The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-10-29
Voice of the Yeomonry.


Resoived, That the defects in the old Con-
federation, which was merely league be-
tween Sfafe SoVereigHheS, Showed the neces-
sily of new compact between the Eeofie
Mcmseivss ;---lhey saw and lameDted, that the
powers of Congress were incompetent TO reg
ulate the domestic concerns OF the States,and
TO speak to foreign nations with the language
of uuion and strength therefore il was, that
the portion OF sovereignty respecting our for
eign relations, and the power of regulating
the intercourse between the States, which
were then exercised by the State Legislatures
were Withdrawn by the people, and commit
ted TO the National Legislature--" in order to
form a more ferfcct nnion, ensure d1me1hc
tranquility, and provide for the common de-
fence"
ResJlUed, That By the Constitution Of the
United States, 4" Congress have The power 10
declare war, grant letters OF marquc and re-
prisal, aud make rules concerning captures
on land aud water )" and 10 make all iazvS
which shall be necessary and proper for car
rying into execution the foregoing powers :"
And by the 10Th section OF the Hcst iiClc-
No States shall enter into any treaty, alh-
ance or confederation grant letters of mar
que or reprisal :" Thus the powers given TO
Congress by the Constitution are perfect, ex'
elusive and absolute and secured against
miscunstruction or herVerSion by torbidding
restriction on ,he States TO say, then, that
Congress have the right to command the n
tiona resources, and yet that the States have
the righ, to withhold them IS 'o utter III Ae-
suvdiiy of which folly shoutd be ashamed.
ResoIUed, That an array of the state aoIbor-
tiles against the National Cove nmen', was
one Of the evils from when " ASHINGTOA
apprehended the direst consequences, and d.
gains, which he entered his solemn protest !:
1t is my duty" said he, " and that ol every
true pat'ot, 10 assert without reserve, and to
insist upon the following pos!llOns--that un-
less toe States will suffer Congress to cSer-
else those prerogatiyes they are undoubtedly
invested with by the Constitution, every thing
must very rapidly tend 70 anarchy and coniu-
sion--Ihat il is indispensable to the happiness
of the individual States, THAI there should be
lodged somewhere supreme power to regu-
late the general concerns OF the conEederatcd
republic, without which the onion cannot be
Of long duraticn---,hat 7phateUer measures
haze a tendency 10 Gi88oLve The Union, or ies-
sen fhe sovereign aatho,ity, ought 10 be con-
sidercd as hostile 20 the liberty and indepcn-
treated accordingly"
ResOyeG, That the new and unlusllhable
principle assumed by Great Britain agains,
our carrying tra3e, excited due senslbilty
and resentment 10 the mei chants, SVho alonc
ware interested in that trade and We have
seen them demanding ''from the energy tJ
yoVeynmcnt, Sheedy comhensafion 10 Nr suffer-
ers, and redress 10 me nation for as pi0fated
70 ~, ~ ID,t I'll, 4
ing angel sat his foot on tie Iaud as well as
on TIE SEA, threatening TO trampc our agri-
culture To atoms, and debariinS the products
OF our own SOL from the markets of a whole
continent, we have seen many OF the same
merchants become his advocates as if an
extension Of evil community Of suffering,
nay, even the destruction Of our agriculture,
were compensation to them and redress TO
the nation 20
ReSoLued, That we have seen the national
executives, for seven years past, patiently re-
mosstratpg with the British government,
against the violations of our neutral and sov-
crcign rights, and resortng 10 pacific mea
sures defence, until M4ir ioUe Of heace
had become bye-word, and reproach, in
the mouth of far!y nozv protesting 10 be the
enemy Of 7var.
Resolved, That by the impressment of A.
mcrican ciizees into the service of G.. Bri-
tain, 4" the honor Of our government, and the
feelings of humanity in respect to the suffer-
ers, have been wckcdly eutraged---and ,he
as,onishcd world might we'll begin to doubt,
whether the patience with which these injur-
les have been borne, ought to DC attributed TO
generous or unworthy motives whether the
United States merit the rank to which, in oie-
er respects, they are Justly entitled among
independent nations, or have already, in the
very morn of their political career, lost their
energy, and become degenerate ;" And in
regard to our relative standing with the bel
ligerent powers, i, is no less departure from
our neutrality, to furnish sailors for the navy
oil one, than il would be to furnish soldiers
for the armU of the olhCr