The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-07-24

sovereignty. ne DEGREES were an INSURER
able invasion Of our neutral rights, an acQui-
escence in which would Justly expose us to
the animadyersions of other beliigcrents to
whom they were injurious the municipal
prohibitions, though uniriendly to US, and to
be rcpelcd by negotiation or otherwise, as
we should think fit, regarded ms alone, hav-
ing nothing To do with Great Britain they
therefore could not become pretext for con-
tinuing her Orders in Council.
Mr.. Smith informs us that the President
would not suffer this letter TO pass I'LL he in-
serted some clauses with view TO obviatc
the mischicvous tendency above mentioned.
We Can easily point out the passages thus in
serted by Mr.. Madison. We only regret that
he had not written it all or suppressed it all.
The EX-Sccretary complains that he was Of
ten opposed, reined in and goadcd on by the
President An animal with longer ears than
Mr.. Smiths or ours, could he speak to his
master as he once did, would utter the same
complaint.
Art. 8--Ihe Projected letter 10 Mr.. Serur-
rier. 1t is true, the expectation OF intelli-
gence from this new minister excited soici-
tude on his arrival But ii was soon found
that he had been so long on his way (nearly
four months from Paris) we could hope to
learn but little from him III fact we had al
ready received later accounts than he could
bring.
W hat was the object of Mr. Smiths inter-
rogatories intended to bc put to him Ii WAS
to learn /. Whether the obnoxious dccrecs
were revoked 2. What were the municipal
regulations as to our trade with France 8.
Whether he was instructed to give assuran-
ces or explanations as 20 the contiscations En-
der the Rambouilct decree.
He speaks of conference having taken
place between him and the minister but
does not suggest that any thing had past
therein contradicting the revocation it may
be inferred therefore that Mr.. Serrurier did
not contradict it, Mr.. Smith states in anoth-
CT place as follows " from the information
received by Mr.. Madison prior to the date of
the non-importation law, it was at the time
OF passing it evident TO my mind that the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES had not been revo-
ked, as had been declared by the ProClama-
ton.
This law passed the Cd of March, on the
eve OF the adjournment of Congress Why
does not Mr. Smith tell us what the in(orma-
ton was, from what authority and when re-
Ccivcd He would have done we'll also 10 let
us know TO 7vhO8e mind 6eSidcS his ozyn Il was
evident that the decrees were not revoked !;
at least so far as they entered into the qucs-
| tion between the u. States and q. Britain.
The next object of the ca,echism 10 Ser
| rurlcr was the state OF tho municipal rcgula-
| ton OF trade. Here also he is silent as to
| what past in the conference, although III his
| letter TO Tcrreau these regulation were the
test of our obligation to put in force the nom
| importation against Grea, Britain. All that
! Turreau could say on the subject was all eady
| known to Congress and there was no reason
| to suppose that Scrrulicr know more than
| Turreau.
The last object was 20 learn if Mr.. Scrru-
| aier was instructed by his government TO say
whether the Rambouiet decree spolialions
would be restored Mr.. Smith aliirms that
, the French government did officially and for
| maily communicate through MIR. Serrurer
| Its hXed determination not to restore. What
Officially and formally Who says so M.
smith Bnt Mr.. Serruricr SAYS NO ; HE
coMMUNIcATED NO SUCH THING We will
however let Mr.. Smith OH this once, by sup
| posing very charitably that he might have
misunderstood the French Minister us they
were strangers to each others language and
converscd through the interpreter. But ev-
EN- II this supposed communication had past
in conversation, which according to our un-
ders,andmg OF dip9matick rules is alway,
considered as hyormai and uao6iciai, why
does Mr.. Smith, in the grave tone of prin-
ted book, which he takes three months TO
write, cndcavour 10 palm ii on the publick
as thing that had the stamp OF publick
document, a written diplomatick note, sign
ed, sent, received and flet in the Depart
ment OF State Any person who should hear
such an assertion from person who had FL
led the high Office of Secretary of State,
without knowing who he was, would natural
ly and almost necessarily concludes that such
communication did really pass and pass in
this manner.
We will now ask Mr.. Smith as a states
man, what was his object in making to MIR.