The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-02-25


pariaking OF The general ssnsibiiity, war
ouId have been the consequences. But.
ANXIOUS 10 avoid hostiiires every means in
The power oil any government were rcsorled
to, to preserve peace. Had we not for near
IL FIVE years been groaning under the opera
ton OF the Orders in ConnciI Had not
Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney been instruct
ed TO propose such terms TO thc British gov
crrmeut on the subject Of imprcssn,cnt as
would have eGectual!y secured her deserving
sean,en from being employed in our vessels I!
This proposition was not acccded to. And
after the treaty which they concluded i'll 1906,
had been rejected by the President, propo-
slion was made by our ministers which,
a very slight shade o. difference, was The
same offered by our charge d'afaires al Lon
don subsequent 10 the declaration of war.
Had not the present President oil the United
States promptly acceded to Mr.. Erskne's ar
rsngcment And mad the gentle man forgot-
ten the resolution introduced by himself TO
return to the President the thanks OF the
House OF Representatives Tor the promp,i-
tude with y wlich lie had acted in that afIai,
Had not the embargo and non-lnporta;ion
laws. Ct which the gentleman had SO bitterly
complained. been adopted for the purpose oil
avoiding war! Such have been the acs OF the
Executive, which conclusively Showed their
aversion To rupture with Great Britain Bui
what do We find TO DC the conduct Of the
President since the last session of Congress /?
So anxious was he Tor a restoration Of peace,
that the intelligence of our declaration of war
had scarcely reached England until the terms
upon which its csamities might be arrested
were mode known to the government If that
country. This TOO was done in opposition to
the practice OF every country. Terms should
be proposed by the power committing the
wrong. Yet this was done TO effect a pacifi-
cation. Had not Mr.. Russell urged the sub.
ieci so far as 10 excite the sneers of Lord
Cas.iereagh Did not all those things 20
completely to disprove what had been said
And did they not clearly NANTES, that tie
view, of our government had always been
pacific, and that they were entirely directed
10 a settlement OF the differences which ex-
i,,ed, upon terms honorable TO both coun-
lrles But these things gentlemen had not
fecol!ected, or endeavorcd TO warp TO meet
their own purposes Nothing could recon
cile the me mber from Massachusetts TO the
administration. When pacific measures
were resorled 10 in order TO heal the wounds
the enemy were inhlc'ing, the Sovernmen,
was then declared 10 be destitute of spirit 10
vindicate its insuited honor and its violated
rights. II was said, the men a, that time in
power could not be kicked into war"
And when war has at length been resor,ed TO,
the gentleman was more clamorous and ten
fold more cruel in his dcclamations. The
war was denounced as immoral and one thar
-. A - -
si,ion had existed in tue cabinet. These in
constituencies Al would become the honorable
gentleman TO reconcile ; and he presumed
that some diff ulsy would be found in con-
vlEcing any msn of intelligence that we were
so!ici,ous for a war with Grea, Britain.
What, sir, desirous Of a war with nation
whose nag was proudly waving victorious on
every ses, a nation that could transport her
armies to the most distant shores ! The idea
was too wild for any man seriously to enter
tain.
The gentleman had become lately very iea-
ions OF standing army. This he presumed
was rather Id appearance than reality Tor in
the journals of the last session OF Congress,
his name would be founo recorded as having
voted for the bill for raising $4,000 men, and
for iliing up the ranks in the old establish.
ment, amounting to 10000 more. We have
then record evidence that the gentleman, last
winter when the u ). were at peace, was in
favor OF an army of $4,000 men. No jealousy
then existed in his mind of an army of that
magnitude, even on the peace establishment
He never intended that army for war and in
vasion, for he was opposed TO both And (said
MIR. a he was much mistaken if he had not
heard the gentleman offer as an apology for
that vote, that he was always in favor Of a
standing army To certain extent. But now
when the country was engaged in a wal WITH
G. Britain, an addition to the army of 10000
men was considered as alarming and danger
Gus % the liberties Of the people. Friendly as
he had been TO that administration that had
raised a standing army in time of peace, the
honorable member ought to be the last to fee 4
any apprehension IN time ofwar Of an army lit
A -. a 4