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SPEECH ;, 'u. DELIVERED BY Mr. GILES, in iBt ". Senate of the United Sutc . Cm tit lite ttbru&j 1 8W. w f & ct t That iti verat lw lyifr fcn en-p-ro oa all h'p and vrar m the oom baitrt ol Uic.Uoited State, be . . i ...i.i. jui'Al.k fitr. rv b liw fct rohibrtiar ad comnttf . tul imerccurw whUUitae nations and theif icpivino. and 4U imponlt.on of an ancie iota ib United Sti.e. tk? jrovrtll. product, or n miitattoic ol eitner oi pr ma nixiont, cr of tb domiaion of either ti taenu , fLantimtd , , Permit me, sar, to enquire joo fhc prciexts upon which the British rninhtry uiulertke to juvuiy xnese xtraordiaary orders in cQunciN and 1 .will venture to assert that they be found both false and Insln. tc. The pretext, set up for the i.ttiifiation of these order, jssug- ccud to bIounUcd o the right of . nru Itiaiuuan upon ihttr ciJemy.- a no rihi to rcialiite through States is said to be fbunrtcd or.the ttilpiblg neglect of thfir govern pent -to resist the French airfares.; ro. Ufon their neutral rights, by ;vh i- i pfcicid rt th-t Grt.at.Bn fam hss sustained n injury, and thusrLimsa light to cou.itcract the iojtirv tnroughthe United S atev. Opofi the sarrc prrtexi Ftancc Ui v anc xercin. rrh.it sbc C;ii. the same right - in consequence ol the culpable nt gleet of ihe Uni'.eii 5;j;es in not resisting thcagfreiion of Gieat Bituin. The suggestion efech is false, in fact. The Uuit tc Slates hvc not been guil y of any cclpble abandonments of. its rights in relation 10 either of the aggres ilag bJligetcnts. ' Tfie government Bis constantly interposed all rea.son ablc resistance to the aggressions of l-!th ; of which reasonable resistance it rai the proper judge, at least . it was enuiled to its .lull share in the ccciio i, and any forcible resistance ti lait decision when made was f an act of war. I do not, therefore, pro-I-e to emer into the question, whe mcr Great-Britain ,or France hrst cum.-nvr'iced their aggressions, since Wli were properly and reasonably rrn! d. But if I were to express an or-n ion uxxi this question, 1 should hxrts no hesitation in siying that f.rcat-Llk-i tain first began, ind so fir France hjs more pretexts fur her cukIucl Tfccrc were many acts ol the mst serious ggrcsaionj com tnif.ed by Great' Britain under pre tended b.tickaclcs bf reilhc Berlin t!ecrte ; ind the impressment of A tnericn searhen was cotemporafte cus wi h the commmcenicnt of the r. This w. s not. and is not, the less an act of aggfeviin , because it Is stale, has been long practiced, and b-tcauscwe are habituated to it, bur it wjs not acquiesced in. It was met by reasonable remonstrance and re sistance, and, therefore, is no justi fication of the French decrees ; but at the same time, it uk8 away even the shadow of a pretext from Great Bnuin upo the ques iuo of wIkj be gin to do ;ong first ; there Is a rtci n-ocai condemnation, of tath o ther, and so far a joint exculpation of us, at least, frdm the commence into: of the wnng to ei'her. But, Sir, let me now examine ihe preUxt othe Brvbh miristryt according to Mr Canning's own exposition of it. The acts of France comnUind J -.w 4u ,ra uy Mr. Canning notf.to - I -. . - . : II ' - be merely Bnuin, that they are utter!) barrrl- .na contemptible, that they have cvaurd to be mischievously aperitive, he. hi ; ycl he tells yon that he rcV ke the orders in enimcm for fCir h raotivcI n tJ6 ?? J be mistaken ; not that it s not In ilseir jusl aQj pro;-r b . ,ckcrlhern according to the prin ce of retaliioo UPoi which thVy tre ongirull; adopted ; bu merely ,kaf h,i moutr in do?ng art act junice and propriety may be weaken or misconceived by other. JiJ'. s:r, Ictus hear him in his.owo o:ds. 44 The struggle has been; viewed yothtr powers, noi without an ap J;nension that it might b? fatal t souatry. lfh BriUik Cortrn- U ttU Ciai Bn'xm am 1-r.uvce, and i J7i dctxKktce I and that movwort be went hat iitftgnhed. from .itself. that the trial of: uWi an ciperimcn m,t hthe arA'iiia