The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-04-22

sion of Holland and the subjugsfion of the
States General by Prussisn army. Have
We not formed alliances with Prussia, Aus
,ria, Russia. Spain, Naples, and all the petty
princes of Germany against the Republic Of
France Nay, have we refused in hat war,
the cooperation of Turkey aud Algiers
And, as for the old Papa Of Rome, F" the
Whore of Babylon" as our teachers call
him, bis alliance has been counted holy by
Us, and his person an object OF our peculiar
care and protection. Why then ATE We to
expect, that America is 10 refrain from con-
suting ber interests, If they be favored by
leaning towards France Why is she 10 be
shut out from the liberty of forming connex-
ions with despotism, supposlng despotism
row 10 exist in France ? The truth is, that
10 this respect, as it is in private life, it is
interest only that guides, and that must
guide F; and in my mind il is no more reas-
enable TO expect America to lean OH our side
on account of the nature of the government
at Our enemy, than it would be TO expect
presbyterian 10 sell his sugar 10 churchman,
because the only man that bade him higher
price was catholic. Here ! should stop;
but an article upon the same subject, in the
Morning Chronicle Of the l3th instant, calls
Tor observation.
Upon the fasehoods and impudence OF the
Times and the Cou, ier, that is TO say, the
principal prints on the side of the Wellesley
party apd that Of the ministers, have re-
marked often enough ! was anxious to
hear what the wings had to say, and here we
have it, Mr.. Ponsonby and Mr.. Brous gilman
had pledged themselves 10 support the war,
if America was not satisfied with tic repeal
81 lao,
the grounds of support On this account
the article Is interesting, and of course, wor-
Thy Of an attentive perusal. Notwiths,aDd-
ing the tedious length OF the papers on both
sides, the question between the court OF
London and the Government of the United
States is simply the right of impressment of
scamen on board trading shps-and this is
IN truth the sole cause of the war. If we
were to examine the value of this cause to
the two parties, it cannot be denied that to
the Americans it is exceedingly slight, and
TO the British highly material, The Ameri.
cans cannot regard 1t as an insult, because i,
is right which has been at all times assert
ed and acqulesced IN by sovereign States res
pec!iveiy.
Then viewed is an injury, what is it
That they shall so TO war to prevent British
subjects who have forfeited their allegiance,
abandoned their country, and left their fami-
lies probably starving, from being impressed
on board thei- mei chant ve.sels---ihat is TO
say they claim the right TO afford an asylum
and employ the refuse of the British navy
men without principle, for it is cnly the pro-
higatc that are likely to become the subjects
OF their protection. In this view, then, the
poirt is of1ittle consequence to the Americans
but II Is entereslng 10 the British to assert the
power Inherent in every state to reclaim its
subjects and the time may come when the
principle would be equally important to A
merica herself. But, Say the American min
listers, 1t is not SO much the right ITSELF as the
violent and Insulting mode OF exercising il
that we complain of; for we have, upon re-
flection, agreed in the principle OF information
al law, thai free bottoms do not make tree
goods, and therefore We have no objection to
the search Of our merchants ships for contra
band of war but In that case, whenever war
like stores, SC are found on board an Amerl-
can vessel, she is detained and carried into a
port, for adjudication by competent court,
Whether the adjucation oe always impartial
or not is another affair, but in this respect ma
tions arc OH an equal footing, and these Ad-
cognized by all maritime nations. But with
respec, TO the impressment of seamen, the act
is violent because summary, and because il is
subject TO no revisal-to no adjudication
and because the individual sized has no
means Of redress. BY this sort of reasoning
there Is ,acit admission on the part Of A
mercs, that II is not 10 the act itself which
they object so much as to the manner of he
&C, and accordingly we see various sugges-
tons made by Americans, for entering into
an amicablc discussion on the means Of get
,ing over the outrag eous way in which the
right is exercised, and of giving security to
both nations against the abuse in question,
On the other side, Lord Cas,lereagh h declares
the readiness of the British government TO
receive and discuss any proposition on this
subject coming from the American govern.
ment tho he would not enter into a negoci-