The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-03-11


will present 20 the House. what believe 10
be true view OF the sub;cci, drawn from
near residence, and mush CAREFUL examina-
tion. Canada is of great importance both 10
Great Britain and the United States. IL is
important 10 Great Bi.ain in the amount and
kind OF It's exports. In the last year preccd-
ing war rs exports cmonntcd TO between .ey.
en- aud nine millions of dollars, an amoun,
almost as groct as the exports Of The United
States preceding the revolutionary war. And
had the most discerning statesman made out
ar order, hc could not have selected articles
better adapted TO the essential wants OF Grcal
Britain. 1t has been said that Canada is of
less. value than one oi the sugar islands OF
the WestIndies. Sir, in The present state
Of the world, Canada is OF more importance
TO Great Britain, in my opinion, ihan the
whole w est.india islands taken together. In
danger, as she is, of being shut out from the
Bal,ic, and fighting for her cxistcnco, She
wants not the luxuries, the sugars, and the
sweetmcats Of ,he Ncs,.Indies, she wants
the provisions, the timber and the masts Of
the North Canada is also OF the greatest
importance to the United States, in COM
mereiai, financia! and political poin, Of View
! have in a great measure explained its COM
ports a large portion of which were the
products Of the United States. lie, an at.
teniive observer cast his eye for one moment
on the map OF North America let him bear
in mind, that from the 45th degree of lati-
tude the waters Of Canada bound for vast
extent one Of the most fertile, and which
will become one of the most populous parts
Of the United States and he will readily
or. th. - Y
soon be the outlet for one third of all The
products OF American labor. The same cir
cumstances will enable us to lay an impost
on one third Of our imported articles. Nor'
will the evil to our revenue end here. Great
Britain will be enabled to smugge her goods
through this channel into oil parts ofthe Un-
ion. II will be in vain that you attempt TO
counteract her by laws from the great
length an c5ntigu,y OF her possessions, she
will forever evade them, unless by your laws 4
you can change the nature OF man. But its
creates, importance is in political point of 4
view for although not as happy in its gov I
ernment as the United States, it is sufficient
ly so 10 draw of nul,i:udes of our new Set 4
tiers, when the intermediate lands Of the
State of New-York, which separate it from
New England, shall be fully occupied. From
this circumstance IL will divide the Ameri-
can family, and by the commercial relations,
which nave pointed out, 1t will exart das-
gerous influence over part Of our country
for the transition from commercial dcpen-
dcncc to political allegiance is too obvious TO
be insisted on. Having endcavorcd to shew
the i'm portance Of Canada TO bolh the con-
tending nations, will only ado thar H 10
within OR hover.
The fourth objection is, that we cannot |
support the war--that We have no, the ability I
to carry it on. Before proceed to answer
this objection, permit nc, sir. to nstice a
singular inconsistency OF the gentlemen by |
whom it has been urged. !, is ,his--in one
part Of their argument, they represcn, the |
the people as too nanny to en'is,, aud in a.
mother part, as too foor to pay Both Of /
these propositions, l presume, csnnot be
true. Not TO dwell longer however upon this
contradiction, do maintain, sir, that the ma.
tion is fully able to prosecute the war. On
what does the ability OF the nation depend
A person who will give himself the trouble
OF examining things, rather than words, will
find, thar is 4. hrohortioaed 10 the number of
la6orers, and the hroducffvencss Of their Ia.
bor. Wherever from soil, climate or i'm
provement, the Tabor of u country viii pro-
duce more than supply OF the nscessaries
Of life, II is evident, that the surplus time I
may be devoicd 10 idlcness, to the produce
ton and consumption of iuxuries, or to the
carrying on OF war. To illustrate this further
--suppose the labor OF person FIVE day viii! |
supper, him for six, then II is clear, that the
sbor OF five men will supper, the sixth man,
IA i'eness or IN war. Now, sir, there is no
Sncrc that the labor Of seven millions Of I
,eople will produce so much, as in this coun-
ry consequently, no where have .evcn mil
ions of people SO great an ability to carry on
var. The quantity of circulating medium,
whether made of paper or Of silver dollars,
las very liuie to do with the subject' Ji
, made Of halter. and TO "a .grear erfent, ii
nfy sbesvs thar me heohie are iS their haoifs,
ommerciat ; and fhas the faith Of contracts is
,eN snfnorfed. The real ability of q nation |