The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-02-19

When the embargo was laid every species
Of conlumely WAS cast upon all who appro,-
ed il. We were accused OF crimes, with
prodi galny Of abuse that was never before
Witnessed. That we had abandoned their
rights TO the ocean--thai our seamen had
been shame fully sacriIced--,hat our eastern
navigating interest had been treachcrousIy
destroyed The Embargo was Ct length Civ
en- up, and the h on-IDlet course law. was "a
dopted. That too Was wrong, says the gen
man--then Don-imporalion VAS fcsorted to-
still wrong. He prayed the gentleman 10 say
what would be right III he wiz neither stay
at home TO avoid injury, nor fight when il is
inflicted abroad, what will he do ? Sir, am
for fighting No, says the gentleman, le, US
nave no war, now you have selected your en-
envy, by purchasing OF Napoleon the privi-
lege OF going TO France. is that fair state
ment of the fact that gentle man cannot be-
licye it.
He is too honorable himself, deliberately
to suspect others Of such dastardly conduct.
He dehcd The gentleman to look lack, upon
the conduct of the administrations, and point
out any terms which had been offered to
France, in the smallest degree more favoura-
Bile, than have been offered to England.
Were not the same terms offered TO both,
and always first to England Is there any
man who doubts, that the same identical
terms which France has accepted, have been
rejected by England How then can it. be
said we purchased of France any right what
ever lie did not think the gentleman could
be guilty OF believing such an insinua,ion. Il
is not true. But, the reverse is the fact.
The administration dad at one time, offcr
LII. n p~;<
to France. He alluded 10 the offer to sus-
pend the Embargo. The terms then were
different those to Great Britain most favour
able. 1t was appyehcnded France would ac-
ccpt the terms offered TO Great Britain, with
out ahording that security to commerce which
Was considered IL Just equivalent Tor the re-
pcai OF the Embargo England herself Sc
lectcd the situation in which she Is placed.
The difference between The tone OF sup
picaton IA, London, ard remonstrance al Par
is is indeed paipabc Have we not bowed,
and begged, and eutreated for accommoda-
ton, unli! our then minister al London had
been charged by maDy though not by him,
with prostitution of his luHCtions and -chdr-
acter; with disgraClny the nation by ms sup
pIicatons Did not every man III The com
mun'y see, that the administration had done
every thing in their power, TO obtain repeat
OF the orders In council, and yet because
France has accepted, and England refused
the terms OF adl ustment, it is talked OF as
the purchase Of right When the arrange-
Inent with Mr. Erskine was effected, did any
one then Condemn the administration for hav-
Ing purchased of Great Britain, the privilege
OF going to hcr dominions On the contrary,
were not 81! rcjoiced, and anxious 10 share
the credit Of that Arrangement Sooner or
later, sir, We must fight or be sacrificed Tie
sooner VIC begin, in my opinion, the better.
But We must not resist the in justice and ty-
ranny of Great Britain, she Is fighting, said
the gentleman, for her existence Tor the
liberties OF the world Sir, If hee existence
depends upon the ruin OF my country then,
1 say, down let her So. lie thought the
gentleman was Is wide from the !act here, as
in any other argument. liz Is Impossible,
from the very nature OF Our commerce with
hcr, that il should weaken, much less des-
troy her. A trade which consists IN the cx-
portation OF raw materials and the necessa-
ries OF life, receiving its returns, principally,
IN her own manufactures, must necessarily
advance her interest, and invigorate her
strength. Ii she would abandon her mad
policy against US, that same spirit OF enter
prize, which extended into every region OF
the world, seeking the means whereby 20,
cancel that balance in her favour, before al
iudcd to, would again pour us tich and tribu-
tary streams into ali her domnions. Under
such a state Of things, he would rejoice, as
much as any man, 10 see her arm strengthens
cd that if that arm is to continue lifted "a
gainst his county, he cared not how soon it
wa. lcprosied and destroyed. y
She is contendng for the liberties OF the
world ! he would as soon have expected to
hear that the Devil had cspoused the cause
of Christianity So Ear from sighting for the
liberties of the world, tic standard OF free
dom had never been raised In any country
without her attempting to pull IT down. 1t
:, ,yas No, rnraon IN his purpose, he could