The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-23
For the REPusLIcAN.

Britain and her oppressive measures were ar.
rested in their mad career. Their avowed
partialitics to that government whose emissa.
ries they are, in preference to our own, are
too evident to admit doubt. 1t is full time
that distinguishing line should Inc drawn,
separating the friends of oGr Republick from
its internal foes as we are on the verge of q
war with that power whose intrigues in the
courts of Europe have been the destruction of
those powers ;rwhose fleets have deprived us
of the liberty of.the seas, and dwhose. courts of
admiralty Of all maritime rights. From the
plunder Of the world they maintain their spies
and emissaries, who lurk in the bosom of ev.
cry nation to destroy its government and bring
it into contempt. BY their efforts and their
representations is the Independence of our
country placed in the most critical situation.
England has deceived us and is deceived in
turn by her deluded spies. They have rep
resented our government as cowartiicc and
pusillanimity itself; so divided in opinion, and
SO strongly attached to her as commercial
nation, that we dare not oppose their system
of retaliation on ncutrals which she adopts |:
Or in other words, an indemnity for the losses
ON her commercial and manufacturing inter-
ests to the complete ruin of our trade. Do
you not perceive this, ye who compose the
well informed among merchants ofthe United
States if SO, are you disposed any longer to
submit to insult and degradation What
further proofs do you require, in addition to
those already received Where, alas, is the
spirit of your ancestors, who dared, though
few in numbers, to resist the execution Of
tyrant's mandate /! Has it indeed descended
to their tombs, or is it totally extinguished in
- Of LII - g. -
indignation, upon power who invades your
rights and privileges, and places your free.
dom and independence at stake. We have
submitted SO far already to the impositions of
Great-Britain, that it. has become dangerous
to our independence as a neutral nation to
submit any longer. The last drop Of ncgoci.
alton has been. drained from the cup, and the
perfdy of Canning has withered the Olive
Branch while Liberty, in presenting it, bids
them beware of;the issue.
1t is time to grid on the armour of our safe
ty, and take the shield in our hands. None
but Americans should be permitted to stand
as centinels of our freedom, while our politi.
cal rights are subject to the invasions Of an
internal enemy, and our Independence al q
free nation made the object Of insult and rid
iculc by Great Britain.
The Minister of England tells us that they
have the power to destroy our commerce, and
that they will make use Of that power when
ever it shall become necessary; SO long as
we will limit our trade to simple supply of
all that they require, so long they may per-
NIT it, but go beyond this and you exceed the
bounds prescribed to You. Do you not per-
ceive that this is their meaning What
more do you require DO you wait The event
of negotiation or their fincsse ! Then will
you have more patience than true spirit. Do
you wish to know the properties Of Jackson's
treaty, prescribed in the Queens palace, and
to be presented you for your acceptance AS
It regards your commerce, its properties are
more destructive to it than hemiock or wild
hellcborc to the preservation Of life to our,
national character insolent and degrading. In
truth, what have we to expect from Q Jdckso's
after the declaration of Corning Is it
probable that If it possessed any valuable prin-
ciplcs-any reservation Of maritime rights
that they would have chosen this very unpop-
ular character in diplomatick address The
tragical part that he played at Copenhagen
will stamp his character as that of his court
with eternal infamy. Instead of the forms Of
treaty that he has to offer, you may more
properly call it a licence from his majesty
George III. TO the merchants Of the United
States: Greeting :-~Gran,ing to them the full
liberty of trading solely to @. Britain or to any
of his majesty's colonies with permission to
carry thithcr such and such articles, the
growth ofthe u. States, paying thereon such
and such duties, and taking il return only such
articles, the manufacture of G. Britain or
some Of the products Of its colonies, direct to
the u. States: A mere school-boy's privi-
lcge--dircct to school and home again. And
are our merchants disposed to trade with G.
Britain under these restrictions Such as
they would not submit to from our own gov
crnment, will they bear from the tyrant Of the
ocean Will they suffer their maritime
rights - be frittered down by foreign power
until the ocean becomes a private path to the
sh;na sf Rr;kasr> alone No nv fellov.ciii-