The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-06-22


MR. pRESTDEW7L
AN of those who cannot give my vote for
the acceptance OF the reported answer to His EN-
ccllency's Speech, now on your honor's table, un-
less it be amended.
shall not trouble the Senate with detail Of my
objections to this answer, having merely heard il
read, but they briefly such must be obvious
to every candid mind who had heard the Speech and
the answer under consideration.
His Excellency begins with the proceedings of the
last General Court in relation to the memorials pee
sented to it on the subject of the Embargo 30 far
this was done in compliance with the request OF
the Legislature, have nothing to object; but when
reflect that out of nearly six hundred towns which
this Commonwealth contains, thirty-fve only memo
riaiized after SO much artif Excitement but four.
teen Of those towns directly engaged in commerce,
and each of those hut very inconsiderably, except
the towns of Newbuyport and New-Bedford, can
not, in my humble opinion, justify the deductions
made, or the importance attached to the subject
contemplated in the Speech and Answer, more es-
pecialy, when the laws complained OF are repealed.
I'VE have then His Exccllency's opinion revesbera-
ted, that however the restrictive measures were
designed to operate against the people OF GrcatBri
tan they have been found TO be far more injurious
to US than to them" This opinion cannot subscribe
to, because do not believe it TO be correc.--For
what effect did these restrictions have upon the
chants and manufacturers OF Grcat-Britainl Did it
not set them in such Atate of irritation ebuliton
and disorder, to threaten the peace Of the King
dom i--And was il not the principal cause which in
duced that naughty and imperious nation to repeal
her Orders in Council For myself i have never
doubted but this was the case.
True it is, that the great changes on the Euro
pean continent ranspired in rapid succession, Eng
iish manufactures admitted there, and commerce in
some degree restored ;--our government finding the
reasons for which those restrictions were laid, no
longer existing in any considerable degree, magnan
imously determined instantly to repeal them.
The Answer then goes on to say, "the spirit OF
party turbulence has been checked abuses REFORM
ed, the rights Of the people ascetaned and preserv-
ed, the sovereignty OF the State asserted and main
tanned, and tranquility restored to councils -
These the fruits Of your ExcelIency's admins
tration" am not disposed, Mr.. President, 10 de-
ny that these consequences have been realized in
seme considerable degree for we find that the hos
tlty manifested to the National Government by the
Legislature Of this State last year, has produced
other effect than to encourage the enemy in the
cusion, that we we're about to secede from the ma
tional compact and join them, as may be seen bv
their newspapers published in Great-Britain and
colonies the development of this state Of things
has united the people of the several States and of
this State in particular in favor of supporting the
National Government, thereby putting the question
of dismemberment Of the Union forever At rest.
The increase of Republican votes in this Common
wealth, in New-Hampshire, IN Vermont, the seat Of
war, under every pressure and encouragement
Win the WOnuer1ut WHICH, udS tAheH pidCc III
that enlightened, powerful, populous and CONNER
cial State, New-York, in favor Of the Republican
cause clearly evinces the consequences OF justify.
ing our enemy in all his atrocities, and aiming, by
every thing which can be done and said, to put our
owugovernment in the wrong-in this view Of the
subject we can rejoice that good Brought out OF
evil,
The present war, Mr. President, 10 in the Speech
and Answer called unjust,-founded in falschood,
&c. There might honestly have been different o.
pinions entertained to the expedlency, and to the
time Of adopting that measure. For my own part,
never doubted the justice OF the war tor moment;
for would ask, what principle OF honor, honesty
and right, have the two great belgerent nations OF
Europe not violated. especially that nation with whom
We are now at war And would with more conf
dencc ask the gentlemen of this honorable board,
what principle Of honor honesty or national right
has our national government ever violated or Inrng
ed For myself can join most cordially IN the SEN
unents expressed by that great and magnanimous
sovereign, the Emperor of all the Rssslas, IN bear
ing testimony to the wisdom and justice OF the gov
ernment Of the United States, believing that II did
every thing in its power to prevent rupture with
GressBritain. The Answer then adds, that an M
veterate hostility to commerce, and spirit OF local
aggfandizemcnt IN the South and in the West, con-
troed our national councIls under the operation OF
these causes, the influence Of the Eastern and Nor
thcrn St.tcs has been annibaicd The only re-
mark which shall beg leave 10 make to this obnox-
Gus paragraph is, that wish every member Of this
honorable board would candidly compare Il with the
great Washngton's yalcdictory Address, and then
draw his own infcrenccs TO its cbzrscter-for,
"by their fruits ye shall know them" They Who