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

ish navy, against the agriculture, tho
commerce and the navy, of our enemies
or rivals"
Here the United states are expressly in.
cluded by this scene Of general destruc.
ton meditatcd against commerce, enc.
mics or rivals; the word rivals, sir, is tho
key which unlocks the designs of the
ministry against the United States. Dc
you suppose, sir, the author did not know
the meaning of the word rivals, or that il
was slipt in without design? {? No, sir, i,
was intended to tell the British nation,
that they must not stop at the destruction
of the commerce of their enemies. The
destruction must be indiscriminate it
must extend to rivals as well as enemies.
And, sir, we are the rivals ofGrcat Brit
ain in commerce The United States, ,and
the United States alone. The term rival,
is as descriptive of the United States, as
the term United States itself. | think,
sir, from the combined influence of all the
preceding circumstances, it is demon
strated beyond doubt, that all our suf-
ferings arise from the settled detcrmina-
ton of the British ministry to exercise
exclusive dominion upon the ocean. TO
monoplizc the commerce of the world, or
render it subservicnt to British views and
British interests.
Permit me now, sir, to select another
act OF this energetick administration to-
wards the United States for few animad-
versions. l mean, sir, their interfering
in our political concerns i'll many respects
but particularly in holding out induce
ments TO our citizens 10 violate our laws,
and even appealing to the people against
their own government by some invisible
agency. | allude, sir, to the order'S is
sued shortly after the passing of our en-
barge laws for receiving vessels which
should violate those laws, even without
the customary papers, and to the publica-
ton of Mr.. Canning's letter addressed to
Mr. Pinckney on the Esd Of September
last, in one ofthe newspapers printed III
Boston.
Iconsider both these acts as highly in
sulting to the American people and gov
ernment; and they ought to have been
repelled with indignation, and would
have justified hostility itself. Sir, in is
suing this order, the British ministry ap-
pears to me to have set a dangerous ex-
ample to other nations, particularly to the
United States, because the United States
might retort her favorite rctaliatory sys-
tenn upon herself. Suppose sir, imme-
diately upon the receipt of that order in
the county, the United States, had re-
torted by passing a law holding out in
ducements to British seamen to desert
from their ships, and to afford protection
andeven to promise them protection and
rewards upon bringing III the ships them
selves; do you think, sir, that G. Brit
ain would have been altogether free from
apprehensions, as to the effects of such a
retaIiatory measure? The British feet,
sir, is extremely formidable to the gov
crnmcnt, the floating dungeons and severe
discipline not always palatable to the sea-
men-They have several times been
very much out of humour, and it is i'm
possible to foresee the consequences of
the inducements the United States have
in their power to offer the disatiected.-
But, sir, this subject presents another
consideration to my mind. In the year
1898 Great Britain entered into the war
against France solely upon the ground
of resisting the spirit Of disorganization,
which it was alleged France was introdu-
cling into all nations. 1t was for the al
lodged act of separating the people from
their government. Now, sis, how is
Great Britain likely to wind up the war !