The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-04-29

| population has increased tbree-fold, whilst
hers has remained almost statlonary.---The
| condition of the civilized world too has chang
ed. Although Great Britain has nothing TO
| fear, as 10 her independence, and her militia
ry operations are extensive and distant, the
contest is evidently maintained by her rather
for safety than for conquest.--Have we cause
to dread an attack from her Eeighboring pro-
vInces The apprehension is still more
groundless. Seven or eight millions of peo-
pie have nothing to dread from 100000.
From the moment that war is declared, the
British colonies will be put on the defensive,
and soon alter We get in motion must sink un-
der the pressure. Little predatory incursions
on our frontier will not be encouraged by
those who know that we can reiort them ten
ioIc, and pursue and punish the authors, re-
tire where they may, if they remain in this
hemisphere. Nor is any serious danger to be
spprehended from their savage allies. Our
frontiers may be easily projected against
them. The colonial governments, aware OF
our superiority, and of the certainty OF their
subjugation in case of war viii feel thei"
responsibility for the conduct Of the Indian
tribes, and keep them in order But should
the war lately terminated be renewed, the
tions from different quarters may be led forth
against them A sing le campaign would
drive these unfortunate people into the most
distant and desart wilds.
But our Coasts and scaports towns are ex-
posed and may be annoyed. Even this dah-
ger, which exists in certain degree, has
been much exaggerated. No land force can
be brought to bear against them, because q.
Britain has none TO spare Tor such service
and withou. a land t9tce no great impression
can be made. Shp ps of war cannot approach
near tho coasts except At the entrance oil our
great bays and rivers. They Cannot annoy
the sca-coasl generally by their cannon and
If detachments of marines should be sent on
shore, they may be rspeI!ed by the militia
where they land. It's, however, unusual
for incursions to be made on land FROM ships
Of war by sailors or marines. The Law OF
nations forbids, and humanity leyots at the
idea of mere waDton desolation and in that
light only can such incursions be viewed. In
the present war between Great Britain and
France, which has been prosecuted with so
much violence and dnimosity, no example oil
this kind, on either side, is recoletled In
our revolutionary war, in which the object OF
Great Britain was conquest, 10 great ihIu,y
was sustained in this mode. Some oi our
towns, 1t Is admitted, may be exposed to dan
ger from ships Of war, but with suitable pte-
cautions il will soon vanish. NO ship OF war
Can stand long before good battery well
manned aud well supplied with heavy artiiic-
ry. An attack by ships oi war ony, on any
OF our towns, could have no ob,ect but that
of distressing the inhabitants and if those
towns are pot in such state Of defence, a.
to enable them to rcpol the attack, as all of
them are, or may be, ii is not probable lhat
the experiment would be made, or il once
made, th., it would be repeated. The III.
porapce of the protection OF our seaport
towns is sensibly felt. 1t is subject which
claims the particular attention of government,
and that attention has doubtless en- already
bestowed on it.
The great question on which the L. States
have 10 decide, Is, whether they will relin-
quish the ground they now hold, or maintain
1t with the hrmness and vgor becoming free
men. Tha; the sense Of the nation favors
the latter course, is proved by series of i'm
portant and solemn facts, which speak Ian
guage not to be misunderstood. From the
first attack by Great Britain on our neutral
rights IN 1905, to the present day, these facts
have been multiplied yearly, by the acts of
Congress, by the proceedin IS of the State
Legislatures, and by the voice Of she people.
Let not the Representatives of the People,
therefore, in either branch of the govern
ment, disappoint their reasonable wishes and
just expectations.
The preten,ions Of Great Britain, so un-
justly sci up, and peruna.iously maintained,
by her orders in council, not 20 enumera,e
other wrongs, particularly the impressmcnl
OF our seamen, arroga,e 10 her the complete
dominion ot the sea, and the exclusion OF
every flag from 1t, which does not sail under
her iicences,and ON the conditions which she
imposes.--Thcse prelensions involve no local
interest, nor are they of transient nature.
In their operation they violate the rights, and
wound deeply the best interests of the whole
Anne riean DcoDlc,- If VIC Weld To them this