and lone, although it ba nerer dolibttd ibe final isuie. , But if that issue, siich as the Bn-j tith PMTirnmrnt tohfidenily antici pted. haV proTittcntiilly am i wu looner than could even havr oeen hoped ; if thfe blockade ? of ihe continent' as it havbren. triumph iiulUy atylcd ty the, enerny is raised, cvenbtfore it has beert.well estab lished, and if h4t system, pf which cxletit arid continuity have bceD the vital principles, is broken up into fraxmenu.ututiy harmless and con ttrnptibTcit is ncvertk Jess import ant in the hichest degree to the re- pulatiofl f this c untry, (a rcputp- lion htl) cons nutca a Brcai f14 or her power) that hi$ disappoint, merit of ihe hopes of her enemies should not have been purchased oy iW eonceion : that not a dub viiftttU - rrmxin (o distant 4 times of i a W UJ Vf m -m - - - - her determination and of her ability to fuVecontlnucd herresismnce, and that, ho step which could even, mis- lakcnnrbt; construed Into concession, should bs tak- n wi her pat, whilv. the smallest link of tlic confederacy remains undissolved ') or whik it can be a qu stion, whether the plan de rm d for. her destruction has, or has' not, cither completely failtd.or been ; unequivocally abandoned. iLann;ng , to rinkmry, cpt a, I tu j Tne purpose ol this letter is npt to roew the discussion upon the subject of your prop -sal, but mere ly, to clear up any misunderstanding which had existed tetireen us in he course of i hat discussion. I c"a,- i not conclude it however, without ad verting very shortly to tfiat part of f ur lc'.tcr, in wh'uh ou argue 'hai the fiilun- T France in the attempt to realize her gigantic project .of the annihilation of this country, rjcmoVes all pretext for the. continuance of the retaliatory system of Great-Britain. This imp tency of the "enemy to car ry his projects of violence and injus tice into txccuii;n, might, with more propriety, .be pleaded with! him. as a motisc for wi'hdraHing: decrees at once sa indefensib e, and si li'tlc efficacious for their pu;pose. thin represented as creating an 'jbli gation upon Great Bntin t' de-ist trom those measures of defensive retaliation, which those decrees hive necessarily Occaiioned. If the fotn Ia ioii of he rtulUiing system of G. Britain was (as wc eontend it luve been) originally just, that sys tem will be justifiably continued in force, pot so long only as the de execs svhich produced i are mis chievously operative, but till they are unequivocally abandoned ; and. if it bii thus consistent wi h justice to persevere in that ayi tm, it is surely no mean motive of policy for surd perseverance, that a premature de parture frctn iv, whde the enemy's original provocation remains unre- (vealed, might lead to false conclu- sions, as to tne etucacy oi tee de crees of France, and might hold out a diugcrous tempta;ion to that pow cr to resort to the same sysiem, on any tuture occasion. I cannxtj to Zinkney, Nov 22, i8j8.1 , wiiat,, sir. cocs ..air. canning here tell us ( Way, 'sir, on the 23d or September last, that the French blockading decrees were theu broken up lutofragmriits iiierly Harmless and con'tem;tibIei a?rd on the 2d of November foll-iHng that they had ceased ;cj be mischievously operative U.c. Sec. Retaliation may ' be defin ed, an injury rctvrwtd for a xvrqnr ! received. Wclli sir; if :lhe United States, hid done no other wrong to Great-Britain but neglecting IP re- ! pel the wrong of Trnmcrv wd tlie ! wmu gi f ranee ceaseii to proauce j any injuri nis conicqueuccs, why pot j revohc the orders jinlltctinit the inost uc iuiuve injunea upyn tne uuiteu States r-Vhy, M -." Canning,' In sdb sun'ce, teJTs us,' iiot'lh'at it wotild b- wrpng 'to'do s vbut h- Is afraid the 4arlcl would 'ill is! akf h":s motive for doing rigjit. Add, sir. is .tlie corji incrcc of the United States to destroy ejd bepevp!e to bcqoloDUsj eti and taxed, and, the nation tovbT jnsulted and thrifraded. merelv-be- causo- Mr; j:cVnnirig feap,' if he houkl cease ti in flict these wrongs' is