The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-03-14
Amsrifan Congress.
CONCERNING COMMERCIAL 1NrERc ouRsE II
WITH oREAr-BRIrAIN AND FRANCE,
AND FoR oTHER PURPOSES. e,2s
ON THE BILL

wv ''N'h'hS NJ ~ Wy SCH 10 remain SILENT elt
a question that in my view invo.ycs the lot !
our oi my county. CT All questions that
Can como before us, those affecting our na-
not'i r'sins sad honoap AS an independent
'N'ioh' dvnisne. our earISse attcnltpn, and
pSsS suptoit. Sir, NC haze arrived a 4, POM.
wtere II iss.iE.e1li TO REMAINS ss&nge,c1s 70
AuSsnee, but infamous 10 teccdt---snd Will
the representative of a free people, by adopt
,ms ir s,'i now before us, choose the latter !?
"A sineerey y hope not; but Go hope tha, a
spifh '%ons' tent with the dignity OF the ma
uoh may animate US, and that under it's
p'oud infuehce we shall mcverc cUnsent TO see
the honour oi cur country inundated OH the
altar OF ovarice. L beg gentlemen to torn
their eyes to tho period of the first Sc ession of
the 10Th Congress, aud review the rcsoiu-
'ions then entered into, and the solemn dc
ciarattons made, viz. that no commercial m
tereou'se could be petmiiteti with England
and /. rance while their unjust cdiots were
continued in force, without n surrender of
our rights, our honour, and our intlcpcnd-
enc. Hence il must, think, iotcibly strike
every mind, that those resolves, and subse.
iuent measures. adopted 10 sustain this hoh-
our and our Independence, and defend those
nights, should be Assure pledge to the Ameri-
can peoples that you will never surrencer
tnem. Ane, sir, alter placing your nation
on this high giound,o and the same causes!
still existing which induc rcd yon 70 assun il,
would At not be degrading to- our country,
s6GsaaEr.rresd as ;'-- ST Ae H8slGs viii sfc
fromh Certainly, sir, il withstand not on
-ly SO, but wanting that becoming spirit Of
ffecncn, we should be exposed TO the dofis-l
ion of every nation of Europe, and our Heg
treated with contcInptiby all. Sir, what Gods
this bill, fiaught us it -, with imbccii y, con-
template !! is il not direct trade WIN that
very government, with whom you have
pIcdgeo your nation, under existing cirtan,-
st.nccs, you will have no intercoursc,a ,assd who
at this time .prescrihes bounds tfov-cvery'
AmeriCsn vessel that sai,s on the ocean, ard
interrupts your best commerce with other
Ratons! SIR, ii i!iis bin now Oh y0ut table,
should pass, what will be athc inference i-a-i
lhe answer is plain. 1t wouldbc a virtual
recognition tho British or rders in couccil,
anu a surtenuer OF those just rights, for
which so many years we have been contend
ing, md which the great Lcsiathan is endcav-
ouiing to wrest from us. Sir, these coBwcb
laws S, such us the one now presented TO as, IN
the present disposition Of Great. Britain, are
only csicm.tcd TO ehtangic, ana, instead Of
ieaamg US OUT wilt plunge us farther into.
this weak system we have too long been put-
suing. has not experience sufficiently con-
vnccd US, that this Tranquil spirit, which,
content with viewing in cool philosophy, the
inJislice ot a foreign nation without pursuing
measure ITO assert tho rights end dignity OF
our own, Is only TO invite further abuse
Look into bubt k, AZ well as through private
IA. u -
Insult. III we do not respect Ourselves we
snail aever be respected. There IS no safety
without honour--pcace is the prize OF cour-
are, .ind Can on,y bc maintained by the repu-
t.ticn Of your arms. Sir, we nave tco long
borne the weight Of accumulated wrongs
from the British government, which seems to
eight in consistent course on alftude
and hcctoring insolerce and ] tniDk we
have had strong testimony IN recent transac-
items with thut governments, that our weak
measures are only laughed at, and, II eontin-
!. uct, will lead us 10 humility and contcmpt-
Remons,rances and appeals TO pubIick JUS
tice, 3 belle We the nost moderate among us,
begin to lie tired and weary OF the repetition
Of, and that reasoning and commercial rcgu-
lations are but poor defence against power
land being fully Satisfied of this truth, shall
We agai0 resort to this tcmporising, Huctuat-
ing. and indecisive conduct, which is on
" saculated 20 offer the property OF your
csizens an easy prey to TIC tyrant OF the
ocean, without ,hc means VI retribulion ~
Sir, tn. most solid basis OF government
|, j. its honpnr and courage, and we canno, be
TOO ienacious Of thcm--and this is a Crisis at
which we should properly appreciate those
valuable traits in the character OF the Ameii-
can people and instead Of this submissive
puerile bill, adopt such measures of encrsy
as will guarantee the honour OF our "at,op,
and enable us to defend our rights conPAlibiy
| with the dignity aud honour OF a,frcc and IN
dependent people. The bill nov under con-
sidera,ion, il adopted, will, u appears 10 me,
, give the humiiatins answer 70 all the az.
aggrcsions, hostility, pcriidy. and lnso'encs OF
the British government, viz thAi We WIZ no
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