The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-04-05

Cling against French army in their bo-
som, hailed with acclamaiions and JOY
the Grriva! of their generous deliverers.
And what happens In the month Of
September following, 4 convention for
the evacuation of Portugal is made by
the British and the French. The Por-
tuguese, the principals in the war, and
the allies of Great Britain, not even con-
suited and upon taking down the
French standard of despotism, the Portu-
guese with indignation and establishment,
behold unfurled in its stead, the British
standard of fdespotism.
now fnd, sir, from the London rews-
papers by the last accounts from Portu-
gal, that formidable party has risen up
against the regency ; or nplain English,
against British insoience and deSpotism !;
for sir, the cause of the regency is the
cause of the British and is not this, the
natural consequence of such conduct :?
Yes, sir, that miserable and devoted peo-
pie are probably divided i'll opinion. The
one half thinks the despo,ism of their
French oppressors the most intolerable /;
the other half that the despotism of their
generous British deliverers is still worse.
Spain is now also receiving the gener-
ousinterpostion of this cnergetick admin.
istration. The tragick scene in this de-
voted and commiserated country, is not
yet closed, or at least not known here.
But should not be at all surprised to
hear by the very next intelligence, which
shall be waited rom that bloody scene
of action, that the generous Britons have
run away and left the Spanish patriots in
the lurch, and have forcibly borne away
the Spanish feet as slight reward for
the generous aid afforded the patriots.
And if such should be the fact, Mr.. Pre-
sident, do you not believe it would be
JUST flied in this country T? Yes, sir, some
old rule, or some new rule, or some no
rule, would instantly be hunted out for
its justification. After so many attro-
cious acts of Great Britain, affecting the
dearest interests Of our own country have
been justified, there is noact she could per-
form towards other nations, which would
leave her without her advocates here.
turn with disgust and modification
from this horrible picture OF wrongs in
flicted by Great Britnin upon other ma
tons, to a recollection and recapitulation
of the injuries and insults heaped upon
my own country, and particularly by the
present energetick administration and |
feel degraded as an American, when re-
view and recollect patient forbcarancc
under them, and particularly, sir, when
Ihear any one ofmy fellow citizens say
there are no causes for war, wait for a
further accumulation of injuries and in
suits. l hope, Sir, | am mistaken in
the views | have of the causes of war. A
discovery of the mistake might relieve
me from feelings, which as an American,
| cannot but possess, but which | am
unable to describe.-But sir, to call the
attention of gentlemen with more certain
ty and precision to the injuries and in
suits inflicted on us, | have reduced the
disgusting catalogue to writing. Sir, |
believe that nearly cotemporaneous with
the determination of the British ministry
to seize the Danish feet, was its deter
mination to plunder and destroy Amcri-
can commerce. The principle of that
determination applied with equal force to
both nations. 1t was exclusive domin
ion on the ocean and as one false sug-
gestion was made the pretext for seizing
the Danish feet, SO another suggestion,
equally false, was made the preteyt at
once for the destruction of our COM
merce, andfor sowing the seeds ofdivision