The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-07-24
MISCELLANY.
From tie Natios'al Iatelfgsneer.
REVIEW
OF ROBERT SMITHS ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE.
CContinued from our iast.1

iaSt session. Mr. Smith should have said non-
IMPORTATION act. He says it was introduced
by presidential influence another inse dirt
OF our random author, which according to
the rule of evidence we have already establish
ed, cannot be admitted without proof and
he has given none.
But no matter; let us rxaminc the act up
on Its merits, with its attendant cireumstan-
ces. This act was certainly prcper one if
the French government had revoked its de-
crces IN strict conformity to the propositions
OF the former sct pledgng the United States !;
or 1t 1t tended more eficctually to attain the
object OF Congress in that previous act.
We know IT had been the aim of our gov
eminent for two or three years to divide the
beiIigerents by inducing one o. the other Of
them 10 revoke its cdicts so that the example
would lead to a revocation by the other, or
our contest be limited TO a single one And
II should be remarked that each Of them had
promised 10 be the second to revoke, but each
seemed unwilling 10 be the first According
iy our law of May, 1910, offered 10 the pow
CT trsr revoking non-importation against
ihe other. France then revoked, as by her de-
ciaraiion of the 5th August. Thc Presidents
Proclamation, in pursuance of the law, put
the non-importalion iE force against the other
belligerent.
Had France forfeited her claim to this mea-
sure when Congress confirmed and enforced
1t by the act OF the last session So far as be-
lievcd or ascertained, she had not Mr.. Smith
knows that 10 evidence existed of single
act OF the French government or its courts,
showing that the DEGREES were not repealed,
so Far as the repea. was required by the offer
\ nG H.,
had indeed arisen as 70 the time the repeal
would take effect; whether the lst of Nov.
or the lst of Feb. following. Although even
this was not admitted by France, yet there
was room for question and discussion which
might have embarrassed the execution OF our
laws. Hence the expediency of settling the
matter by positive statute unless it would
have been advisable 20 risk national honour
by breaking contract on doubtful ground, or
10 hunt Tor flaw on the other side to enable
Us 10 snnul on arrangement, (sought by Con-
gress itself in former law producing, tho
3 months later than had been first expected,
the example Of one belligcrent TO WELD a
gainst the other
1t is said by Mr.. Smith that the act for en-
forcing the arrangement departed from the
arrangement. If it did so, ii was in relation
not to the essence Of the arrangement, but
merely as to the time Of its mutual execution.
And VIC the publick shall better understand
the matter when the explanation which we
perceive was sent with the act, and which
must have been at least signed by Mr.. Smith,
shall come before us.
1t is sorrowiul truth, says Mr.. Smith,
that the act did not provide for several obvius
cGses wherein our merchants" sc. Did he
take any steps TO cause such provision to be
introduced II his official squeamishness pre-
vented him from even limiting the case TO any
member oi Congress, yet, as he processes TO
DC for open and direct recommendation in all
cases by the Executive, did he propose or
hint any such provision 10 the Prcsinent,
which his Office enabled him to do We must
conclude that lie did not because he has gi-
ven sufficient proofs that no official delicaCy
would have suppressed the boast Of it which
his vanity would have prompted. In this, as
in other instances, he contents himself with
the merit Of finding out faults when too late
TO amend them, and forcsccing events after
they have happened.
Mark his equivocations and evasions on the
French repeal and the Presidents ProcIama-
ton. 4" If the revocation did actually take
piaCe as ueCIsTeu Wy tle TFoCiaihauon, thch
it became compact" &c. IL however
the Emperour oil the French did not in fac,
revoke, rs declared By Proclamation, the act
Of May did not become compact, &C."
Why thus shrink from an opinion whether
the Proclamation was legal and proper or not
No man would be safer thar Robert Smith in
expressing one or the other Of these opinions
for he could certainly find plenty OF persons
who could witness his having entertained ei-
ther or both of them, as the political horizon
varied and the tide Of party set.
Many Of our merchants and shipmastcrs
lave suffered and still suffer very unJusily by
French spoliations. They cry out that the
Berlin and Milan Gecrces are not revoked
and Mr.. Smith joins them in the clamor,
thereby copfounding the two maritime de-