The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-23


In introducing the following Essay 10 our
readers, we take the liberty OF remarking
| that however Ingenious this plan Of an armed
neutrality may appear on paper, it must be
evident, and our wonder is, how il escaped
the author himself, that Great Britair would
render it nugatory in practice. That she
would not submit 10 it, Is to be irresistibIy
Inferred from the whole tenor of her past
conduct towards US. She is determined TO
suJjuga;c our commerce, and she would
therefore resist this effort by demanding of
our conveys ermission to search the vessels
under their proteclion.---T They would refuse
TO comply, and she would then resort TO force
to compel them. They would also employ
force In resisting--and thus we should arrive
at the very point intended to be avoided,
namely, WAR. --.----------
1t suits the character OF uonapchies like
that of England to do indirectly, what the
laws of Candour and of honour requires,
should be directly avoweG and executed.
Hence the mean and perhdious manner III
which VIC have seen Great Britain seize upon
valuable Dutch pesses 81 Oh In the w Nest-ln-
dies, without u previous declaration OF war-
and hence also have we Witnessed her pcrhdy
in capturing the Spanish money ships In
1905. Many other examples OF her punick
| faith might be quoted. But a RepublcS
| should never forget ,ha, its foundation is vir-
tue, and that virtue and honour are insepara-
| bic companions. If therefore we are josnh-
| cd, as we certainly are, in adopting an armed
neutrality, which would inevitably lead to
| war, we arc equally justified in coming direct
| TO &C point, and prociaiming vvar against u.
| Britain without any reserve. To this course
i d. k.el 4 nscrr lrh hec Np \ysar
| to drive us, anG TO this course we are bound
| to resort by every principle that has ever
| been held sacred in the Just and equitable
| laws and customs Of nations; and this no A
| mcrican who is not totally ignorant OF legal
and moral obligations, or totally corrupt, "a
bapdoned, and regardless of his country's in
dependence, will attemptto deny. On soar
| alone depends the salvation OF our CONNER
cial rights, and We should be sorry TO see the
government Of our country;any longer tempo
rising with modern Carthage. by attempt
log cxpcdients, like that OF the embargo, or
this plan Of an armed neutrality, we may
lose much, but shall gain nothiug. In de-
cisive, vigorous syar, our losses would be
counterbalancod by our gains, and We should
| convince the world that our declaration OF IN
] dependence is not a dead letter.
We cannot close these Introductory re-
marks, without observing, in justice to Mr..
| Genet, that whatever we may think of the in
utility of the plan cont lined in the above Es-
say, or of any other half way step towards
war--wc nevertheless entertain the highest
opinion OF his talents, and are perfectly salts
fed with his pure dcvo,cdness to the cause
of this, his adopted country. His former
Essays have thrown muLh light upon our di-
plomatick controversy with England. IN re-
gard to the chasing, hailing and chss,isiny o.
the L;uie Belt, by Commodore Rodgers, he
has proven America in the right by the ac
knowlcdged principles os national law, al
we'll Us by positive treaty stipulations. Fo
this service TO America he has been reward
| ed by the filth and backguardism Of Bri,isI
hirelings and we observe with regret, ,ho
the old dispute which he had with our gov
ernmcnt, while he acted as French ministc
and which these despicable British minion
have raked up against him, has also bee
thought worthy oi recollection by one Of ou
Republican editors, We disoanrovcd OF MI
Csns:'s conduct in tbcsc days as decidedly q