The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-07-17
MISCELLANY.
From the Nafional MseMgencer.
REVIEW
KE v VIEW
OF ROBERT SMITHS ADDRESS
40 THE PEOPLE.
Continued from our last.1

-A"6"S' Ao~'s WHICH ne HAS given us W rTEtf-
so, is the first case stated by Mr.. Smith. He
does not inform us what is the inference he
means we should draw from this article of
his exposition. He says that MIR. Madison
was displeased ut this letter, and that we the
pcrplc should have no difficult. in discover
lne the cause OF it. Really this is paying too
high compliment 10 our discernment. We
cannot discover this cause. We thought our
selves pretty good divers but this is going
TOO deep for us (; VIC cannot follow Mr.. Smith
IN this leaden plunge. There is, however,
one solution OF the difficulty sufficiently obvi-
Gus II Is that there was no cause and as in
our logirk an effect does not exist without a
cause, we conclude by denying that Mr.. Mad
ison ever VAS displeased with that letter.
There Is not the least proof of il existing oar
9Ae Cabinet /; and since we have undcrtak-
en- TO scrutinze the statements of Mr.. Smith,
we must inform him once for all, that when
he asserts thing that is improbable in itself,
we shall require some proof besides his asscr.
uon. This rule IS particularly reasonable,
when his assertions are intended TO criminatc
person who cannot answer for himself, and
agalns: whom Mr.. Smith, according to his
own confession, had great store OF vengeance
in his vials.
.4rt. 3D. Dfacon's Bills He labours to pro-
duce great effect from a pretended differ
ence otQpinion on the subject of these bills.
lie says they were fastened on MIR. Macon by
Certain management. 1t is well known to
those who read newspapers, that they were
shifted from Mr.. Macon, and fastened OH Mr..
Gallatin, for certain purpose. Here they
remained for about a year and a half, con-
stantly kept in agitation by one or two Of Mr..
Smiths newspapers ill, unlike the gutfa
s@he cadendo, they were found not 10 wear in.
to that rock, as was intended; and now Mr..
smith, Tor certain other purpose, has shift
ed them again, and laid them on MIR. Mad:-
SON.
But before they are shifted third time,
lie, us take look at those bills. 1t is time
they W, = vicwod in their true light. Let i,
be feeuilected that the non-intcrcoursc law
which bad been enacted to oppose bcligerent
edicts, was TO expire with the session Of Con-
gress before the last. The question was
whether complete Submission should ensue,
contrary TO the almost unanimous determina-
lion of Congress and the sentiment Of the ma.
uoD, which submission would give TO the
power commanding The sea the commercial
rceolonization of these states, and il would
give her moreover motive of il:erest TO per-
petua,e her orders III council or whether a
substitute. and what substitute, should be pro-
vidcd. For ii was evident that the non.ir,ter-
course would not be re.enac,ed.
In this state Of Things the first Of ,bese bills
was introduced. l; was certainly good as far
as II went II did not preclude the adoption
OF any further regulations of commercial na.
ture that should be more vigorous and il is
well known that such were in ontcmpla,ion
by many, as far rs should be found attainable
But that nothing farther was really attainable
is cvidcn, from the form i'm which the bill f.
nally passed the consequences of which are
now pending.
We forwarn our readers that our remarks
on the original bill are not to imply any cen.
sure on the majority of'Congress who reject
ed it. Its general hr1acihic was to remove all
restrictions from our commerce and navga.
tion, and let them fall ON the belligerenis.
The advantages Of this would be TO leave
NJ difficulty at home in enforcing eur own
laws. The non-intercoursc had been found
not only difficult to enforce but injurious and
insufficient. For Grea, Britain monopolized
tie navigation through Madeira, Amelia Isl.
and, Halifax and Montreal, as places Of de-
posit.
The bill proposed TO exclude, !. all armed
vessels OF beliigcrents, 2. all unarmed vessels
of bcliigerents.
It's effect, - applied to England, would be
as follows her vessels not being admitted
into our ports, all our exports TO and imports
from her dominions would have been in A.
mcrican vessels, unless she excluded these /;
and to meet this contingency, another clause
of the bill was to prohibit impor,ations of En-
gish produce and manufac c,wrcs, unless
brought in American vessels, and from the
place Of growth or produce (; that is, British
from Great Britain alone, and
West India goods from the British West In.
dia Islands alone.
What must England then have done Eli
ther, !. sdbmit TO our law, in which case all
commerce would be carried on in our vessels |