The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-03-14

slant evidences of desire on our part To
maintain,'' i'm fact, /" a strict and impartial
neutrality."--For although We freely admit
/, that a reasonable confidence is due to the adj
niisiration of the general government we
cannot cencede that il would accord with the
duty of this branch of the Legislature to CONF
nit itself on such an important point, with
out a full knowledge oil every material cir
cum.tance connected with it.--Such a step
would in our opipion, be AN act OF servils
courtesy, unbcc6h,ing the representatives of
free and eniig htencd' opie. :.
The disavowal OH the part cf Great Britain
of the al arrangement entered into by. her min
lister with the United Stale,sis 10 us a mat
ter of deep concern, inasmueh as we partici-
pated in the lively satisfaction Which the ma
ton derived from the prospect. of. speedy
restoration of good understanding and harm.
ony between the two countries. But when
the accredited Representative of the British
nation has declared SO solemnly, that 1t was
disavOweL because concluded in violation of
express instructions TO her-agent, il would be
rash in us, without clearer evidence than we
possess Of the insinceri,y of that declaration,
TO impute the disavowal TO bad faith. n 4,
AS your Excelency may expect that in an
swering your speech we should express AN o.
pinion on the late rupture of the negotiation
with the British minister, it would be highly
gratifying TO US had you pointed out the i'm
peachment by that gentleman of the veracity
of our administration, for in that case we
should have appreciated cordially the coure of
treatment which he has received. We have
sought in vain for proof of the fact, and
therefore we are at loss to conceive how a
lrsrl. IN rlo oh J>o sc
commodation, and to precipatate the nation
into calamitous war, can merit the appro-
baton Of any American, who feels anxious to
maintain the honour and preserve the peace
and happiness Of his country. ~. s
Should the momentuous duty of.decidine
upon the attitude which the United States
shall assume in the present emergency be
performed with wisdom and fidelity by the
agents to whom it is con6ded, we assure your
Excellency that we shall be among the first
to render them the tribute Of deserved praise.
And should war en.ue, we shall cordially u
mite with our fcllow-citizcns throughout the,
union, to meet the shock with all that frm-
ness and zeal, which real patriotism will. die
tate. r So rsc 3
AT the same time we have no hesitation to
declare that I'VE. are decidedly opposed to-a
war, provided, it can be avoided consistently
with our national honour ard safety. . ~
We should consider it as one OF the great
est calamitics To be involved in war with the
only remaining European power which pre-
sents barrier to that universal dominion, st
which one OF tho beiligercnts msnifesiiy aims,
and to which he approaches with rapid and
awful strides. 1t is moreover lamcmtable
truth that our country is unprepared to pros
ecute war with either of the belligerents.
however necessary the measure may be. II
all the essential means which that deplorahls
state requires as we'll for offensive as defensive
operations,we are greatly deficient, but more
especially in the important and indispensable
requisite of money. s~ go 49,
We are Justly alarmed at the report Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury; in which he dis
closes the melancholy fact, that we arc redu-
ced to the necessity of resorting to loan Of
four millions Of dollars and upwards, to de.
fray The ordinary expenses of the general
government This communication is equally
unexpected and discouraging to the people Of
the United States, and we sincerely hope that
those who are entrusted with the superinten-
dence of their national concerns will institute
such an enquiry into tie true causes of the
exhausted state OF the Treasury, as the mag.
nitude and urgency of the case impsriously
calls for. il
The several Legislative matters to which
your Exccllency has directed our attention
shall engage our early and deliberate consid-
eration.-And we heartily reciproe ate the as-
surances you have given to the Legislature Of
a faithful cooperation in every necessary
measure to promote the publick welfare.
.