The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-20

But il is said in well known print, the ad-
vocste OF the present system, that France
has only formally rsvoked,a nd not substantial
ly and,in fact,recalled these decrees.--This is
easily said and as easily dcnisd.--It depends
upon opinion and conjecture of certain una
vowed designs OF our enemy, and is certainly
not precise, or indefinite enough, nor suilic-
iently, as we may say, Of an operf aet, for US
to make it the ground OF denial--besides, are
we to refuse America justice. because France
may mediate future injury against her Il
is said, moreover, that France bctrays her in-
sincerity and hollowncss, inasmuch as she has
not restored the American merchandise,
which she had previously sequestcred--Let
us put ss;sI question to- oursclvcs--Wh
should we say, II the present Spanish gov.
crnment were to require as the condition of
an alliance with us, that We should first re-
store the Spanish ffigates, with their freight
Of dollars, which we took in the commence
ment Of the war--No, we took these frigates
under different state Of circumstances, and
we are not bound TO restore them as matter of
right, though we know not what we niay do
upon the score of favOur.--This answer will
be satisfactory, and France may reply in the
same language both to America al 8 to us.
Every country has right to make wha.
municipal regulations it chooses with respect
TO foreign commerce 1t is question Of ex-
pediency only whether foreign commerce
shall be suffered at all, and the law of nations
entrusts every government with an arbitrary
will upon this point--to smuggle, is to trade
against the will Of the state, or in violation of
certain conditions which the state has attached
to certain trades, and the penalty is the for
feiture of the goods--This forfeiture the SUBJ
jects ineurs.-Now when foreign states tempt
the subjects of any government to an illicit
trade, and become panders to their disobedi-
ence ot the laws Of their country, such states
are guilty of an injury, and the law of nations
invariably condemns all contraband merchan-
die which they pay introducs.--This 10 the
case Of the American property conhscatcd in
France lit found its way into France in vio-
lation OF the Milan and Berlin DEGREES, and
was con6scated accordingly justice Of
these DEGREES, as far as they prohibit the ac-
fuai introduction Of articles of commerce into
France, is out of the question because
France had . clear right to make any prohibit
tory regulation she chose in regard to her own
trade il is sufficient that the law existed
We Can have no right to require France TO
restore the American merchandise as a test
Of her sincerity, If America be disposed to
concede the justice Of the seizure.
But the main question is, as to the utility
of these Orders in Council to us.-Arc they
useful or mischievous.-Do they promote or
countcract our proposed end.--Do they pro-
duce greater mischief to the enemy or to
ourselves? y, 4.o&
With respect to our practical effects of
these Orders in Council, they may be cons'd-
cred under the different points OF views
lst. Their first evident object is to destroy
all direct neutral importation trade TO COM
pei all neutral cargocs, intended for France,
to take new clearance, subject to certain
fees, SC, for France and her dependencies.
2d. The second object of this commercial
exclusion system is, to intercept all direct
neutral exploration trade to compel all neu-
trail cargocs, sailing from France, to touch
Immediately at England, and thence to take
new clearance, subject to certain fees, SC.
for the dependencies OF France and else where
Sc. The third object is to stop all neutral
colonial trade, i.s.the expectation of all the
enemy's colonial produce to any part of Eu-
rope.
Now with respect to the utility of these
general measures, 1t must evidently be sought
in the relative effects of these prohibitions to
ourselves, or ncutrals, and on the enemy, and
must consist in the clear mischief, resulting
from the comparison and subtractien Of the
greater and less evils on both sides.
With regard therefore to us, the effect on
ourselves of these restrictiors on all direct
trade, whether of Importalionor Exportatipn,
must be, that they lend still further to narrow
a trade, already crippled and confined, which
is spreading insolvency throughout the coun-
try, and blockading up the columns of our ga
zettes.---This system threatens, moreover,
the extinction OF many branches OF manufac-
lures England, as commercial nation, re-
quires free trade, and she must suffer in