The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-19
Political @lsreManv.
For the REPUBLICAN,.
POLITICAL REFLECTIONS.
~.. No. w.
No. ~.


dcrs, by which all the trade OF the United
States with the continent of Europe was COM
PEELED to pass through British ports, and there
pay heavy tribute or tax; and by which we
should have been in fact reduced to the Con-
> dition of Blisish colonies. When we were
colonies, we refused to be tared by Britain
and now, by the 6rmncss of our government
and the resolution of the people, VIC have
been again preserved from wearing this badge
of slavery. The British government, who, in
September last, declared their determination
of adhering to these orders, until the French
DEGREES were repealed; and who affected to
despise the suspension of our trade with them,
and to deprecate asking renewal Of it, least
they should offer to yield TO q. measure of CO.
ercivc hostility now come forward and an
nounce their intention of withdrawing the or
ders, 6 in the persuasion that the President
would issue proclamation for the renewal
of the Intercourse between the United States
and Grcat- Britain" They nov accept with
eagcrncss, the proportion of our government,
which they SO Unexpectedly rejected in Sep
tcmbcr last. In fact, the proposal then made
was much more Favourable 10 Britain, than
the arrangement now Concluded. Our gov
crnmcnt then offered, not only To take off the
embargo, SO far as il related to Britain, If she
would repeal her orders, but also TO keep t
on as 10 France nn,A she rehcaied her DEGREES =!
But nothing Of, tlis. sort is now stipulated on
our part.
AS to the Chesapeake attack, Britain hes
also abandoned the naughty ground she at
first took, and now offers to make satisfaction,
6ctorc the Presidents proclamation is repeal
ed-5etore her ships Of war arc admitted a.
gain into our harbours. Whereas our Gov
ernment offered TO Mr.. Rose, ifhe would tell
what reparation he had to offer, its accep-
tancc and repeal Of the proclamation should
bear date on the same day.
Bat though Our differences with Britain
are SO far arranged-yet matters of as great
importance still remain to be settled with
her, in which our Administration will re-
quire the steady and united support of the
people to enable them to adjust honourably.
These are-l. The definition efhogv far Bril-
Tain has a right TO interrupt oar neutral trade
by ,dsciaring places in state Of 6lockaae.
jihat is a biockade Z? When two or more
nations go to war, those nations who do not
choose to Join in the war, remain neutral as
when two neighbours go 10 ia7,, others have
nothing to do with i,--tboy continue their
intcrco,rse with each as before--hor, can
they be in any manner ycxed or Injured i'm
consequence OF the suit. So is 1t with ma
tions. They are entitled with the exceptions
mentioned below, to navigate the ocean, and
10 trade With the powers ut war, in the same
wsy IS iftherc was no war.
But ncutrals have their dHaes, as well as
their rights. To have the former respected,
they must perform the latter, they must
preserve their neutral character by an Impair
li,,l line of conduct towards all the powers at
waI--snd by not interfering in their hostili-
lies. Therefore when a bclligrent power is
actually beseging or investing place, by sea
or land, with view to hostile operations "a
g;,inst it /; that belligerent power has ain un-
questionable right to prohibit and prevent
neutrals from entering and supplying the
place with provisions. Because the. .ncutfal
thus interfercs directly to defeat the object of
the investing power, and to enable his enemy
TO hold out against him. The only practical
rule that can be adopted upon this head is,
that no hiaee shall be considered as in a state
Of tiockade Unless IL is actually iupestcd, so as
10 make IL dangerous to enter. 1t follows
therefore that all haaer biockades, without an
actual Investment of the bockaded port, arc
unlawful. An blockadcs of whole countries,
and whole lines Of coasts are also an unius.
infringement upon neutral righ;s.-This
therefore will form an important point in the
ensuing ncgociation--sincc 1t would be of no
avail to us, to have the orders in Council re-
peaed, if Britain cas at any time blockade all
france--all- HolIand--all Italy--all Spain
&c. SC. As an instance Of such blockades
may be mentioned, that of May, 1906, Of all |
the ports and places from Brest to the river
Ebe, including alf the ports of France upon
the English channel, all the ports of Holland,
and the ports of Germany upon the North |
sea. 1t did not however prevent q commerce
ofdfscharge, but only prohibited the going |
and trading from port to port and though |
issued before the Berlin decree, was precisely
like the Order of the 7th January, 1907, for |
which the Berlin decree afforded prctext. |
In vain therefore would the Order Of the 9TH |