The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-10-10


man, vino, while adverting TO the unjust and
disasterous attack OH Copenhagen, pronounc-
cd this memorable axiom, did not long sur
vive the period in which, with all the force
OF eloquence and in all the ajcsty of truth,
no enforced it in the English House OF Com
mons he lived long enough to behold, IN
the INCREASING calanities of his country, the
sorrowfu truth Of his predictions. There is,
in the moral, as well as in the physical world,
IN invariable and powerful tendency to re.ac.
ton. The injustice of governments as we'll
as OF individuals, though committed to pro-
cure temporary advantages, and though
attem pied to be justified, or at least pallatcd
by The ruffan's plea, {" necessity" seldom
fails to be visited, though sometimes slow,
yet by sure and ample retribution. We
have been led to these reflections, by the re-
cent adviccs received from our Consuls and
various other sources respecting the numer-
Gus and shamefuI forgery Of dmeriean ha-
fers, TO cover and facilitate the transit of Bri-
tish produce and macuiactures into the conti-
neRt of Europe. Of all nations on earth,
there 10 none SO deeply interested as England
rs in preventing aud discouraging the CRIME
OF forgery. From her widely extended COM
merce, and -ihe immense amount of paper
she has been compelled to issue as circula-
ting medium she would of all others be the
most deeply affected, inasmuch as she is most
vulnerable by the commission Of crimes Of
that nature OF the truth of this position
her Legislature of other days, before the sun
OF her glory began to set, appears to have
been duly sensible. In the long lisi of capi-
tai offences enumerated in the sanguinary
penal code OF that nation, there are none "a
ganst which the punishment of death, (thc
greatest which human laws can intlict) has
been 80 certainly or SO unrelentingly execu.
ted. No matter how distinguished in society
the pergetrator of this crime might previous
ly have been. No matter what power or in-
huence might be exerted to rescue the un-
happy delinquent from his impending fate
this in the view OF commercial people was
considered a crime of SO deep die, that
even the regal peroga,ive, so often excrted
In favour OF the foulest murderers, was not
permitted TO be extended towards the res
Pcctable Pereaus o. the celebrated or unfor.
tunate. Doctor Dodd.
Now il the prevention Of forgery be con.
sidered so indispensably necessary to the
vital interests of commerce and ii the pros
perity of commerce be deemed SO essential
TO the existence or we'll being of G. Britain,
how extremely cautiouas ought she to be not
to familirise the minds of her people Tor the
sake OF present paltry profiD to the com
mission of this crime yet it is a fact now so
generally known that even Incredibly must
cease to doubt its correctness, that every
species of .dmerica,i fahers with all the for
mula of our Collectors signatures, Consuls'
Certificates, Sc. are as regularly manufactur- I
cd (and this with the connivance and under
the eye OF the government in London and
may tor the stated price be procured AS read
lily as a hat-sfamh. This is no doubt one
principal cause Of tho various interruptions,
seizures, requisitlons, &c. to which neutral
commerce has been subjected
tal corruption and commercial cupidi,y has,
however, been visited in dispcnsation OF
retaliation and punished tP the complete fail
uro of their Illicit project The immense
amount of British property smusgled into
the ports OF the continent, under cover of our
heg with forged papers and heJursd attesta-
tions has been seized by the prompt and vig-
orous measures OF her wary and formidable
foe /; heOcc ruin and bankruptcy with desola-
ding stIiScs, stalk throughout the British
empire. y