The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-02-10


yolutionsry heroes have, one after another,
passed off the stage Of action. In free coun.
try, you must begin hostilities without pre-
paration. If you prepare, the people will
know for what and ii SO, you tell your ene-
my, and his preparation will be co~se spondcnt
| Ii so, you may as we'll be at war at once. We
had TO encounter the prejudices Of people
Injured TO peace; and 10 resist q desperate
| faction who were advocating the enemy and
throwing every obstacle in the way Of the gov
| ernment. We had TO raise troops and obtain
| money. These obstacles are overcome,--
And have we met with nothing but disgrace
and defeat Were the defence Of Fort Meies,
Fort Stephenson, Sackett's Harbor end Cra-
ney Island, disgraccful Are our unparallel-
ed triumphs on the ocean, disgraceful Was
the success ON Lake Ontario, and the CON-
plcte and signal victory on Erie, when, with
an inferior force we captured In fair battle,
whole fleet, dsgraceful Give me such dis
graces as these, and you are welcome to all
the laurcls which thicken round the brow of
the mighty Cockburn
The Speech and reported Answer speak OF
debts and taxes. We were once told that a
national debt was national blessing. | never
believed it. In war we must have debts, and
In peace we must pay thcm--Taxes sufficient
to pay the interest, is all people at war
ought to endure and this is all we shall be o.
bliged to endure. But his Excellency inti-
mates that the debt Will continue as long as
the union Of the States. Was this intended
as hint 10 the people, tha, to avoid the debt,
they must divide the States don't appre-
hend that the people Of this Commonwealth,
are yet ready to pay their debts this way.
Our government, it is said, discover
no disposition to peace, ane that they
have taken no measures 10 put an end to the
war. These are grounGlsss assertions. We
offered TO remove the former Embargo as 10
England, if she would remove her cdiots. We
accepted Of Erskine's propostsons. We de-
clared War on account OF Impressment and
the Orders in Council. The Orders were
suspended, add wa immediately proposed a
cessation OF hostilities, on the single condi-
tion of suspending the practice Of Impress
ment during the armistce add offered the
exclusion Of British seamen from our employ,
If Britain would abandon lmpressulent. A
similar offer was made by Mr.. Monroe to Ad
Warren. We passed q law, excluding Brit
ish seamen from our employ We adopted
the proffered mediation of the Emperor Of.
Russia, and sent ministers TO Petersburg, for
the purpose OF treating and this, too, while
Russia was at war with France, and fighting
for England In this situation, at time
when the efforts Of France were most power
ful, and twas expected that Austria would J
join her, Mr.. Madison being under French 4
influence, tool of Bonaparte, agreed to sub
NIT the dispute to the investigation of the ally
Of England, and the most powerful enemy Of
France And when Britain refused this rea-
sonablc proposition, and proposed to treat Sc
parately, we agreed, and ministers have been |
appointed. But his Excellcnry has discover
cd evidence of French influence, in the pro-
position OF Bonaparte, that America should |
treat for General Peace with the allies of /
France. Has his Exceilcncy forgotten when |
Lord Castlereagh claimed his party by the
name Of " Our Friends in Congress 2" What /
can influence this government and people In 1
favor Of France 1t Is passion, prejudice, or
interest, that creates partially of one nation
for another We have no French language,
laws, constitutions, manyers, nor customs.
We have no French merchants, agents or
spies, among US. Can Gov. Strong and his
friends boast of minds rs free from British at
achments Have they no prejudlces, either
civil or religious, that draw them towards the
worlds last hope Sir, it is in vain to dis.
,uise it, the opposcrs of the government are
luucT NCTy iatai o'iusn ihuuenCc' Go not Il
mean by this, that they are sold to Britain, or
hat they would dare openly to aid her.
mean to say, that they have attachments and
'artialities for Britain,that are extremely dan
.crous to the liberties Of their country Eng
and is our mother country, the nation from
yhom we descended. The tom5s of our an
estors are there. Every man has strong
attachment TO the laDI where are deposited
-. C,,k> A.. II
anguagc. I, has been said by some one,that
was the policy Of France to make her Ian
.uage the court language OF Earopn, that she
night, the better, maintain her Influence at
hose courts.
What then must be the power OF Britain
ver us, who not only gives language to the
ourt, but 20 the people |! The advantage is
infinite. We are inundated with her books.
Il, ,pI I,,so lss-r -. i