The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-03-21
Anltriratl Congress.
MR.. DESHA'S SPEECH,
CONCERNING COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE
WITH GREAT-BRITAIN AND FHANcE,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
lcsnehaiedl
OH TIE BILL


Next comes on the carpet the famous Mr.
Jacksop-selecicd, presume, in consc-
quence of his eminent services at Copenha-
gen. Both the selection and his subsequent
conduct, add insult to injury. And, sir, re-
gret to baye seen that he had spologists on
this floor, regret to have seen men, that
call themselves Americans, stand mp in the \
face of the nation, and Justify the indccorous
and impertinent conduct of this Copenhagen 4
champion. Sir, mad those gentlemcnt exert \
ed their ingenuity to so great an extent, in
defence of their country's rights, In justihca-
ton of the open, manly, and spirited conduct
of the Executive, as they did by their sophis-
tical, fine spun arguments and special plead
ings, in order to screen this legalized spy
from censure, and to excuipate the British
from the charge of perfidy, SO Justly attached
to the disavowal of Erskine's arrangement,
they would have deserved we'll of their coun-
try they would have received the universal
plaudits of all true Americans. The cry
wonld have been, we'll done thou good and I
faithful servant. But, sir, they have drawn
the line, and he that is not for me is against
me. should not be surprized if they were
TO meet the indignant and universal irowns
of all true Americans. o
all this scuflle !7 Nothing but losses, crosses,
disappointmcnts, and insults, have been the
result, yet agreeably TO the doctrine Of some
gentlemen we have no cause for war and
am not certain, if might Judge from what l
have seen and heard, that that nation could
commit an act, be it ever SO oppressive and
glarlngly rcprehensible, that would be deem
ed cause of war, by some gentlemen. II
has been repeatedly said on this floor, that
the embargo, this political hobby horse, that
the federal party expected to ride to pow
er, has brought ruin on the country that It
has been as destructive as the tevastations Of
war. i acknowledge that 1t has been sensi-
bly, felt in many parts of the continent, but it
was principally among the farmers and fnet
chanicksr: yet they bore the privations con-
sequent On our situation withsmanly cheeilui-
ness. The losses that happened among the
agricuIturaiists have been almost incaicu-
liable yet they bore it with fortitude, rather
than truckIc to those lawless depredators.
But, sir, / am afraid this is an inauspicious
| time. | am afraid We are about to give
| up, by false step, that national respectable
ty, and with it liberty and independence.
For, sir, if you wont defend your rights, but
WILL surrender them at pleasure, your inde-
| pendencc is not worth a straw. Yes, sir,
am afraid we are about to abandon national
honour r--pusianimousIyto give up important
| rights, which was obtained by the blood and
herock exertions of our ancestors, and hard
ed downto Us in their purity, and which is
duty incumbent on us TO transmit to. postcri-
ty unsuilied or why that apathy, in not re-
| senling with becoming dignity, injury and
insult !; and apply tho proper corrective en-
erg etically. Sir, beg gentlemen to pause,
to look we'll before them, as one false step
might sink them into the ditch of degreda-
ton, might leave a stain on your national
character that time would not obliterate---for
the moment that you retrogadc or abandon
the stand government has taken, that mo-
ment YOU. shake hands with infamy, crime
will become familiar. Government ought to
deliberate masurely before they take stand /;
but when that stand is taken, it ought never
to be abandoned, while they have the power
OF resistance. 81 af sabns e,
We have the powcrwc have the resources.
And, Sir, have no hesitation in saying, that
our countrynlcn possess the vaIour, then why
not prepare to exercise it in defence Of our
inliercntrights Why suffer some of the i'm
portant appcnclages and immunitics, attached
to government, to be wrestcd from our hands
WIN ihPuhiiy WIZ not pusliianimlty at
tach itself tothis kind OF conduct! Believing
as do, sir, that we have nothing to expect
from government that is ever prepared to
ha,ter, and ever prepared to dcfraud and
when ready prcccdents may be found to sane
ton the most glaring enormities, I deem it
advisable, yes, sir, essential, to prepare for
the worst for in my mind it Is almost incyit-
able, that our difficulties will eventuate in
war, unless VIC are determined on submis-
sion (; and to say the best of the bill under
consideration, It is backing out, tantamount
to Submission. Sir, VIC have been struggling
for series Of years. against oppression as
cruel as absurd. We have seen that it was
not in the fortuitous accidents Of The .imes
that our troubles had their origin, but ia