The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-11-13
POLITICAL MISCELLANY.
From sAe ALsASr RrcIs4xs.
COMMENTS
ON ARMED NEUTRALITY CONTINUED.
by EDMOND C. GENET.
Il Ciii-en Of .Aesr- York.
No. VIII.
Or GaroA.fL FORCES.


q system of neutrality TO be carried into
eject, requires, as it has already been OBJ
served in these essays, three powerful auxii-
iares. national force, a faithful adherence
10 the principles of neutrality, and confcd-
Rerate diplomatick systcm.--Without power
q nation is not TO be entitled to be considered
as power without impartial justice to all
the belligerenis, shs is not neutral; and
without coniedcrative aid, she seldom is able
to maintain her rights. W
This short introduction contains the rudi-
ments of the details which havs promised
on the plan of an armed Neutrality. For my
voice { y is still Tor energetick neutrality, as
long as war is not absolutely inevitable on hon.
durable ground, and as long as we are not
ready to meet that calamity with all the
means required by a foresecing policy to se-
cure the success of our arms.
To be armed by land and by sea, consti-
iutcs in a maritime country, the collective
idea Of national force or power. The cle-
ments OF that force, besides the pecuniary
means required 10 put them in action, are on
the lend, regular troops, militias and FORTH
Ata,ions. On the seas men of war OF differ
cnl rates and fotillas or light fleets.
The land forces to inspire respect, must
inspire fear; TO inspire fear, those who COM
pose them, must feel that they are strong
to feel strong they must be we'll organized,
we'll armed and ready TO act with yigour un-
der able and experienced officers to be
ready to act, they must be collected near the
place where they are intended 10 operate,
used therc to a strict discipline, and familiar
lied with the great man9uyres of practical
war NIIilias know, in ell counties are
better calculated Tor defensive than for an
offensive war but as conquest toy the accom-
piishment Of u system oil neutrality is not the
principai objects, think that drafts of our
Militia adjunct or atthched as auxiliaries TO
the regiments OF the line, would soon, Tor
the present OCCURRENCES, enable Ms in this part
oi the world to form respectable armies oi
,.rsaisss:sy o. oSsrrvutivn aud IL war, u;.scs.
tunately, was to.,ake place, the greatest num-
Der Of ,he auxiliary militia men would soon
as II has been the case IN France, at the be.
ginnng Of the revolution, enli. Of their own
accord 10 the regiments OF The line, and la
ci!itate the recruiting, which, IN country,
where tho wages Of iaSour arc high, meets
with more difficulty than on the continents oi
Europe and Asia.
The lolliiicaiuns OF the sea ports are an
essential part OF a system OF -ncd neutreli.
~, ft 'be defence afchics, aud Of the ship
plns 10 caso 81 hosU,ites, and ior The refuge
at ID! i,nes, of he 1syigalors VINO claim the
pfotectoo sad peace ~ neutral ha,bours.
But OF al tic Gcans calculated to render
martins neutrality respectable, none arc e.
quail TO good military navy, composed Of
men oil war, oltI,c first, sccond'and third rntcs,
with sufficient corresponding number of
iligatcs, sloops-ci-"ar and cutters.
As long as the United States arc net sup
piled with such force. they must noi ex-
pcct TO see, during the untcrminsblc wars Of
the Europeans, their rights constantly res
pcctcd by them. We may, ii is true threat.
en- England 10 take the Canadas, and realize
it, # il must be so, in one ~campaign; VIC
may, with the aid of the Haytans, make
Jamaica and the other British Islands share
the fate of ST. Domingo we may burn out
the dens OF The pirates Of The Bahamas and
Bermuda Islands ; we may destroy the set
dement's of Newfoundland we may cover
the seas with pfivatcers, and intercept every
where the British trade. But having grs.ii-
ed our just vengeance end obtained satisfac-
iion for past depredstions, how shall our
rights be secured against future excesses and
future robberies And how should We hold
our rank among other American powers,
some of whom have already navy which
The inevitable disasters of Old Spain and
Portugal will iDlaliilsy increase ! ne at,sw-
ers To those questions are obvious the com
mcrcc of Auefica with Europe and tho other
parts Of the globe, VII remain under the
control Of the great naval powers OF Europe,
and the pcorer those powers grow in ColoDi-
al property, the more their maritime policy
will be assimia,ed to that of AIgiers.
We must nave navy, il commerce is one
OF the springs Of Our wca!ll, and one OF the
native habits of grcat proportion Of our citi-
zens.-It might be sllcdgcd tha, the federal
government, obliged at this critical period to
provide for the means OF immediate defence,
are not able 10 Cause one to be constructed.
II b Is so, why should not each Of our local
States, by spontaneous and Simultaneous
Il r.