The Rhode Island Republican

COMMUNICATIONS.
Every body is anxious to know what Jefferson's
proposals to our government can be
and a very natural inquiry it is, since Mr. Canning's
declaration in the House of Commons.
The terms he there offers, our government
most assuredly will never consent to; since
he refuses those only which involve our rights,
and such as we have a right to demand.
What can we expect, then, from his Minister?
For my own part I should not be sur-
prised if he were come to demand "some
sufficient pledge of our neutrality," as the
distinction is no clearer now between neu-
tral and an enemy than it was two years since,
when he made a demand upon the Danish
government to garrison their fortresses with
English troops, as a "pledge of their neutral-
ity," which being denied, he ordered their
Capital to be bombarded, and deprived the
Danish government of their navy. This was
done, too, at a time when a treaty existed in
full effect between the two powers, and when
there was no previous misunderstanding.
What have we to expect from a Minister who
conducts in this manner towards neutrals.
more particularly when his spies and agents
inform him of our government's being under
the influence of her enemy, France. It is to
be hoped, however, that if he should come
upon any such disgraceful errand from Can-
ning, that our Executive will lose no time
to sequester all British property, and hold him
and all the consuls or agents of Britain as
pledges of their good faith; or I am inclined
to think with hundreds of thousands of my
fellow-citizens, that after so many treacherous
and perfidious examples that her present min-
istry have given of her faith, that it is we who
require the pledge of good faith, and not they;
and after having obtained this pledge, I would
never restore it until her ministers are wise
enough to distinguish between a neutral and.
an enemy, and alike honourable to acknow-
ledge and respect our neutrality. It is full
time to let her know by our actions, that we
are no longer to be the dupes of a Canning;
that we are not dependent on the crown for
our existence, however many there be among
us, seduced by their gold, who are; that it is
full time for them properly to respect our na-
tional rights, and to learn our character; that
we are determined to support our general
government, and that whatever attempts they
may make to divide and separate the Eastern
from the Western States, will prove abortive,
and end in contempt of those who make the
trial. We have been tampered with too long
already, and they very much mistake the
character of the freemen of America, if Mr.
Canning or his Consuls expects either to bribe
or frighten them into a quiet submission to
their tyrannick measures.
It is singular to be sure, to hear of a set of
beings calling themselves Federalists--lovers
of order and good government continually
vaunting the good faith of the English of her
great naval power-of her immense resourc-
es--when she depends on the plunder of all
the nations of the earth to maintain it. Her
infamy is, however, becoming more prover-
bial than even her greatness; and faithful his-
torians will not forget the barbarities they
practised on the East-Indians, the Irish, and
the Americans; the base attack upon the
Spanish frigates and their capture; the un-
paralleled affair of Copenhagen, and the rob-
bing them of their ships of war. These are
but the more prominent characteristicks of
British faith and British infamy. Not all the
world could uphold a nation's character damn-
ed with such deeds. Their chastisement is
at hand and it will be a severe one from the
arm of an invisible power.
When English Consuls and Vice-Consuls
become Editors of American news-papers, it is
time to inquire into their official duties, and
whether that comes within the pale of their se-
cret instructions, and how far it is allowable.
This is one source of British influence, and
another is the employment of British gold
and their agents. I would as soon imbibe
British principles from the presses of these.
impertinent officious medlers, as inger their
gold :--The one is as destructive to the spirit
of freedom as the other.