The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-04-20
3Aotitieai Misceilanp.
for me RHoDE-ISLAND REPUBLIC.4S.
The Prospects of Peace.


tcnburg, will not terminate In peace. Some
republicans, knowing the daplicity o! the BRIT
ish ministry, and strongly suspect that 'hey
are about TO play tha; part over again, which
they have played over thousand umes DC
fore and almost all the federalisis are willing
TO believe that there will be no accommoda-
tion; because they know that an honorable
peace would be the death of their party. Now,
there appear TO be many we'll grounded rea-
sons for entertaining a different opinion, and
] will endeayor 10 state what / conceive those
reasons TO be.
Upon the refusal Of the Prince Regen! to
accept the mediation OF Russia, It was instant
ly perceived by the ministry that II would
have no very good effect upon their interest
with that government ltwas IN vain lhat
they told the emperor that the war concern
ed their municipal regulations and cndeavor-
ed to make him think SO, bat his penetrating
mind a: once detected the falsehood, and they
now dreaded his displeasure. They knew that
he saw in them the unjust CAUSE OF cutting
off the commerce of this country, from his
extensive dominions, and no doubt strongly
apprehendcd that he might turn his arms a
ganst their monepolizing policy.
These apprchensions OF the ministry were
shertly after increased by the pacific propo-
sails OF the allies 10 Bonapartc, made without
consulting them. Although by the later ac-
counts from Europe is does not appear that
these proposals have eventuated in peace, yet
:he circumstances attending their annuncia-
ton wero sufficient TO indicate the dispositions
Of the allies. The proclamation which an
nounccd them, declared wish to see the
commerce of France reUioe. Now this Is al
together repngnant TO the monopo!izing spirit
"A
tons enjoy the same rights upon the ocean,
which she claims there for this would have
a tendency to lessen her commerce and the
resources of her government, aud would
eventually destroy her maratime supremacy.
But this proclamation went farthcr--whlist 1t
said to France,we wish to see your commerce
revivc---it seemed TO say to the world, those
rights which we would freely give to our emo
my we are determined to possess ourselves.
We huve resolved that one nation shall not
enjoy exclusively that which ought to belong
equally 10 all. This was like stroke of thun-
dor to the monopolizing system OF Britain
3 But SO il was /; il appeared plain on the face
Of the proclamation, and the ministry must
have been stupid indeed if they did not dis
cover it. 1t was plain that the allies knew
what belonged to them, and that they were
friends to their own commercial interests
This did not at all please the British mini
stry for they saw in the revival OF the COM
rnerce of the continent the reduction OF their
own. Ii is easy then to see the confusion
which this produced in the ranks OF the Brit
ish yoar haqpks--thcir monopolizng schemes
were Observation-Disclosures prospects OF sole
dominion upon the ocean were atoncc snatch
cd from :hcir vicw--and nothing now re-
maincd for them, but TO form new plans to
meet this new state OF things. They began
In think seriously Of peace with this country.
They said to themselves, if we declare war "a
gainst tho allies we shall certainly do better ii
we are at peace with Amcrca--if we do not,
we shall surely be better able to rival the re-
suscitatcd commerce of the continent by
having the markets Of the United. States
open To- our merchandise, and receiving their
raw materials for the use Of our manufacture
ors. Thus in aithcr case it will be best for us
TO be on good terms with that country Be
sides they could not bat remember that we
bad lately gained some important advantages
over thom in Upper Canada--Pcrry had taken
the whole Of their noet on Lake Eric--Har-
rison had retaken Bctriot and made the whole
army under Proctor prisoners OF war-Te-
cumseh wes dead and the Indians would bring
them no more scalps. They knew that Chaun-
ccy had gained considerable advantages on
Lake Ontario--ond the last that they could
have heard from our armies must have been,
that they were within short distance of Mon
treal. They now began to think what their
mighty navy had done to couaterbalaucc all
these things. Their terrible armada in
the Chesapeake had effected nothing, and their
celebrated Congrcvc rockets had neither burnt
Baltimore nor Norlolk--in their attempt upon
the former point they had completely failed
in their attack upon the latter they had been
repulscd with much loss. Their infamous
Coekburn had indeed achieved some splendid
victories sver s0mer and children, but these
did not compensate sor loss of time or repu-
tation On tho other hand our public and pr-
vatc ships OF war had carried destruction into