The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-17
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recently taken by the administration, in re-
gard to our foreign relations. Inasmuch as
the great mass of community, are not gift
ed with the faculty of accurately associating
causes with their effects and as they are too
generally played upon by set of men actuat-
/, ed by personal, and often by sinister motives,
it ought not to surprise us, that temporary
delusion is frequently excited, productive of
iinpatiencc at, ifnot hostility to, the measures
best fitted to promote their interests. 1t is,
perhaps, inseparablc from free government,
TO have body of men constantly in opposi-
ton, who, not contented with virtuous resis-
tance of encroachu1ent and oppression gencr-
ally .endeayor to effect their purposes by mis-
representing the motives, traducing the char
acters, and distorting the measures of those
who hold the reins Of power. A mournful
experience proves, that these men, in the
jealous pursuit of their objects, will totally
lose sight Of the duties which they owe to
their country, and even espouse with ardour
the most unjust conduct Of foreign govern
mcnts. BY these means the publick Judge
Inent is obscured, and considerable portion
qfthe community are led to ascribe all the
SSils they endure to those whom they have
constituted the guardians of their rights, in
stead OF imputing them to the unjust con-
duct Of a foreign power, which but for the
measures they condemn, would have oppress-
ed them with a ten-fold violence. This has
been strikingly the case with respect to the
embargo. Those who imposed it, have been
represented as abandoned to French influence,
as unfriendiy to commerce, as hostile to lib
.erty. Great and respectable sections of the
union have swallowed the poison, and have
been almost inflamcd into paroxysm of pas
sion, ready to seek its criminal qualification
in raising Its arm against it own government
But the bright day Of Judgement and retribu-
ton has at length arrived, when a virtuous
nation will not withhold the tribute OF its
warmest thanks from an administration, whose
sole ambition has ever been to advance the
happiness of its constituents, even at the sa-
criice OF its present popularity. Thanks to
the sage, who now SO gloriously reposes in
the shades of Monticello, and to those who
share his confidence.
In pronouncing this Judgment, every sug-
gestion Of magnanimity recommends for
bearance from opening anew the wounds
which have so grievously irritated our friend
ship with Great Britain. Generosity requires,
that we should drop veil over them. Jus.
tice, however, does not less forcibly call upon
US, to estimate Alright the causes which have
led to the existing state of things, as OPEN
ing to US a copious volume of experience,
chat may serve in future to irradiate our way.
Z 4, In the first place, then, it may be boldly
alledged, that the revocation Of the British
orders is attributable to the embargo. The
non-intercoursc act, connected with the par
tial repeal of the embargo, had not taken
place when Mr.. Oakley left England, nor
was it expected to take place. On the con.
trary, there was every manifestation, on the
part of our government, i'm all its depart
ments, to adhere to the embargo, or to take
the alternative of war. Votes to this effect
had passed the two houses of congress by
great majoritics. Mr.. Canning had, more
over, a short time before, virtually put the
vote of his government on the proposition of
ours to raise the embargo as to England, and
retain it as to France, provided England res
cinded her orders. As this is the precise
proposition submitted by the non-intercouse
act, it proves that there must have been
some other cause. for this veto, at the TING
it was pronounced by Mr.. Canning Mr..
Canning, in fact, assigns cause, by dcclar-
ing that his government would not rescind
her orders till France had Withdrawn her de-
crees. And yet France has not Withdrawn
her DEGREES to this day. AS the effect, then,
is produced without the cause then assigned,
1t is evident that it must have flowed from
other cause. That cause is the embargo.
No other cause can be. assigned That it was
quickened into activity by the disasters attend.
ing the British arms in Spain, may be true.
Butthis proves nothing more, than that the en-
barge was an instrument, calculated to inf1u-
ence the conduct offoreign governments to us
through the medium of contingent events. If i
withhold my friendship from any one, it is not
the particular act that Injuries him, by the eff
fects flowing from it. Sointhc case ofthe en-
barge, II was the almost inevitable effects ex-,
Z pected from it that recommended ii as mea-
snre, the best fitted, in all human probability
TO vindicate our rights by solemn a1heal to
enc irseresfs Of those who violated Them. In
this, and in this wav only. was lie efficacy CON