The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-12

procedure we had adopted put stop to the neu-
traty of Europe, enabled the enemy more effect
ually to exclude commerce from the Continent
than perhaps he imagined he should be able TO
effect but America still remained and opened TO US
III another quarter of the globe, a mart for all our
commodities, supply Of I'll the ma Tials of our in
dusry, from which the eromy, with all his immense
power on the Continent of Eu c, had no means of
debarring us. Yet instead of softenng and smooth
ing down every difference that arose between the two
countries, instead Of pursuing policy that must have
attached America TO our alliance and our interests
We have done every thing 10 cnhamc and exasperate
her, every thing TO estrange her affections, and in
dispose us towards her interests Such is the direct
tendency Of the policy which his Maiestys present
Ministers seem resolved to pursue How different
is 1t from that which the wisdom of Mr. Pitt adopted
in 1888, which since that period has been pursued
and acted upon, which, when lie had the honour OF
being called TO his Maestys Councils, he had en-
deavoured to re-cstabsh, ~ the adjustment of a
Commercial Treaty, founded upon the reciprocal in
terestS of the two nations. But instead of cult
vatng that connection instead OF fostering that sys-
TEN of reciprocity, it would appear TO be the
plan of Ministers to ALLEVIATE America, and force her
into the arms of France. If this was impolitick and
unwise from the beginning, how much must il be felt
so since the oficr of America in August last. Res
pcctng the nature of that offer, the strongest mis-
representations have been made 1t has been assert
edin this House, that in her negotiations with France.
and with this country, respecting the repeal of the
French DEGREES, and Of our Orders in Council Amer
lea had manifested decided psrtiaty ia favour of
France. by these assertions, he had himself been
entrappcd into belief that they were wcll founded
and in consequence Of that conviction he had made
use OF expressions respecting men and measures,
which he was now most anxious to retract What
could be the motive of the misrel senatons of this
matter which was SO easily sent abroad, and so in
dustiously propogated, he would take upon him.
self 10 say but he felt his duty fully and accurate
y to inform himself upon the bect, and the result
OF his enquiries has abundanty satisfied him that the
misrepresentation he alluded to had nothing in the
world TO warrant them He should undertake TO
prove not only that the words of the President of the
u D relative to tie pending negotiations were msin-
terpreted, but that from rrefragable documents he
would demonstrate that there grounds what
soever Tor the charge Of partiaty the part of A.
merca towards France, to the prejudice of this com
try. The Noble Lord then proceeded 10 read the
passage IN the speech of the President of the United
States to Congress, which relates TO the negotiations
with the two governments of France and England
Inc Noble Lord also read the report made by con
greSs III answer 10 the Presidents addi css and arg,,
Cd, both from the text of the speech and the com.
ment upon IT. the report to prove that instead of any
partiaity toward France, the terms proposed were
rather more favourable TO England. The tenor Of
the instructions from the American government TO
their Ministers at Paris and at London the Nobl,
Lord likewise referred containing still stronger
proofs OF the mpartaly OF America, rather of fer
inclination to side sooner with England than with
France. From all these documents il appeared. and
N
Mr. Canning to MIR Pnckney, which however, does
not appear among tie papers the table, that Amer
lca held out nearly the terms, couched in near
ly the same language to both govcrnments-To
france she observed, that if the French government
did not repeal their decrces, while England revoked
her orders in Council America must be forced into
contest with France; in the other passages of cor
respondencc, the word "War" was expressly made
use Of Indeed not only did a perfect mpartiality
respecting the two governments appear to guide the
nf Arnn 1,,l, l.n
Grafton OF them would induce every unprejudicod
mind to think, instead Of much being offered to
France and little TO England, the reverse was the
case, and that much had been offered to England
and little to France.
By listening to the offer in August last, England
might have secured two Advantages the repeal of
the Embargo, and the next TO a certainty, Of having
America rs an ally in the war against France while
France in the first instance, had the offer but of one
advantage these considerations which he could
not 100 strongly recommend TO the serious attention
OF their Lordships. Let the offer Of America in Au-
gust last be candidly considered Let the advantag-
es OF embracing 1T, and the evils that must result from
rejecting 1t, be naturely weighed This was the
great obIect he had IN view; and 10 which he must
again implore the serious attention of their Lorships
In order to attain that object, he should now move
an humble address to his Majesty, the drift Of which
was to pray his Majesty would be gracously pleased
while the door for necociaon was still open, to a
ooP, suoh measures as might tend TO restore cur
VIII hiiSTCa ana rc-CStaDllSll the
former footing OF our commercial intercourse with
that cc-ntry. The Address moved by Tic Noble
Lord was very long, and refers to most of the trans
aatlons which have taken place between this country
and America, for the last two wears
Lord Sidmouth defended the legality Of the Order
OF the 9TH of January, 1906, which related TO the
coastng trade, which he said neutral had no right
10 carry on for the benefit of of the begerents.
at the expcnce of the other. For neutral could ac
qure no new rights by the state of war; and that was
a m Deoc he no
insisted that new arose in the question When
the Americans offered to rescind their Embarpo Will,
respect to us, and continue it only with rcspec, TO
France, If we would abandon our Orders in CouncI
he thought then 1T became the duty of this country
to attempt conciliaon, and that pacifck pronos;
ton, we ought TO assume suitable disposi,m ,,,
conciliation He insisted that as it was not done
Ministers had shewn hostile disposition and tbcr,