?
1 Europe might render it inconvenient for her to ad.]
here to any stipulations in favour of neutral maritime
nations.
Although the Non-Intercourse Law affords but a
very partial relief to the people of this country from
the evils of that entire suspension of commerce to
which they have reluctantly submitted for some time
I past, I lament the relieal of the Embargo; becausel
it was calculated to accelerate the progress
estates towards a revelsrtion that would
end to the only Republic that remains ,
a Government founded on political equality
,in a *Leon of trial and dittitarity, or
insure either security or happineas ton
I am, &c.

I. B.

No. MI.
Boone, April 98, 1809.
Sia,—Since my letter, N0..1. 1 have had but
little to communicate. I have not yet been able to
ascertain with sufficient accuracy the relative strength
of the two parties in the Legislative bodies in New- I
-Eogland. In all of these States, howeierr Governors
little been elected out of the Federal Party, and even
4he Southern Papers indicate an unexpectei augmon-
.tetion of Federal Member, in the next Congress.—
The correspondence between Mr. Erskine and the
Secretary of State at Washion, you will have me.
before this can reach. you. if hits given much
4action to the Federal Party here, because it pro-'
Anises an exemption from'the evil.they most feared,:
otwar with England, andjuetifies their partiality toJ
mu* Great Britain, whoop they maintain -yea
Winded eitom.a :full eatsvistion et her justice and
l•owere disposition to rrfge peace._ Even the,
*Octets affect to be st,44stlorttit it, because,
they insist; it proves the.
4mR, cy of the restricta.ll
aptem of Mr. Jefferson. great benefit that
orill probably result •frpre tt, . rr ill be, that Beimparte may be induced tQ force this country from heg,
°Wm' position. Baffled in his attempts to exclude
from this Continent the nutnukotures of Great Bri-
tain, he will most likely confiscate aft America*
property in his dominions and dependencies, and'
declare wkr. Nothing could more than this sow.
tribute to give influence end '.stability to the
British party. The invidiens- aiourrences of the
old fi resentment of the

generous polies... Weak men aro awe to temporise
when great wrists eat epee thorn for decision, and
are sluggish RA tnert at the moment when the worst
of evils is inaction. This is the character of the
•Democitits in the Northern States. Of those of tho
South, I know but little.—f am, &c.

A. B.

No. XLV.
Bonne, May 25, 1509.
Sin,—My last was under date of the sth instant.
,The unexpected change that has taken place in the
feelings of political men in this country, in conse-
quence ...1 Mr. Madison's prompt acceptance of the
friendly proposals of Great Britain, has caused a
temporary suspension of the conflict of parties ; and
they both regard him with equal wonder and dis-
trust. They all ascrib4 his conduct to various mo-
tives, but none believe him to be in earnest. The State
of New York has returned to the Assembly a majority
of Federal Members. All this proles, that an anti-
commercial faction cannot rule the Northern States.
Two mouths ago the State of New York was not
ranked among the States that. would adopt the policy
i of that of Massachusetts; and tiny favourable change
letas exceedingly problematical. I beg leave to sug.
gest, that io, the present state of thiugs in this cowl-
] try, my presence can contribute very little to the
I iuterests of Great Britain. It Mr. Erskine be sane-
,l
soladie all be has conceded, by kis Majesty's Mi-
nisters, it is unnecessary for me, as indeed it would
be . unavailing, to make any attempt to carry into
effect she original purposes of my mission. While I
1 thinitskt pi be my duty to give this lodination to you,
11 beg it may be understood that .I .consider myself
i entire. bet the disposal of his Majesty's Government.
4., -. I am, e•
~e. &c. , ..,

frekaii;
. Stav—Since .my letter of tins jar,
occurred which I thought
The last weeks of this !with; and the.
will be occupied in the. election *Move,
other. Executive Officers in thedlew En
The Federal candidate in Nnaltlialps hire
*acted by a majority of about...lWO Totes.
POOR was * man of large to
ititions, and laidreiniie•

r,

A. B.

,1,1.01.

Yr, • • Nu. XV.
r• '" Montreal, June 12, VV.
Stn.,-.4 have the honour to inform your Excellen.
cy that I received, through Mr. Secrytary Ryland,
your Excellency's commands to return to Canada,
and, after the delays incident to this, season of the
y_ear, in a journey from Boston, arrived here yesterday
1
our Excellency will have seen, bjc the pawns of the
.latest dates front the United States, that t formidable
Opposition is already organized its Congress to tho
late • of Mr. Madison--and it is very evi,
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cibagtreg°B9;
ofbe these rebellion wig/11
celd be forgotten in.the resentment of the j late measures of Mr. manison--ana it is very evi,
opeople against Fran • and they would soon be I dent, that if he be sincere in his professions of at-
old have put an , I
weaned from that attachinent to her which is founded tachment to Great Britain, his pertz will abandon: . ~i,v .
3$ to prove that os the aid that was rendered to separate from the him. Sixty-one Members have already voted against i .
t,
quality can exist ,other country: While Great Britain waits for this I Resolution to approve of what he•has done--,and I
r is
calculated to natural, L might say noceafarx result of the negocia- have no doubt the rest of the Democratic party will .1 1
I people. • tioawould it not be estremeii ',ruclient to pen- r folloW the example, as soon as they recover from the
f , . ~ I
u 'elude a Ireet7 with th.iinistrieio Government?--- astonishment, into which his apparent defection has
;Evety sort by-evidence and 'esrperlenee prove, that throwathem. Thepresent hopes ottbe Federalits am
the. democrats. ceeeldei.. their political ascendancy founded on theprobability of a war with France•—but, i , ~
-
: Jt
' Mani S; 4,a great insulin dependent upen the hostile spirit at all events, this party is Strodg and yr, ft organised J , ; '
Si "Oirthey has that they can keep alive tOwartipGreat Britain, and enough to prevent a war with &tan& It would li If
.coduirunieethrit recenteventa demonstrate tliat Atli conduct will be now be seperinons to trouble yeti WI b an account
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he *lSt of Apia
.gtetneeted upon that, ConvOn. It is, therefore, of Ake Gators and extent of the arrangements made
r Crovetaorss not to be. expectett that they will meet with corm. hyith• Federal Party, to resist soy attempt of this
tml
IttIOPM ..
..ading feelings, a sincere disposition at the part of , Cievermperst unfavourable to Great Britain. They
1 '
*et -1110604,01 .teeiditisg ail matters ilk &piste. .1 arm}, litre as to do great credit to tbetr ability cut'
l'
rogaleppogo! ,owtageigstaddfeapieleeed And that . : tri ' ; and while ajudieloes policy it observed by
• his beta is *climate ot• etc ,reek. 0 ' Wag . SWUM her interests in America from.
liarrioZ4-1-1,10 it11404-gigee44ll4 —.. Ma din* *gay/ My sir oliadadgmrtallismarity loa UT •- . .
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