The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-13

IL ever tNSIS Was u ilaliosl atltlnrlcu 10 &c
stripped of her dearest rights, by the subtle
devices and insidious stvatagems of foreign
court, that nation is America.
II is in vain we attempt to seek parallel
in the pages of history to countenance Great
Britain as precedent in her late demands
upon the American government. 1t is i'm
possible she could have right notion Of our
love of liberty, and our determination to sup
port and maintain, at all hazards, our indepen-
dencc and our usurped rights. Calculating
upon our former fprbcarance, she prcsumes
we are tame, pusilIanimous. people, and
would readily yield to her all she should ask /;
or how could she have the matchless Front
cry to insist upon our immediate surrender Of
our commerce to her enemies colonies and
that Congress should, by a Legislative act, Su-
thorize her navy to enforce that law, by cap
turing all our vessels that should be found
trading to these intcrdictcd colonies
The audacitv of such,a demand admits Of
no adequate expressions to describe the insult
offered to our beloved country. Were We a
nation of obsequious slaves, her arrogance
could not demand more, nor her pride expect
greater sacrifice.
The Publick Documents laid before Con-
grcss, at the present session, containing the
correspondence Of Mr.. Smith with Mr.. Frs
kline, and between Mr. Smith and Mr. Jack
son, exhibits such daring demand OF Great
Britain, never before officially avowed, as
staggcrs crcdulity itself, and awakcns the
whole American nation to a just sense OF their
impending danger. M t8
Every individual of the community ought
TO be in possession Of them; for they effect
the dearest interests Of his country, which, il
surrendered, will be fatal to our commerce
our dignity and our independence. The i'm
preston thst perusal ofthesc documents
will produce, will not pass away with the af-
fairs of the day. No. They will be as lasting
as virtue shall be respected, and usurpation
be detested. They viii excite in the mind of
the reader love of liberty tlfat shall cheer
and animate his soul which will urge him to
risk every thing to preserve his immuniucs
unrestricted, and his rights anvolated.
1t is not our present intention TO exhibit the
wretchcd consequences that would inevitably
occur, if that which is now demanded by Great
Britain should be granted; because we most
seriously wish every individual the commu-
nifty, without exception, may posses copy /;
and by perusing them, he will form such an
opinion of their merits as the case may re-
quire; which opinion we are confident will be
on the side OF our government. We are full
ly persuaded he will be richly repaid for his
attention in careful perusal of them, which
will expose such demand of the surrender
Of our rights as will astonish him; and al
though astonished at the barcfaced afsrontery
of Great Britain, viii, nevertheless, bcplcas-
ed with the firmness, dclcacy, and honour of
our government, in repelling so injudicious,
insidious, and fatal demands. These docu-
ments claim the attention of every American
citizen they are inestimab!c, and will convey
to him due sense of the wrongs our country
have received from foreign powers, and their
intention to reduce us once more to Chains
and Slavery.