The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-11-05

much time and talents.
The proposition will doubtless be renew
ed, 10 reduce, II not aboii,h, the existing To-
tcrnal Taxes. Tho fate Of such o psopos-
iiion, unless recommended by the Financial
Department Of the government, Is very
doubtful One Of The taxes, the stamp duty.
wo should ourselves be willing TO sec repeal
cd, because Il 10 said 10 bc more vexaiious,
in proportion to It's product, than any other.
Whstever may be the fase Of the Internal
Taxes, we are pretty certain that the accom-.
panyrng motion Of the last Session, Tor re-
ducing the Army, will receive decided
ncgnive, nothing having occurred to secure
II more favourable reception than il then
met with.
The question Of the highest importance
which will be agitated during tho session will
be the policy for the Uoi,sd States to pu'sue
in relation TO the South Aincrcsn provinces.
If the subject does not enter into the Prssi
denis Message, we are warranted, from our
nformasion, in saying, it will be brought for
ward by some Member of The House OF Rep.
resentatives. II we are not mistaken, there
is at Ieast one conspicuous Member OF thor
body that considers himself pledged 10 move
it.--Oftbis question there are Two distinct
branches /: FIRST the cxpcdieney Of employing
VIC 81 va VI Suo OuttNu otdtGo III oOpgoib VI
the embryo independent governments of
southern America, emerging to existence,
and struggling for lie and secondly, the cx-
pcdiency Of recognizing The independence Of
soch OF The provinces as have most clearly
shewn their claim to il by The establishment
ofindcpendent OF governments.
Of,he first branch it is perhaps needless
to say any thing because there are none
who favor that course, for there arc mauy--
but because we are convinced there will be q
decided majority OF Congress, as there is Of
|, ,hc People, opposed TO embarking the nation
in any war, not unavoidable m uch less in
war OF alliance in behalf Of foreign power,
in q cause not involving tho, rights OF honor
Of this nation.
Tho second head is that under which, we
presume, the question will como before Con-
gress. The right can no more be disputed
than the policy of recognizing the indcpeu-
dence of any or oil Of the S. american Prov
incc>, wheh the fact oftheir having declared
Independence by the general voice OF the
people, and in q manner authorized by the
laws Of nations, is satisfactorily ascettained.
We do not view this policy, us some d., es
enforced by any partic n!ar obligation TO there
Provinces; Of tho most successful OF which
Quo UoS tuVitcu az LutVpCau t'tbSS w WV
over ihem, and another has offered To our
com rncrciaI rival monopoly CT its trade for
twenty years as an equivalent Tor her ecog.
nitiouof its independence. Had soeb pre-
position as th6 6iauer been made o,he Unit
/ ed States, aud rejected, there would have
/ been some founds lioo ior the reprgaehes cast
| upon this s,Jvcrpmeutlor NOT havinsss cnec
| admitted tho Ministers tho Provinces have
| deputed 10 represent them in this country.
| II is not, therefore, any obligations TO the
| Colonies which require the Uhiied States 10
| recognize the governments OF Buenos Ayres,
l Chilli, Venezuela, &c. but Il is our duty to
| ourselves, our respect tor he principles of
| freedom, and the right OF self government on
| which our own institutions are based, that de.
mand OF us to bc among tho first 10 rcccg-
| nzc the independence OF such provinces as
| have established governments favorable 10
civil liberty, and promising 10 DO permanent.
| To those who are struggling for this object,
| the People of tho Unitcd Safes afdently
| wish success but u is only when they have
shewn thcir capacity to accomplish it, that
the 0overnmeot can ioter!crs. When that
happens, the conside ration Of foreign JEALOUSY
| or even hostility, will not deter the United
| S,ates from doing what is right nor Is any
argument necessary TO shew that Il ought
II
l not.
| The question then resolves itself into
I question Of fact, Of which men entertaining
the ssms views may, according 10 their in.
| formation and imprc sSions, form different
| opinions, rs they do, Such will probably ba
the case with Congress, as we are not likely
10 have any official Information on the sub.
jsct at their next session, and il is certain en-
tire credit is not due to the conflicting state.
men,s we daily receive from the mouth OF
tumor, nor even to the confused accounts OF
the parties themselves.
How Congress may decide, we shall not
predict; but we should not be surpritcd ii
they were to refer the question back TO tho
i Executive, being the uesty-making branch
OF our government, with whom, OF course,
rests the polD~,te receive or reject Minis
tsrs from foreign nations (if Congress do DOT
ioterferc) and 10 whom all the sources OF in.
formation are accessible. Meanwhile, Our
2orts are open 10 che hags Of these Provinces,