The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-11-06
For the X. 1. Republican.
AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
.7lfERIC.fArS 4!

sccnl3 disposed TO do us Justice. ". Britain
is the only power, that appears determined to
persist in committing outrages upon our rights.
However we may differ in opinion as to
measures, we must all agree in this, that this
is trying moBcnt, and that something must
be done. 1t Is then our business 10 enquire
what shall be done. Shall we negotiate =
Shall we submit ?---Shall we make war -
These three are the only questions that can
be asked and they are questions upon which
we must suddenly como to some determina-
ton, or we shall not have an opportunity, as
an independent people, to determine for our
selves.
VIII you negotiate, Americans ?-Nego-
ria,e with whom With those daring pirates,
wno enter your waters, rob and plunder, MUIR
der and burn who daily drag OF your
countiymen in ignominy and cbsi'., and are
every moment scourging them, on board their
ships-oi-war, TO what is called their dutg.
VIII you negotiate with these characters =
Have you not negotiated with them You
have, Americans, to your incalculable injury,
you have negotiated for many years. And
what has negotiation done You have been
constantly ofterir 30 olive branch 10 Great
Britain--she has oeeu constantly thrusting the
dagger at y6a. Whi!st you negotiate for inn
pressed seamen, she murders your fellow
citizens, within your own waters, and sane
lions the crime OF the villain who was her In
Struincnt, by his promotion. You negotiate
upon the murder Of your countrymen--shc
robs>and plumbers your commerce. You be-
gin to negotiate upon tha,--she issues orders
&c sweep almost all your commerce from the
seas, and scarcely vessel is permitted 10
aos,, wi,hout beng eap,0red or subject TO
tgxatiou. Yon negotiate upon this last out
raseion your righis--she sends her squadrons
20 bese: your pors'and haihours, and almost
every outward bound vessel is subject to cap
ture and condemnation This, Americans, is
negotiation Whilst you have been present.
ing 20 Great Britain, what you have called
complaints, she has been practising upon you
almost every capital crime, man-stcallng, rob-
berry, and murder.
Americans, what think you now OF Dcgotia-
ton? defy all the tedei alisis, those strenu-
Gus adv coates Tor Britain, 10 point out any
crime, which one nation can be guilty of to-
wards another, which she has not committed
unon us-and this she has cone whilst we have
been negotiating. But, Americans, Tor what
will you negotiate ? For renewal of those
promises which she made to our government
through her n mister, Erskine Her prom
ses are false--hcr professions OF friendship,
hypocrisy. But how can it be otherwise with
a nation that subsists by war? Is II acknowl-
edged that Great Britain depends upon her
navy for her existence, and that she cannot
support ;his navy without war (! Then Great
Britain depends upon war for her existence,
and her subjects upon the bloc. of mankind.
Americans, will you repose any confidence in
that government which is the universal ene-
my OF your species ?--Trust to it ify you think
proper, and you will become its victim, the
first opportunity. If you still think OF nego-
tiation, read the speech of Mr.. Whitbread, in
the House Of Commons, on the 2lstot June;
then ask yourselves whether you have NOT
been basely neglected--whether this whole
nation has no, received an insult from the
British ministry I? How many letters of our
minister did they pass over IN contemptn-
ois silence. Some, indeed, they answered
With the utmost coldncss, wiisi they commit
ted outrage after outrage uron your rights
Letus then think 10 longer OF negotiation,
when We gain nothing but insult and outrage.
We have already disgraced ourselves TOO
much by endeayouring to treat with this per-
fdious nation.
independent Americans, viii you submit
Submit to what To impressment--to rob-
bery--to murder--,o every species ot out
rage: il so, this is ruined nation. Consume
your constieution--burn up your declaration
of independence for they arc merely names.
If you submit TO these things, you arc already
in chains--you arc no longer independent,
but the slaves Of Great Britain. We labour
and we toll TOR an abundant harvcs,-we load
our vessels and send them to sea--our Brit
ish masters order them to some port where
ii will be conycnient for them to receive the
produce OF our country, and the fruits of our
labours. We are slaves, and they arc our
masters--and arc you willing to submit to
tias l--Wcrc you so completely their slaves
before the revolution The British are moro
imPcrious now than they were at ,hat time.