Rhode Island Republican

COMMUNICATION.

Mr. Bisbee,

You are requested, by a number of your readers, to republish the speech of Mr. Wright, on his own bill for the protection and indemnification of American Seamen. This able speech has not, to my knowledge, been printed in any of our New-England papers : which to me, is not a little surprising. when these papers are equally indignant at this species of British barbarity. This bill when first issued before the public, was, through affectation at least, shocking to federal humanity, which recoiled at it as a sanguinary and cut-throat motion: Though it went to authorize nothing but equitable reprisal. But I have ever found it as good a way as any, in our decisions on the political merit and consequence of measures, which have embraced for their object aristocratic encroachments in general, and English offences in particular, to assume precisely the reverse of federal opinion. This method however would not only commend Mr. Wright's bill to our attention, but we are solicited to applaud it for its intrinsic merit. No bill I believe has ever been brought before Congress, that has been better supported by its mover than this. Mr. Wright is certainly entitled to the thanks of his countrymen, for coming forward in this novel and undaunted measure to retaliate and repress such a diabolical outrage. A neutral and pacific nation is ravished of its citizens to fight for a people whose piracies on the acknowledged rights of others, could not be atoned by a full oblation of its own blood. Good God! shall our fellow citizens with impunity be daily torn from their families, who are left to languish in indigence and grief-who often have no other reliance for support but the earnings of the pirated husband. Tho' I am insensibly drawn into the midst of the subject, I must forbear. The subject is too whelming for human feelings. The heart of sentiment-of humanity-of natural tenderness who, at the Shrine of equity. invokes the felicity of mortals, must revolve the subject for itself.

I must hastily observe that in this Speech British impressment though wickedly frightful in itself, has become more so, by being deprived of every pretext of law and usage which form its long and unlimited prevalence, it might seem to claim for palliation and support.

SEVENTY-SIX.

Bristol, March 8, 1806.