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


basing and grinding aespotism. But the as
scrtioDs are falle and infamous. No govern
ment is frmer, than that founded in publick
sentiment. Whenever PEOPLE is per-
suaded that war is just and necessary, its
burdens will be borne with pleasure--its
hardships endured with complacency. Loans
to any extent can be effected, and in the hour
Of difficulty and danger, the streams Of i'm
anee sviA g.sh /orIh fran a hon6and hills. A
merica regards not expense, when her LIB
ERTY is jeopardized. The narrow politicks
OF the Counting house, will be driven out OF
Congress. Parsimony in guarding the rights
OF Freemen, is treachery and if our Legis-
lators, from narrow views and contracted
habits, provide sparingly the means Of self
preservation, they will have to answer their
conduct, before the august tribunal Of the 10
merican feofie.
War may be considered, with regard to the
means by which it may be carried on, and the
impressions it will make on the enemy. Al
though it may be true that military resources
are not provided in America, in the abun-
dance they are in the great monarchies of
Europe, where fear is the principal auxiliary
of government, and where there is scarcely
any respite from war. In no country could
regular troops be formed with such despatch,
from rude materials, as in the United States
Nowhere are the people so generally we'll in
formed, whose views are generally so enlarg-
ed, and who would so readily imbibc the spir-
il of system. Neither the perseverance Of
Holland, (says Burke) nor the activity of
France, nor the dexterous and firm sagacity
OF English eEterprize, ever carried the per-
ilous mode of hardy industry to the extent TO
which it has Deen pushed by this recent peo-
pie. Arms OF every description we manu-
factnrc, and can furnish in any quantities the
exigencies of the naiiod may require. The
art OF ship-building, among no people, not
excepting the English,.i is cultivated with e.
quail assiduty, or carried to the sume perfec-
ticns. Our gaiaot tars stand ready to crowd
the decks Of cur irigates and privateers, and
Great Britain will again find g no sea, that
will not be vexed with our sail" The inn
preston made ON English commerce by our
navy and privateers, would be one Of the
most efficient modes of annoyance-the most
lucrative branch of warfare. We should not
expect, at first, to meet her fleets in battle
array on the fields of the ocean we should
wage fartizan svar,---we should overpowcr
her conveys, and pick up her struggling mcr-
chantmen and whilst our enemy, with few
exceptions, would be confined to her own sea-
ports, and those of her colonies, the horss of
The 7yorld would be thrown open to Amcri-
can enterprise. wish not to disguise the
fact, that the shock produced on the first COL
lision with our enemy, would be severe ;---
that our coasting trade would be even more
harassed than at present and our ports, if
possible, be placed under still more rigor-
Gus blockade. But the prey would soon be
snatchcd from the mouths Of those Sharks of
the Sea. They would find empty vessels and
cold iron, instead OF rich and defenceless
merchantmen. In six months time the war
with America might not be qaite so popular
with the English navy. They would no Ion-
ger riot secure, amidst plumber and carnage !;
like bandiui on the ruins of the helpless tray
eler ;----but shock would be met with shock,
rapinc with violence, until even Mr.. Stevens
would confess, that Var in Disguise" was
preferable 10 open hostility.
There is one outrage on humanity, of it.
self more than sufficient cause of war, a
termination to which, at last might be called
on. | allude to the impressment OF Ameri-
can seamen. If this most horrible and un-
preccdented practice should be continued If
captured Americans should be forced into
British service, and compelled to point the
guns OF the British navy against their own
countrymen, the most, rigorous and severe
retaliation should be resorted to.--Epglish-
men should be condemned TO our galies-
chained TO our batteries, and exposed to the
hottest lire on every onset of their perfdious
brothers. The times call for energy for
bearance In such q case is cruelty modcra-
ton is crime.
Such is a faint sketch Of the impression
we should be able to make on our enemy on
the Ocean But the Land will more imperi-
ously command our attention Canada must
be incorporated with the American govern
ment---That is an event which our brethren
in that quarter ardently desire. The waters
of the Mississippi and St. Lawrence arc as
signed by NATURE to the American en-.
Dire If the United States purcuod oh. ,,,,