The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-05-02


that we are provided with substitutes ior
those rich staples of commerce, which nature
has bountfnlly bestowed upon the sell and
climate of our southern brethren, and which
she has denied to us. To abandon the right
20 this colonial trade, therefore is TO sacrifice
rot only one of the hest rights OF an indie
pendent nation, but the peculiar and most pre-
cious ihterests of Nev-Eneiand. AT The
time when this letter Was written, G.. Britain
had struck deadly blow AT this uncuestiona-
bic right, and this n,omen,ous interest. Ac.
cording to her usual custom, she had begun,
without on hours notice, TO sweep the ocean
clear of American property, under the ss-
sumption OF rev pretended principle, and
she had set her mosi accomplished sophis,s
in the schools OF national jurisprudence, at
work, to colour her robbe,ies with show Of
argument. AT that time, the cause Of truth,
of justice, and OF America was POPULAR.
The very day before this leteroi Mr., Ames's
was dated, the E,ineifie Of the American
right had been asserted by an nnaninons vote
in the senate OF the United States. There
was not man of any character as States
man, In the United States, who dared 10 ad.
yocatc the British pre,entons. The very
Banks and Insurance Ofiiccs rescunted with
the cry OF British injustise and of American
independence. Even then, however, Mr.. A.
and some less than half dozen others, had
been brought TO imagine that they had probed
this subjectto the bolom, and had found that
the true principle was that asserted by G.
Britain, and that the best thing we could do,
would be to submit. The process by which
this conviction was wrought upon The mind
OF Mr.. Ames, was an operation upon the 8
articles OF creed, which the fanati,ks OF his
political sect had imposed upon his under
standing, and which were unfolded in my last
paper--the worshn Of British hoscer---ere-
Grafton Of Francc--and consemht.f0r the heohie
Of .dmerica. His letter OF the 27th Aov.lsos,
to the same member OF congress-, confined alto
gether to the discussion OF this topick, proves
that the sophis,ry of the British phamphleteers
had taken complete posse ession Of his mind.
The British principle was right, because the
British power on the sea was Irresistible. IL
was right because It was necessory to Britain
fighting for her cxistencc.--lt was right be.
cause France had no navy lit was right be-
cause France would not permit us to trade
with her colonies IN time Of peace. This
reasoning SO exactly resembling that Of
Esop's wolf, in his dispute with the lamb,
had actually proved too strong for Mr.Ames's
dialccticks. He had considerable pecunary
interest at stake upon the issue of resistance
against thaf sally of British rapine. But
money, even his own money, was nothing and
less than nothing in bis eyes. when the neces-
sity of Britain's agonies or the supremacy of
Brtain's naval dominion, came In cOnilics
with it, in a struggle against France. His o.
pinion of British spirit was as exalted as his
idea OF British logick, and from his contempt
for our faculties, bot OF heart and head, he
concluded that sve should only buster, bur
that John Bull would say he was /" as Ittle
convicted as afraid" and that we should p,i-
mately acquiesce. II did SO happen, that we
pcrsevered in our claims, and that John Bull,
whether convinced or afraid, did at that time
abandon his prctcnsion.
1t was, however, again assumed in SUBJ
stance, by the far famed orders in council Of
the lth November, 1907. The prospect of
a war with England was now rendered much
more probable. AS it advanced, ,and the dam
gers of our country increased, the worship-
pcrs of Britain saw dawn of hope, that with
the aid OF British doctrines, they might huri
from power the then administration, and vault
into the ir seats themselves. They rcnounc.
ed all pretence 10 any claim oi right against
Great Britain, and Immediately after the OUT
rage committed upon the Chesapeake, for
malIy undertook to justify in pu6Iick news
paper of this town, the act Of the British Ad.
miral Berkely, upon pretended right Of the
British to take seamcn from an American na-
tional ship, by force.
Mr.Amcs'snani6er efJriends have not seen
6t TO indulge the publick with his sentiments
upon that transaction. We know not wethcr
he had reconcilcd his soul 10 the belief, that
every British naval Lieutenant had a right to
search an American ship of war for men bur
we confess that judgmen, from the specimens
they have given of his late sentiments upon
British rights, VIC do not regret the loss of
his opinions upon the affair Of the Chesa-
pcake.
The people were alarmed by the near pros
pect Of a war with EngIand--The people were
distressed by the operation ofthc embargo