The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-02-18

Iacnt. o have delayed then the decfaration
f war against England, until the ranks OF
Inc army authorized To be raised bad been
completely filed, would have been a most
Ecrtain course 20 have defeated the object
which Congress had in view. The jcalousies
bnd fears which would have been the neces-
ssry consequence of such delay, would have
brought into power men Of far different
views men who, ii the natural conclusion
ho be drawn from the arguments OF some ot
hhem could be admitted, would sooner sub
,rit 10 all the iucigniiics we bad received
from Great Brton, than resist her. The
war was therefore not declared frenafnrely,
bur was DELAYED 10 as late period as the na-
TUE oil our institutions would permit. And
il wha, he had said would not be sufficient TO
satisfy the gentleman from New-ioik OF his
error the army that was 30 shaneiuly sut-
rendered al Deuoit, If il had been common
ded by mn of spirit and fccliry, would
long before this, by the possession which II
would have given us OF an important prov
ince Of the enemy, have convinced him that
war was not declared without preparation.
But for having said SO much upon this point,
some apology seemed ~ be necessary upon
his paIi, and i,e could only say that he had
been induced 10 do go, because having been
one Of the majority who voted for war against
England, the charge seemed 10 be an in,pu-
tation against his character, which the duIy
every man owed TO himself bound him 10
iepel.
/, had been said by gentleman from Con-
necticu, (Mr Piukn) that the nature of the
war had been changed, the principal cause
had been removed by the British orders In
council Of June 23d, 1912, by which her p c.
vious orders were repeated that il was
well ascertaincd fact that war would NOT have
taken place il this intelligence had reached
the United States before the declaration ; and
thar the Executive ought TO have acceded TO
the terma proposed III ough Admiral Warren
and have terminated The contest. These
we're grounds which demanded some consid-
Grafton, and he iius,ed that he would be eble
b shew from authentic documents that ms
Premises we're erroneous, and that oi course
his conclusions did not follow. But he would
nov admit ior the sake OF argument <what
he should hereafter prove INCORRECTLY that the
orders in council were the principal cause oi
the war, he could noI, for himself see how,
even then, the war ought in justice TO have
terminated. Did il follow that minor consid-
erations should be placed out of view or yiel-
ded up entirely Would il have been proper
for the government to have entered into no
stipulations for the security OF American
seamen Would it have been proper, in
them, to have claimed on behalf our citizens
no indemnify for the vast amount OF spoila-
lions which have been made on the property
of American me chants! UnquesuonabIy not
s..,.t -s,..~:l---.;--a, AAnDittins the n, tn
be OF minor importance, should have been
saiistat orily adjusted, 10 have made peace,
in his opinion, would have been the heighth
ot impolIcy. Sir, (said he) II Is not saihcient
that the injuty should cease, bui that ample
compensation should be made for the COM
mission Of the wrong. This was the case
every day between individuals in civil society,
and why ought not the rule TO apply with G.
DUAL force 10 states in their relation 10 each
other Justice was its foundation, and that
would operate uron the one as we'll as the
other. These considerations alone ought 10
be deemed SUFFICIENT 10 shew that the course
the gentlemen would have taken would have
been unwlse. But supposing them TO have
no weight, he thought II nigh; be satisiac,o-
riiy shewn that to have acceded to the terms
psoposcd by the British government, would
have been an actual abandonment of the prin.
cipal Cause which had induced hostii,ics. To
have negotiated without entering into an ar
raIgement In relation 10 The important inter-
est OF impressment would unquesiionaby
have been reinquishment OF the right
which we claimed TO be exempted from It's
exercise. But il was said that was d secon-
Diary consideration. From whenc. was this
conclu drawn Were we more regardfui
of the property than the personal liberty OF
the citizen! Was il taken from an impression
which had gone abroad In the country ? Or
from the unofficial conversation of members
IF the House These opinions Gf the ex-
preston were aliowed) he would call extra
judicial, and entitled to no consideration. But
TO shew thbt impressment was the principal
cause, he would resort to the best evidence
Of which tie case was susceptible. He would
appeal to the archives and records Of the
country which, in his opinion, would be con-