The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-01-22
CONGRESS.
Mr.. J0HA'S0N's SPEECH.
rcoScLupEp.]

u. States, contained provision by which the
President was authorized 10 suspend its opcr-
alton as to g. Britain upon repeal Of the or
dcrs in couacil, and AS 10 France upon an cx-
tinguishmcnt of the Brrlin md Nilsn de-.
ctecs. The authority was precisely the same
to either power, the Instructions 70 our min
listers ws,c precisely the same, the olcr 10
suspend the embargo was rendered 10 both
bciligcren,s upon the self same conditions.
The offer was rejected by both nations, aud
ciraggressions continued. .--Cong1ess,yield-
ing 10 the camo0rs of the disafected, re-
pealcd the embargo and substituted the non.
intercourse, which Also containcd diplomat
lck provision vcs,inS the President with pow
er 10 suspend ats operation as 70 the bclligor-
cn,s whsn they should cease TO violate our
Neutral rights.
The offer was made, Il was rejected Ly
France and her dcprcdations sncrcascd--G.
Britain accepted the offer which produced the
Arrangement, with MIR. Erskine.
Erskincs arrangement, :sas executed with
fidelity on the part Of the cxeculise OF the
United States. The proclamation whish ar-
nounced tho arrangement suspended tho nom
intercourse ss to Great Britain and toulinu.d
as to France. Under these circumstances
Congress convened at their extra session. IL
was new era for opposition. The day Ut
jubilee was announccd.-no gloon, cvcty
countenonce smiled, every heart seemed
glad parties were forgotten war With
France and peace with England dawncd upon
as. We were all Americans, and tho gem
llcn.an from Virginia introduced resolution
approaching the fidelity Of the President ia
dischusging his high duties to the nation. A.
real friend to that individual who prcsidcs cy-
er our dcs,nies by our consent. wss hap
ny 10 find his political chctnics acknowledging
his w;sdon,, his impartiali,y, and his in'cgri-
w. knew the President had discharged his
trust faithfully. Though ! followed in tic
rear ranks, did not interrupts the new ofdetr
Of things. But our tctrogradc movement
from the embargo 10 the non-intercoursc unA
Erskinc's arrpnlcmens went 10 Londvn ~
nearly the same timo the English ,ninistk
pci6diously rejected thu, arrangemcht which
had been executed on Our part, and which
was SO advantageous to Great Britain, the orr
dcrs in council, so good shield for pIunslers
were considered ol h,ote vahc than oui ncns
intercourse. Iwiil moi dwell upon the scene
this disavcwal produced, nor upon the attempt
to ccnsurs the President iof the punick tailhl
of. Grea, Britain, by those who had appreciate
ed Ills cohduct 1.-The solid coIuna was ugaqI
since of seeing an undivided front opposed N
a foreign fox, which waa Tie case when Friend
was the OBJECT Of attack Then irdcralis
und Republicans wefe united. Altcr this eN.
assumed q different attitude towards bosil
France and Great Britain, but IN the rsmo
terms OF impaftiali,y We authorised the
President 70 ssy 10 France ii you will tes. ind
your decsccs violating our neutral rights, We
f,r{s,. i1,sx s,ors ~ si<~
non.incrcourse law against your rival Clcaas
Britain, provided she should not also cease so
violate ou. neutral rights BY repeal Of her
orders ! we authorized the President 10 usd
the very same Identical language 10 Crese
Britain, that if you will cease to violate our
neutral rights, we will revive our non-impor~
ts,ion system against your enemy France,
provided she should not follow your example.
THIS vas said to France and 10 Great Britav
iu the spirit Of concilia,ion and sincerity.
France accepts the proposition but j, is re-
jcctcd BY Great Britain, which sScc ptancc on
the part of France and tho cxiinguishmcnt OF
her orders, so far as they violated our ncu.
trail rights, was announced be the Presidents
proclamation, and tho non intercourse rcyiy~
cd against Great Btiiain.--Undcf these cir.
cumslances Congress convened, but I looked
in vain for resolutions sf appreciation OF tho
Presidenl's conduct. The repeal Of THO
french dccrecs was doubled, and tho gentle.
man from ViryinIa was the first 10 introduces
lis resolution TO repeal the nonimpos ;sticp
revived against England by the presidcut's
Proclamation and with that repeal the ProcIs~
nation and now when il Is not denied ~ a<
single individual that the berlin and blilau|
DEGREES are so modified US 90 ccsse 10 violate,
our neutral rights; we find the same opposition
TO measures sgsins, G.. Britain, and the same
opposition TO France az IL no arrange mens
had been made. .---I night ask Why ti.is os.pd~>
site conduct under the same kind of arrange.
mcn,s growing Out of AN act II Congrsss,
md unfier the s.fne xnlcfnafies nl Mich -