The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-05-06


mature or unnecessary alarm and wish
| you distinctly 10 understand that | am in pos
! session Of no other information than that
which is CON- mon 10 eyery Citzen--Yef, un-
der my present impressions, arising from the
probable course OF events, should DC want
ing in my duy, were no. to call your scri-
Gus attention 10 the threatening posture Of
our Foreign Relations. 1t is line we should
be upon the alert that We shake oil the ST.
pineness which paralzcs every manly effort
that we should be sensibiy alive 10, and pre-
pared for, the approaching crisis.
1t seems tha; no alternative is leit, but an
appeal 10 arms or all ignominious submission
America viii not even deliberate which TO
choose. How long shall we ait with our arms
folded together, and still hope for the contin-
vance OF peace--whcn by long series q!
acts, such hope is proved TO be illusory:
There was indeed q time when such hope
might well have been indulged. Separated
as We arc from the Old World by mighty
expansc of ocean quietly pursuing our hon
est and legitimate avOcatiOhS ; impartial In
our feelings and irreproachable in our conduct
towards all nations with justice for our
guide and peace for our object, l repeat a.
gain, we might well have hoped TO have been
exempt from those calamitles with which, rs
with the bosom of dcsolation, an angry God
has swept the face of Europe. But rational
as that hope once was, it would DC madness
any longer to indulge in it, The measure OF
our suherings is full ; that of our patience IS
exhausted The high seas, tho common In
heritage Of all nations, have been usurped by
our implacabie enemy, the disturbcrs OF the
peace of mankind, who con!emptuously dis
regards those laws which had Justice for their
basis, and the universal consent of all the ma
tions of the earth for their authority. Our
vessels have been seized and cOniiscated upon
no other pccteXt than that which is common
10 every spolcr. Our lawful commerce,
with the products OF our labor, moistened
with the sweat of our brow, has been expos
ed to continual spoilaton--our native born
citizens have been carried into captivity to en-
durc hardships, at the numeratlen OF which
humanity recoils and 10 complete the black
catalogue OF wrongs, the nation that has dore
these things, in the very momcnt when she
was protesting ardent friendship and desire
for peace, with pcrGdy peculiar to herscN,
aadaciously aid her bloody and unhallowed
hands upon the Ark OF on: political salvation
the union Of these States--and, 10y means
the most ilagatiousy. sought its destruction.
She who boasts, that she is fighting the bat
ties Of civilized man, and forms the only
rampa., against universal despoqsm--shc
! who aspires to the proud anI enviahlc char
actcr Of feeding and keeping alive the holy
| lamp OF Iibcry y---cooly and deliberately plots
| the subversI z. through all tho horrors OF
civil Va, o. hat government which furnishes
the oal, asylum, and constitutes the last hope
OF oppressed humanity. 10 all this VIC nave
returned nothing but mild remonstrances
, 4
or if answered, with undisguised contumely.
What alternative have we left but (anlmatcd
| with one common sentimen,,) 70 rally round
our government which, conhdng in the
Justice of our cause and on the aid OF Provi-
dcnCe, will probably make the last solemn
appeal od nations
Remember, that the spirit which the ap-
proachiDg crisis demands, is widely different
from that which cvapora,es in empty resolves.
We must act Let us place before our eyes
the history Of the revolution, and endcavor to
emulate tho bright example Of our ancestors.
Be not eohtcut with cold compliance with
the requisites Of the law. Do more lncul-
cate upon the mind of every man, that upon
his own arm in part may devolve the protcc-
ZION of his iire.siac from outrage his pro-
perty from pi!lage, and his country from IN
VaSlon Rouse military iEuoT--ih'hc you'
regiment to volunteer musters-lf practica-
bic, attend them yonrselves-lmpress upon
their minds,,hat we know not the Gay ror the
nour when they will be called upon 10 act.
Should such an occasion occur, let them be
able to exhibit to the world the sublime spec
tacle of fee people, with arms in their
hands, regularly disciplined, prepared TO dc
fend the invaluable inheritage Which they
received from their ancestors, aud to trans
nit it unimpaircd to posierity. BE wha, your
county anticipa,es---a safe defence in every
cmergoncy---and receive, as your reward, the
solace Of an approving conscience, and the tri-
butte which always awaits the defenders OF