The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-09-11

Notwithstanding the British photographer
continue TO call British all the seas which
they consider as belonging TO the maritlm'
dominion of Great Britain. 1t Is then, an In
contestible axiom of English law, that the
sovereignty of England extends much be-
yond her coasts. The distance OF that line
is not precisely known --Jean Bodin, French
civilian, in a treaty published in l576, thinks
that il was not less than so leagues an opin-
ion which is strengthened by the treaty oi
Westminster, wherein the Dutch condescend
10 salute the British flag, and recognize Its
pre-cmnence from Cape Finisterre to the
middle point of the land Van Stauten, In
Norway.
| find in no ancient diplomatick instrument
the extent of the naval dominion OF England
In Ame rica, which was certainly very ample
according TO the treaty of 1886. But the treaty
of peace between the United States and Eng
land, signed the Sd of May, 1898, has settled
definitely that point between them and her.
Fy that memorable treaty, the king oil ureat
Britain acknowledges these States Tree, SOW
creign and independent rchnluisnes 10
them all the claims of England TO the pro-
priety and territorial rights OF them, and de-
termincs " that their eastern boundaries COM
prehcnd all islands within twenty leagues OF
any par. of the shores OF the United States,
and lying between lines to be drawn due east
from the points where the boundaries between
Nova Scotia OH the one part, and Eas' flori-
da on the other--shall respectively touch the
bay OF Funda and the Atlantic Ocean" 1t Is
probable, that in some parts, the line eX-
tends much further than twenty leagues.
But by the most unequivocal implication, we
certainly have an indisputabie right to hold
the land, covered or uncovered by water, at
the distance Of twenty lie gues from any part
of the shores, and 20 exercise on those prem
ises whenever we CAM all the right OF pre-
eminence, dominion, and sovereignty which
were exercised thereon, by the Kings OF IL.
Britain-for no civilian will deny that as a
nation is at liberty to give up her rights, a.
mother is also at liberty to acquire them, and
that the first are bound to submit to their con-
cession, and the second to maintain themselves
by force in posse ssion OF the advantages
which they have obtained against that nation
particularly Grolous reports several exam
pies OF that sort, among which | shall note
the renunciation made by the House OF Aus
tria in behalf of the English and oil the Dutch,
Of the right OF sending vessels TO tie l.. Indies.
Now il England by her diplomacy, her
laws, and more so by her power, has main
tained her dominion and jurisdiction over the
seas which surround her Empire and her
Colonies if by the acqucsccnce OF several
States, her pretensions are become the law OF
nations, whenever she could enforce the m,
and if she ha, made to the United States an
absolute ccsson oi her rights and pre-emi-
nence, within line which includes these Is
lands situated at the distance OF twenty leagues
from their shore--how eau the conduct OF Il
frigate which was protecting,agreeablc to the
ancient custom of the British navy, our mar
itme Jurisdiction, be called uasvarranfa6lc
And how can the Just chastlsc mcnt given to
the subjects of England, who refused to ac-
knowledge our hre-emnnencc OH our shores,
and who troubled our commerce, be called
murder !? The Little Belt was lowering and
rowing on our coasts with number OF other
vessels of her nation to snap the vessels OF
our friends and our own, under the most fri
yoous pretexts, and to kidnap our nicI. She
was a perfect publick nuisance, and as such,
agreeable to a charge given at an admiralty
session, held at the old bailey by Sir Lionel
jenkins, she was not only liable to be chased,
hailed ard fired at, but also to be taken and
fc,ch'd in as a malicious violater of our trea-
ties, and a disturber OF our trade, to answer
and satisfy our damages. This is good Eng
lish law, grounded on right which England
has never ceased to use over the weak, and
which having been transmitted to us unim-
pa,red, is become American law and Ameri-
can right--and tina, right will not only be es-
sen,ial for the protection OF our coasts, and
the safety Of our commerce, when we awaken
from our stupor but it may also prove to
be an immense source of wealth. ltappears
by several observations that the sea withdraws
progressively from the shoals of New Found
land, in consequence of which the fish favor
more and more every day our coasts and bays,
and in the course of time it is more than pro-
bable that the gulph stream, filing up en-
tircly the banks of New Foundland, the
shores of the United States will offer the
,,,.,, ,.ln,l,a 4 Sheri, 9. which IL will he he r.