The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-13

AIDES as resemble them. IL II not necessary
however, to take this view OF the question
for the French revocation turns on no cohdi-
tion precedent, is absolute, precise and unys
quivocal.
What construction of the document
which declares that revocation might be
made by 'determined suspicion and distrust
I have ne wish, and am not bound TO inquire;
Such interpreters would not be satisfied by
any form of words, and would be like to
draw the same conclusion from perfect ex-
plici,ness and studied obscur,y. II Is en-
ough for me that the fair and natural and ne.
cessary import Of the paper affords no colour
for the Interpretation ann about to examines
The French declaration SC that the dccrees
Of Berlin and Milan ARE REVOKED, and
that from the first of November, they will
cease to have any effect" is precision itself
But they are followed by these words "bien
entendu qu'en consequence de cette declaras
tion les Anglois revoqueront leurs arrets du
conseil, ct renonceroat aux nouveaux princis
pes dc blocus qu'ila ont voulu etablir, GU
BIEN cue les Etats Unis, con/ormsnent
z acfc que pous venex communique, scrcnt
respecter lcur droits par les Anglois."
Ii ithese words state any condition, they
state iwo, the first depending upon Great
Britain, the last upon the United States
and as they are put in the distinctive, II
would be extravagant to hold that the mona
Performance ofone Of them is equivalent with
the non performance of both. shall take for
granted, therefore, that the argument against
my construction of the duke of Cadore's 'lettcf
must be moulded into new form. II must
deal with two conditions instead of one,
and considering them equally as conditions
precedent TO be performed (disjuhtivey) be.
fore the day limited Tor the operative come
n,encement of the French repeal, must
maintain that if ntit,er Of them should be
performed before that day, the DEGREES were
not to be revoked, and consequently that, as
neither OF them has been SO performed, the
decress are still in force.
If this hypo,hes sis OF previous conditions,
thus reduced 10 the only shape II can assume
bc proved to be unsound, my construction ID
at once established since it Is only upon that
hypothesis that any doubt can be raised a.
gainst the exact and perspicuous assurance
that the dccrcss were actually repealed, and
that the repeal would become cifcctual on
the first of November. This hypothesis is
proved to be unsound, by the following cone
sidcration.
1t has clearly no foundation in the phrases
oloqy Of the paper. which docs not contain
syllable to put any condition before the repeal
The repeal is represented as step already
taken, to have effect on a day specified. Cers
tain consequences are, indeed, declared To
be expected from this proceeding [; but no
day is given, either expressly or by implicas
ton, within which they are to happen. II IL
not said, bien entcDdu que les Anglois aus
roet revoque," &c. but " cue les Anglois,
rcvoqucrant," sc. indefinitely as to time.
The notion OF conditions precedent is,
therefore, TO say the least OF II, perfectly
gratuitous. But II is also absurd. 1t drives
us TO tho conclusion, that palpable and nos
toious impossibii,y was intended to be pres
scrbcd as a condition, ina paper which they
who think il was meant 10 dec Give, must ada
NIT was meant TO be plausible.
II was palpable and notorious irnpossibls
ity, that 'be United States should, before The
frst Of November, execute any condition, no
matter what the nature oi IL, the perform
ancc Of which was 10 follow the ascertained
failure OF condition 10 be executed by g.
Britain, al any nmc before the same frss OF
November. ] hat the act expected from
the u. States was 10 be consequent upon the
failure Of the ohcr, - apparent. 1t is also
sppsrent that upon any inierpretailon which
would make the act Of Great Britain, cons
difion hrecedenfto fbs Frrnch rffra',and cone
sequently, precedent to the first OF Novems
bcr when the repeal was, ever, to take eff
fccD that condition could not be said 10 have
faled before the whole feriod, from tie SIN
Of August to the fst Of November, had ciaps
scd. But If Great Britain bad the whole
time, within which to elect the course which
she would pursue, what opportunity would
be left TO the United States (equally bound,
upon this idea Of conditions precedent, Ia
act their par, within the same period) TO be'
come acqusinted with that election, and 10
decide upon and take their own course IN
consequence to say nothing OF the trans
mission of such intelligence Of II TO Europe
as would be Indispensable TO the efficacy of