The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-13

more destructive OF all the acknowiec,e ,ed
rights OF peaceful states than history can par
allel. This retaliation, as 1t was called, was
so rapid that il was felt before the injury was
said to have provoked it and yet, that inju-
ry, such as it was, was preceded by the Prac-
tical assertion, on the part OF Great Britain,
ofenew and alarming principles Of pubIick
law, IN the notification Of the blockade of
May, 1906, and in the judicial decisions Of
the year before. To uphold the retshatory
orders every thing was hresnned with SUR
prising facility. Not only was an impoient,
unexecuted and equivocal menace presumed
to be an active scourge Of the commerce OF
neutral nations, but the acqniescence OF those
nations was presumed, against the plainest
evidence of facts.
The alacrity with which all this was done
can never be remembered without regret and
astonshment but our regret and astonish-
ment must increase, If, after four years have
been given to the hernicions tnnopation, which
these presum ptions were TO Introduce and
support, something like the same alacri'y
should not be displayed in seizing an honour
able opportunity Of discarding it forever.
1t is not unnatural to imagine that it aviI6t
discarded with pleasure, rvhen IL is considered,
y
ment Of hostility, it cannot now lay claim to
those other recommendations for which it
may have heretofore been priced. The Or
ders in Council have passed through some
important changes but they have been stes-
dy, as it was possible, to the furhose svhi n
first Impressed them character no, 10 be nus.
lakcn.
In their original plan, they comprehend
not only France and such allied or dependent
powers as had adopted the edict of Berlin,but
such other nations as had merely excluded
from their ports the commercial flag OF Eng
land. This prodigious expansion OF the sys-
tenn, was far beyond any intellgible standard
of retaliation I; but it soon appeared that neu-
trails might be permitted TO traffick under
certain restrictions, with all these difiercn,
nations, provided they would submit with d
dependence truly colonial, TO carry on their
trade through British ports, and to pay such
duties as the British government should think
ht To impose, on such charges B. itisa d
gents and other British subjects might be
centent 10 make.
The United States abstained from this raf-
Eck, liz which they could not embark without
dishonour and in 1909, the system shrunk
to narrower dimensions, and took the appear
ance of an absolute prohibition of all COM
mercial intercourse with France, Holland and
the kingdom of Italy.
The prohibition was absolute in appear
ance, but not in fact. 1t had lost something
OF former cxuberaAce, but nothing of former
piiancy, and In the event was seen to yield to
the demands Of one trade, while it preveRted
every other.
L., n
cences, it did not, after brief exhibition of
impartial sterness, affect to distress the e.
nemy" by the occlusion of his ports, when
the commerce of England could advantage
ously find its way to them. Al length, how
ever, this convenience seems 20 be enjoyed
no longer, and the orders in council may op-
parently be now considered Gf indeed they
ought not always to have been considered) as
d sffcc,ing England with loss as heavy as that
which they inflict on those whose rights they
violate. In such circumstances, if it be too
much TO expect the creduity of 1907, 1t may
yet be hoped, that the evidence of the hracn-
cal e6ect of the French repeal need not be
very strong TO be satisfactory. 1t is however
as strong as the nature Of such case will
admit, as few observations will show.
On such an occasion it is no paradox to
.ay,that the want of evidence is itself evidence.
That certain DEGREES are not in force is pro-
ved by the absence of such facts as would ap-
pear if they qOere in force. Every motive
which can be conjectured 10 have led to the
repeal of the edicts invites to the full execu-
ton of that repeal, and no motive can be i'm
agned for a different course. These consid-
erations are alone conclusive.
ID. -. - l..
sells bound confessedly to England, have, be-
fore the ist of November, been visited by
French privateers, and suffered to pass upon
the foundation of the prospective repeal sf
the decree Of Berlin, and the proximity of
the day when it would become an actual one
If there are not even stronge, facts to
show that the decree Of Milan is also with
drawn, your lordship can be at no loss for the