The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-09-25

the Z8tn Oh IGDTudIy3 ifoN h"'S SH""'A
ned the several acts Of accession to that de-
cIarat,on, passed by the Emperour of Germa-
nv. and the Kingdoms of Denmark, Portu-
cal, Naples, SIC. and in the face of the Unit
ed States I must condradict Mr.. Pickering
upon the facr he so boldly advances, the very
reverse of what he asserts being the truth.
The most elevated situation OF a power in
the scale of morality and reason is without
doubt the neutral system it is the principle
.>of Justice and moderation personihed In bo-
w politick, and it does not deprive those
who adopt it from the natural right OF self
preservation, which includes the power OF
rcpellng OF anticipating an intended attack
or outrage, and of resorting for the purposes
Of peace and preservation to all the defensive
or prudential measures which the belligcrents
use for those Of ambition or avarice. The right
of hailing, chasing, and even searching In
certain cases suspicious vessels, belongs TO
the neutral rnan-of-war as we'll as to
rhc belligcrent, and in support OF that opin-
ION. I find, that by all the declarations and
acts of accession Of the armed neutrality
those powers bind themselves to prevent
with the greatest severity their vessels of the
vessels Of their neutral confedcrates from
carryins. any contraband articles, sublccting
them for that purpose TO the visits and search
es Of their men-of-war respectively but
at the same time they solemniy declare that
If any of their merchantmen we're taken or
insulted by any of the men n-of-war OF the bel
lgerents, immediate complaint should be
inadc, and If justice was not obtained, the
most efficacious measures should be adopted
to procure satiajaction by just retirisal. They
bind themselves that if by hatred to these
principles, either of them was troubled, mo-
Tested or attacked, they should make com
mon cause to obtain full satisfaction OF the
insult offered TO their flag and 10 their sub
iccts they agree that in no case whatever a
neutral man -of-war having merchant vessels
under her convoy, shall suffer them to be
searched or captured the word OF the COM
manding officer being sufficient to prove that
they have no contraband on board.
BY the same covenants they all agree, that
the invariable principles Of neutrality are that
neutral has right to sail on the coasts OF
beligerent from port to port, that the neu-
trail flag covers the property OF belligercnt
except such articles as are declared contra
band by article 10 and | 1 of the treaty of '66
between Russia and England, and that no
tort is understood to b. biockaded but when
the bloc kadhg men-of-war are situated SO
close 70 the said port, that there is an evident
dlnger 20 enter It.
These principles, altogether, are declared
by the same powers to be the law Of Nations,
with respect to neutral rights.
Nothing more has been stipulated or pro-.
yided under the form of pubick act by
those powers with respect to the conduct OF
their men-of.war on the high seas, but the
extreme delicacy with which they forbid them
to suffer merchant vessel under their es-
eort to be interrupted or taken, shows with
VIVA. indignity they would have treated the
disgracetai English notions Of Mr.. Pickering,
and with what wrath the great and spirited
Catharine would have heard that one of the
Captains of ner navy, in voyage or cruizc
70 protect her rights or her dominion, had
meany condescended to let French or an
English officer inlerrogate him like an Old
Granny to knoqv Nhence he came and gvhere he
svas going, and sphether PC Svas neutral or
beiHgerenf, and in addition to all these imper-
tinent questions to fire shot at him as a
mark OF Ills superiority.
Military custom between mcn-of-war on
the high seas has established as tho only con-
fession of pati tionali,y, the display of colours,
ensured by gun fired at a respectful dis
tauce to lceward and without shot and ii
it has been agreed so between their sovereigns
tney SdiutcS III not as tue TTenCn nave HNcu
it prudently, they do not salute at all.
But how difcrcn; is the case now in con-
sideration the Little Belt was cruizing on
our coasts for the purpose Of disturbing and
intercepting our commerce and violating our
dominion, in defiance OF our sovereignty, of
our treaties with England herself, and of our
neutral system. She rendered herself highly
suspicious in concealing her colours during
chase which was rendered indispensable by
that irregular conduct She was liable to be
considered as pirate or smugslcr, and
treated as such, and finally, her firing with a
shot at the President, instead of answering
the proper neutral question Of the Commo-
dore who commanded that frigate, if not
viewed rs a wilfhl hostile act, must be ad-
riitted TO be one of those insufferable exalted