nVitite for, ceasuig to do sj may t misconceived or, mistaken i 11 And are the people ofUhe-Uuitta States to.bi tol4Vthatalt these jnju ries and SnulU 4re ,tor conlinufid mcfelr to exoiate Mr. tannine sidle and pretended tears, that bis motive for. his conduct iha) bp mistaken WhatJ sit, can , be more derogatory to the chafacleptXWhaf moreMn junous to jthe ' lritercsts ? Wjjat mp're'irisultra to tht undersrandings of M he 'A meticiil eopfe? I Yet, air, we Are told J here are r,o ciiists of war ! ! We mdsfwait for more -degradation ! ! Sfr, ivrr. Canning. tjelis us he thinks thif is no mean motive or policy for continuing' these orders after the original causes csed. 8ir, I will not pretend tb thiiik against Mr. Canning upon this subject ; but, sif, I think, and I know, that it will be a mean, an infinitely mean mo tive of policy on pur part to submit to' bis. injuries, his insults and his : degradations, as well as hi absurd sophisticated exposition of his mo- lives for them. But, sir permit' me atrjin to ask if the United States i . i f . l nau noi a ncnt to itiaee oi me ex tent and modet)f resisting thcFrench decrees f They certainly hnd, and: did so ; and after liuving mjde their; decision in those respects, a contra-! ry hostile decision by Great-Britain ; was an act of war agmst the United States, and accoVdifig to, her own ! prihcmle of retaliation, the proper aci oi reurauun on intir. pan was ; an act of war, not indeed through J the ri!s of a third innocent, unof' fending party," but directly back up-j on herself and ouht instantly to; have been resorted to upon her re-j fusal to revoke her hostile order. ' But. Sir, permit me to iiut this dociriue in a still stronger point of!crgetic nimistry in relation to thtVlj view, Fhe right of retaliation, I ; presume, Is equal and rectpitcal a--monst all nations, and whtn the f British ministry ventured to retail, j I ate upon th'cir enemy through U3tjl they a'Vpted't fiatfa! icy ihr , own responsibility they subjected j themselves to dl its consequences ; we certainly nao a rignt to aaopt a counteracting policv ; war would ", 'T have heeq the nattual, legitimate c correct act of retaliation , But, Sir, suppose lwere;n'H7 in a spirit of mitigated rotaliati'xi, to propose to pass a law impoiing a duty .equal to j one halt ot liie value ol all llie ori-j ginal productions or Great. Britain, j and direct that all her vessels sail- ing v?ith such productions either to Spanish America, or any of the A nericah Indies 6'rlses, or.o any o thtr place, under the , protection, of j ihe laws of nations, should first call; m mm . at some port of the United Stattb, either BiStj'n, N. York, 'Baltimore or Charleston, and there pay thctri1 bate ; and if they failed or refused so to do, ;o auilr rise our armed i Ships to capture and Diing them in j tor condemnation ; would not tho proposition be thought extr ivagant and monstrous ? the proposition of a madman i Yet, Sir, it would be more reasonable than the orders in coun cil, which are the same in substance, but were adopted without provocation br pretext. Yes, Sir, the pretext Is false, it is insincere! The real ground of the orders in council will be found in the settled determination of the British cabinet, to mo'nopblixe the commerce of the world, or to render it sdbservient to their own views and interests, and particularly to involve in this general destruction, the' com merce df the United States. Sir, I draw; this 'conclusion not only frdm Mr. Canning's j otrn prevaricating letter, and sbfisticated exposi ions but from Various intimations to. that .effect by (he British Juristsj and particularly jfrorp. a late pamph let, written It is said, under the dK rection of the ministry, and for the txpress purpose ot preparing tne dritish nation and the yvorld lor the noristroui pretensiofi. -indeed the production "is- asenbed to the elder Mr; Rose, one-of the raest inlluen- tial ackisers of the cabldet, and it is extremely probable we shall;see the tlo'arpiedpenly