The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-07-01

| there could be no sufficient objection on the
| part OF q. Britain TO formal revocation of
| il and no imaginable objection 10 declara-
! tion of the fact that the blockade did not eX-
| ist. The declaration would have been con-
'sistent with her ayowed principles OF block
| sde, and would have enabled the L. States 10
demand from France The pledged repeal of
her DEGREES either with success, in which
case the way would have been opened tor
general repeal Of the belligerent edicts or
without success, in which the United
States would have been justified In turning
their measures exclusively against France.
The British government would, however,
neither resciLd the blockade nor declare It's
Don-cxistence nor permi, It's on-existcDce
10 be inferred and affirmed by the American
plcnipotentiaIy On the contrary, by repre-
sen Ting the blockade TO be compi eheRded In
the orders in council, the United States were
compelled so to regard il in their subsequent
proceedings.
There was period when favorable change
IN the policy of the British cabinet, was Just
s. considered as established. The minister
plepipotcnliary of his Britannia majesty here
proposed an adjustment of the differences
more Immediately endangering the harmony
Of the two counties. The proposition was
accepted with prompti.uda and cordiality cor.
responding with the invariable professions of
this government A foundation appeared to
be laid for sincere and lasting reconciliation.
The prospect, however, quickly vanished.
The whole proceeding was disavowed by the
British government without any explanations
which could at that time repress the belief,
that the disavowal proceeded from spirit of
hostility to the commercial rights and pros
periiy Of the United States. And il has since
come into proof that at the very moment,
when the public minister was holding the
language OF friendship and inspiring conf
dence in the sincerity Of the negotiation with
which he was charged, secret agent of his
government was employed in intugues, hav-
ing for their object subversion Of our gov
crnmcnt, and dismcmbermcnt OF our hap
py union.
In reviewing the conGact of &. Britain to-
wards the y. States our attention is necessa-
rily drawn to .he warfare just renewed by the
savagcs on one of our extensive frontiers a
warfare which is known 10 spare neither age
nor sex, and TO be distinguished by features
peculiarly shocking to humanity. 1t is diff
cult to account for the activity and comblna-
tions which have for some time been develo-
ping themselves among tribes in the constant
intercourse with British traders and garrisons,
without connecting that hostility with that in
Huence ; and without recol!ecting the authen-
ticated examples Of such interpretations here
tofore furnished by the officers and agents of
that government.
Such is the spectacle of injuries and indig.
uities which have been hcapcd on our country;
and such The crisis which its une xampled for
bearance and concilatory efforts have not
been able to avert. 1t might at least have
been expected, that an enlightened nation, if
less urged by moral obligations, or invited by
friendly dispositions on ,he part of the Unit
ed States would have found, in its true inter-
est alone, sufficient motive TO respect their
rights and their tranquility on the high seas
tha, an enlarged policy would have favored
that free and general circulation of COM
mercc, in which the British nation is at all
times Interested, and which in times Of war
is the best alleva,ion of its caamities to her
self as we'll as the other bcligerents and
more espe cially that the British cabinet would
not, for the sake Of p-ecarious and sur
reptitious intercourse with hostile markets,
have persevered in the course Of measures
which necessarily put at hazard the invalua-
Bile market of a great and growing country,
disposed to cultivate the mutual advantages
of an active commerce.
Other councils have prevailed. Our mod
Grafton and conciliation have had no other ef.
feet than to encourage perseverance, and to
enlarge pre,ensions. We behold our seafar-
ing citizens still the daily victims of awless
violence committed on the great common
and hig hway of na,ions,e even within sight of,he
country which owes them protection. We
behold our vessels, freishted with the pro-
ducts Of our soil and industry, or returning
with the honest proceeds of them, wrested
from their lawful destinations, con6scated by
prize courts, no longer the organs of public
law, but the instruments Of arbitrary edicts /;
and the unfortunate crews dispersed and lost