The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-11-09

oouS' ~, snouid &c paiu Tor their services oy
the British government, for the time Of their
detention, the wages which they might have
obtained In the merchant service of.their osn
country.
Blockade is the subject nex, in point OF i'm
portance, which you will have to arrange. In
the instructions bearing date on the ls,h of
April, 1913, il was remarked, that as the Bril-
ish government had revoked its orders in
council, and agreed that no blockade could
be legal which was not supported by an ade-
quate force, and that such adequate force
should be applied to any BLOCKADE which il
might thereafter institute, this cause Of con-
.sxsbversey seemed 10 be removed. Further
reflection, however, has added grea. force TO
the expediency and importance Of precise
definition of the public law on this subject.
There Is much cause to presume, thar If the
repeal Of the orders in council had taken place
IN time to have been known here before the
declaration OF war, and had bad the effect of
preventing the declaration, not only that no
provision would have been obtained against
impressment, but that under The name Of
blockade, the same extent of coast would have
been covered by proclamation as had been
covered by the orders in council. The war,
which these abuses and impressment cohtri-
ba,ed SO much 10 produce, might possibly pre-
vent that consequence. But il would be more
satisfactory, if not more safe, TO guard against
II by tormai definition in the treaty It's
rue, should the British government, violate
gan ,helegitimaie principles OF blockade, in
wha'sver terms, or under whatever pretex Il
misbi be done, the United States would have
IN their hands correspondent resor,--but
prineipal object in making peace is 10 prevent,
by The justice and reciprocity of the condi-
iioos,a recurrence again to war, for the same
cause. IT The British goyernuen, sincefely
wishes TO make a durable peace with the
United Sta'es, II can have no reasonable OBJ
Jectlon 10 ajust dihnition Of blockade, espe-
claIly as the Two governments have agreed in
their correspondence, in all its essential fes-
lures. The Instructions of che 18th Of April
1878, have stated in wha. manner the presi.
dent is willing 10 arrange this difference.
On the other neutral rights, enumerated in
the fosmer instructions, / shall remark only.
that The sutalogue is limited in manner 10
evince a spirit Of accommodation tina, the
arrange mcr, proposed in entA in.:ancs IS iust
in itself; that Il corrsspohds with the general
spirit Of treaties between commercial powers,
and thar Great Britain has sanctioned il in
On the claim to indemnify for spoila,ions
have only to refer you to what was said in
the former instructions. have to add, that
should a tteaty be formed, it is just in itself,
aod would have happy effect on the future
relations of the two countries, II indemnify
should be stipulated on each side, for the de-.
s,ruction Of all unfortifed towns, and other
private property, contrary 10 the laws aud US
ages of war. II is equally proper that the
negroes taken from the southern states,
should be returned 10 their owners or he paid
for at their fullyalue. II is known tha,
shameful traffic has been carried on in the
West Indies, by the sale OF these persons
there, by those who profcssed to be their de.
liverers. Of this fact the proof which has
reached this department shall be furnished
you.---If these slaves are considered as non.
comba,an,s, they ought 10 be restored: il, as
properly, they ought to be paid for. The
treaty OF peace con!ains an article, which re-
cognises this principle. $50
In the view which have taken of the con-
ditions on which you are TO insist, in the pro-
posed negotiation, you will 6nd, on o compar-
son OF them with those stated in the former
Instructions, that there Is no material differ
cnce between them, the two last ,nieniioued d,
claims to indemnify excepted, which have o.
riginaied since the date of those instructious
The principal object of this review has been
to show, that the sentiments of the president,
are the same in every Instance, and that the
reasons for maintaining them have become
more evident and strong siocs the date Of
those instructions. .s ...-.,, tet,.; /.
In accepting the overture of the British
government to treat independently Of the
Russian mediation, the United States have
acted on principles which have governed them
in every transaction relating to peace since
the war. Had the British government accepts
ed the Russian mediation, the United States
|. would have treated for themselves, indepen,
dentIy Of any o,hef power, and had q. Britain
net them on Just conditions, peace would
have been the immediate resolt. Had she
refused to accedc to such conditions, and at
a