The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-10-22


rahsm has been cur Of, and that the body, ia
consequence, is expiring in commissions
The contortions of the pamphletecrs are
really pitisble. "The condition (ihey alicdse,
at page 2o) on which the non-intercou,se ac
cording TO the act of May, 1910, might be re-
yiycd agains, G.. Britain, was, on tie part of
France, an G7ectRaL reOocati0n ether DEGREES"
Ii is very certain, however, that the act of May
1910, contains no such language the words
are, shall cease 10 Viotate neutral commerce."
The Addressers change the phrase to suit
their own purpose, and TO support the British
argument. The act may be referred to in the
laws OF the <. >.
The gentlemen then go on 20 recite all the
inventions, both in England aud America, to
prove that the decrees have not been revoked :
on this point they are very precise: the de-
claration oil repeal by the minister OF an en-
peror, whose will is law, is not solemn c.
nough ; facts must be produced In Proof, and
when releases have been made IN virtue OF the
revocation ofthc DEGREES, then that Is proof
that they are not revoked The topic has
been already too much canyassed and have
no disposition 10 enlarge the sphepe OF puer-
ility.
The Adlresscrs, as q decisive argument,
aver, that France offers no inducement, thro'
the medium of her commerce, TO the United
States, to counterbalance the evils OF a war
with c. Britain. FIVE grant that she does
not, what does that prove |! 1t proves that
we make war, not for any benefit to be derived
from the French, but 10 redress the wrongs
that we suffer from q. Britain not from any
inclination for union with the emperor OF
France, but from strict adherence TO our
own rights il would seem, by their dwelling
on that point, that If France offered to our
avarice more trade than G.. Britain would Of
fer, the federaIists would accede TO the pro-
priety of the prevailing war. This consid-
Grafton has not weighed with the republicans
they have not suffered themselves 10 be thus
bribed into hoslilites. Ii a maxim OF this
sor, were to be made the basis Of national
policy, II would at any time be III the power
of one belligerent 10 bRy aS into war with the
ohcr II would only be necessary TO bait the
invitation with superior commercial advan-
tagcs Tor our government TO snap at.
That the Addressers are influenced by such
a maxim, they have themselves furnished tho
proof. They have gone, at page 90, Into q
computation, stating the relative amount ol
trade between the u. S. and France on the
the other and they state contrast, which
makes the amount OF our trade, allowed by the
British, thirty-one millions five hundred thou
sand dollars more than it is with the French
This balance, they distinctly intimate, admin
istration ought 10 have accepted remaining
at peace, aud sacrificing all trade with France,
her allies and dependencies. "Notwithstand-
ing the violence Of the belligerents (say they,
,t,~ ,Co
mcnt removed, the commerce of the United
Sta.es might be e.rtensiUe and hrcftdbe 90
Thus, then, the sum of thirty-one millions
five hundred thousand dollars, is the satisfac-
tory hrice, in the opinion OF the AC<.rcssers,
for submission TO British control in relation to
the impressment Of our eseamep, unlawful
blockades, and orders in council, whose effects
are, 10 this country, stare Qf colonial pas-
Saiage Had the majority Of Congress, in a
printed pamphlet, proposed, Tor any favor
France can bestow, to submit 10 the operation
of her decrecs, would that not have proved an
improper bias to that country And have
not the miaority, in attempting TO prove, with
respoct TO our present rulers, what does not
exist furnished evidence, with regard TO
themselves, OF what does exist To suppose
q French influence 10 prevail without a motive,
either of honor or oil interest, Is 10 suppose a
community OF action without a single human
incentive but to suppose a British influence
TO operate, where the motive Of interest is
named, where the very sam is specified, is it
not TO establish the fact
But the balance stated in favor Of British
trade, is not clear gain. II is the amount oil
what we export to the dominions Of that king
dom and other plac es, and which we are chief
ly paid for in British prondetions and manufac-
gal and Anglo-Spain,do not yield us payments
! in Shecie. Our merchants are paid in British
bills, payable in G.. Britain, from whence, by
law all transportation of specie Is prohibited.
In this kind of barter, the British are the only
gamers, We furnish them with food and raw
materials for their manufacturers but the