avowctlin the-Bri-uiji jiarljiwepti now expected td be. in '.session; " 'I he panpphjet is. enti tled .Hints to both partus," from vhich I beg leave to read a feyv ex- tracts ' i. l.Tiie orders in council have been atimat'zed, as being at ortce absijrd and corttempible, : in reUnqulshing be principle of right pn which their ;usUficntiod is " fouiii&d j for - Paltry I ebnsiderationt; of pounds, shilling f and j)en'ce, . But haw can jhatJme'a fsore be deemed absurd, wliich at l4nr unit intii- r and nrmrv c A nil contemptible, 'hotv'can she possibly assSifne a moVt'fid 'haracierr than hi thus shewing tlicfvofid (ha) Bona parte) wi th 'all ; his depe iricle nt Jungs, are but her tributaries t' tha they can.receive no article either ol comfort or necesyty, Without payit) an acknowledgment to her. maritime supremacy, and contributing,to the expence' of ariryiE "piv that vvar, w.hich jhe ambuion, injysice and aggressions of their tyrant hare rtn- derext necessary. . : Het? Sir, we $e a, picture of the trantdstic and gigantic attitude,which the inlliited:pride of (reat-B)tiur has assumed. li )'naarte and "all "hi dependent kirigs are her ' tributane pay mg" tribute to-her treastuy, and homage to her pride. Why, Sir, to t be sure, this drearhin? delusive f i- li ?lx ... L ' n '' ' ? ion, muw oc very uscinaune io on- ! tish prtde, and gratifying 'to Britiah cupidity, and I should have said , no tning aooiu the. ministry s indulging themselves in thee delightful reye lies, if they had not included the J m'ed St itts in: the magnificent train of- their humble tributaries. It is true, Sir, they are not expressly, in- ciuucu m inn 3cir,cin.c,.uuttuic ajc made so in facu.ahd It was inundedf they should be' so included, a I shall presently shew by another quotation from this mioisteri'alptbduction.. Yes, St r, I will "presently v shew you one single , word,, which is. the ker thai unlocks the whole views of this t,n nited Stales. But. let' me first pre sent you another pass,ige,.Sir, whic win serve snew you now xar, tni ministry- ca2 their, objects political colic calculates upon tffeciin by interfering in, ou. conce,rni, and by fomenting ci visions ami 'discontents' at5iong f us f After' speaking with apparen' j cxuiiaiujn oi me assassination oi tnt emperor oi Kussia. in consequenct of his interruptions of the trade of his subjects with j Great-Britain, an : event fimplie()Iy admitted to have ; been produced by British stratagem, the author thus proceeds in .p- 3T i If any further elucidation of the principle to which, this event is as cribed ,were wantibg it NpromiieS iu be fiiund in the United States of A merica, where the! cu.hi valors of tHe oil ar deprived of the fruits of their labors, nd the merch tints df their commercial ; gnjni' by i the presenv embargo. This forced state. df thing canno' be long continuance. Alrea dy have the Vermontrse set the con stituted authorises at dsjiance, '.and persist in carrying ph their trade with the Candi.H'is, across Jake; Cham fpJunu wiule .the ; iprthern states manifest strong symptoms of di-:con- t shall only' remark upoh this sen tence that, it serves to, hew hw greedily thes events were seized uf oh, and how greatly they were over rated, and proceed to the 39th p3ge t 4 From what has beca adduced upon the subject of privations, it, may be ipferred that the attempts of othr powers to injur; iGjeat-Britam ty pursuing thjs sy?tem mustbe4bpr' tivei But it is not so wjtH the.same system jadopted b Greal-Brjti&in,' in retaliation upon them.; What thty can only threaten, ' she can execute. Whilejthejr eah .only partially res trict hsr commerce he.r-nav4l supe riority gives her the' nearii.pAhni-; hinting theirs; The peojile thus reduced xp misery and distress, will coiislddr, their rulers as the authors o f t H ei rsAi ffe ri ngs, anil ill i s seh ilrn cnt . once: excited, wiif' lead to revolt j through revolt to reVolqtidh thro' revolution to a change; of measures, arid'al'tinjattly tp peace t . ; ' ' hiet ; ttien thb f pr-tnci'ple bf the' orders, ur council be strictly enfori ed; .'