The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-08-27
al4oCELLANY.
FROM THE NATIoxAL ISTELLIeENeER.
REVIEW

e7 THE ADDRESS OF THE MEMBERS COM
PRICING the MINoRITY OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIONS OF TIE coNGREss
OF The UNITED STATES.
CContinued
In political concerns, IL is the easiest thing
in the world TO deliver opinions which, under
certain circumstances, are incontestibly true,
whilst under certain other circumstances they
are as incontesiibly false. Thus when the Ad-
dressers (at page s. say, that {" II has always
been the opinion Of the undersigned, that a
system of peace was the policy which most
comportcd with the characters, condition aud
interest Of the United States )" they utter d
sentiment, which, iii ordinary times, and upon
Ordinary occasions, would be universally adj
mitted by every man Of rrobity in the Union.
But will any person contend, that Ga system
of peace" is the policy which most csm-
ports with the character, the condition and
interes, of the United States," when that sys-
tenn would be nothing short of submission to
the greatest and unceasng outrages that Il
nation can snffei II system of peace, un-
der all circumstances, and at all events, Is
the best policy, Why should we talk about our
rights at all : Why should the Addressers
themselves SANCTION, as they say they do, San
enlarged and Enlightened system OF defence,
with provision for security OF our maritime
rights 7" The Addressers, am aware, con-
fess, by implication, that imfter'ouS necessity
might Justify war but to confess this, and
vet To say that the condition of aHbirs on tho
18th day of June, 1912, did not amount to
this ,mherions necessity, is, IN TACT, to contend
that no injury short of actual invasion OF our
houses and lands would authorize hostiities
for Great Britain has done every thing but
that. and even that zoo, il we consider the
conduct of the Indians upon our interior from
tier as instigated ~ the British. Ii this log
ic of the Addressers be sound, how will the
federalists Justify their own former policy!Was
the imherious necessity for war greater in the
year 1898 with France, than in 1912 with q.
Britain Had France, at that period, impress
scd our seamen, totally destroyed tho freedom
OF our trade, claimed general right Of
bockading the ocean, and let loose the muir
derng savagss upon our deienceless wsmen
and children Did the federalists in 1898
forbear for long time under repeated inJu-
ries, as if they considered peace the best pol
icy No not they. They rushed to war
with the impa,icnce of "a lover, and treated
with rude coulumey those who only request
cd them To be moderate. And what, at a
later period, has been the conduct OF these
Addresses and their friends They have,
we know, never contended that France had
treated Us worse than Great Britain: they
only pretended that she had treated us as bad.
Whist, then, was the conduct they wished to
pursue in relation to France, even before her
provocations were MS great as they are now
Let us recur to the goyernorship OF Mt
Gore. DO we not all remember the official
Recommendation 20 unfuri fhe Republican
banner against me imheriai sfandard - Do
these facts 70 10 shew that I" il has Gitvays
been the opinion of the Addressers that a
system OF heace was the policy which most
comported with the character, condition and
interest of the United States !" Do they
not, on the contrary, prove, demonstrsbly
prove, that the federalists are NOT averse to
war, even on slight prctences, but that they
are oniv averse 20 spdr, with GRBAT BKIfAIN
There lies the hidden spring of all their &C.
tions that, with their inordinatc thirst of
power, makes them rush impctuousy before
the public, through the press, in the face OF
thousand absurdities.
Such is the devious current Of their logic
II is tho same crooked dispositiop of mind,
che same misguided temper of party, that
the Addrcssers have been induced to resort
20 the authority Of Washington. I" Why
{said the great man) quit our own to stand
upon forcign ground ; Why, by Interviewing
our destiny with%hat Of any part of Europe.
en,anglc our peace and prosperity in the tolls
Of Europc.n ambition, rivslship, interest.
humor, or caprice q" These questions, So
| ;nst in themselves, and so truly correspond
| 4 3S>s,,h the character Of Washington, viii
= Com every one, who understands