.When I: the enemy JTeels th6 pressure of. bur; ret3liatbHs,'van4 .rel lnsieaovoi aumiuing mose jcpmmcai ties,? by thealeof vthicfthejprol cdres resources ' for his reVenue give relief , t9 hisfsubiects, ncpuj -esthem to the .coflfinuarice. of , tho war,' arid econct&a; them' to ; his3 au'; thority,.:;',,'-; ;;;',;v; LiHere.ijirrrvfesce tHe'vital princi ple of all. oujr wrongs, of . air pur suf- tj IBrshhavy. Whaother GretBrjtain caaXetev WfiSf ftier cpfnerffei prptetted; shihSv I theinieans fof niSlatiris the com-: ijaVis; admut? )iv machine prongs upon th'poeVfh? ted S;atesVfthe from-the rWedrr oftheutt to their fukf.r&z ifileaOtlrf therc ; and fheVentimenrrncfe xcifed, will ieaa to revoic4 tnraugh rEVoIt torre the: mjd;iYt& volution, 4 thrpqgh - revolution to a : change bf , raeasures;!ka;fe i the- people fare tp;b?r.ajee;maMe j thVunsusptipgin , I own slavery j&nd ; sufferings! ;; And Mr. President; permit me with tne 4 i nost hii mt Hated feefi rjurs an .. Ame& wean qj zipt tos aki vhether jifop course ot IbVeiVts iiv-this coiilifr 'has pot corresponded precisely w)tn these 3mic:patiohi "and rhtiher thre JjicAn.bei dou6' thatMhe thor of ; nese antici patron S vtr not also htkxi instriimebtaf in practising these Ie Susi6ns upon the peoplefor pur pose of Wectihjg. rearisingvtheiriialoulatiort pre dictions t ButMri Pres&ifc may we not indulge fhl! pleasing vhbei ; hat these 4unfor unato ,defiions. f the .people -are nearly at nT or tW tbe.rVlH jbe : io," aVtsoonv -ii th Teai-famM sufferings aie.potnted out;to''thm i I'wiil now turapVer to fthet page arid thet-e you will find the key vVhich uniocKs tne wiioie iniquitous views of this:-energtjamiiiis(rbwar49' tbtf. tTnitedi; States.' Tne-auihbr Is urging the country gentlemen i ft England to '.unite i yyith the ministry in this gisjantic ,pR)jei&;QjrifvejrJrtI,-.i diminipppn tKe7ocean, and thus he , expresses Himself. ... v 'r, ' , , ' '- - "rMafty gentleiien iuneced wjtll the landed interest, opposed ! the supi stt'Ulion of sugar for xorn in.the'disi), tilleries, as a discouragement toythe ! agriculture of' Great -Bntain, Ho j much rpore strongly ought tl!eys tb oppose these licenses to trade'in the " staple commodities of FrariCevarid Holland ; not only on tlie same 3r':n ciplei but on evetjr consideration of Hound policy The -former xrhea sure is tempo ary, ibe latter is per manerit. - The farmer Ogives iteUef and encouragement to jur pwit sub ject ; the lalter gives relief abd cb couragement toj&drv eneuaie. Tht? btmer. promotjes the ;agnctiltiire f our own colonies ; the latter pro npotes the agricuhure ofbur enroia. The former enables u;4b .c6iurbe ab.addftional quantity of suar,whicr is paid for in British corri. br manu fuctufes ; neither cf whith-are taken in exchange fat- the commodities im- pbrte'd under tlie latter. The sugard imported under the. former rare brought chonajt in 'British hTps;4arid add to that -carrntrlade, tji l)Uiwy,:.&r increase pavatstrerigth.of other liowers .' :'JLete:'cbTntrV geiitlemc ri ) then, unite their Wottsi d support the cattle of Britisfigrrcblufe tish commerce 2pd the Bririshc na vy , Tagaidst the; agi.cultqihbm rncrce,' "and the riavyibf curnemiei :,slHee;the United States arejex- pressly included iny h)s eer of ge? I nera I destruction ; rpeitad against j epmmcrce;EneT j The wprdrivaSirf tlSn keywlih 1 f aijpst jtheV Unie4 tat.?pb yoii u;uutiis uici uesurns .ot. Lne.roinisinr "i'poseirne auinortnu not Know the -meanijnit'oF ;thewj3rd ,nyals, pfy JtKatlt vSJsltrH"p;inbrU :Nif, litasntendeVi leinho dirith nation ctltthty nfc 9iUjipi: .iCvUC!lt uuvrunv1 ,iwum', mc;'b.KeSf'e ijeniesiAnqSijr, jhatajtre valsrpfrtrJ&rain irilcbDimefce t f&epUte.t Stts alnel; 1 flMCJptiVr i heterm United teTself v 1 fblbk?irTroirt ence-qf ;dL tiWpec cefit'4ixi9moti$t I douttihatlo , from the sijdwd djee Bati;iiiisin;ii fcfte3eiiu tn.e tamcesimportetatKler Jtbeiat tev, ai brought in foreign VeeiiV Sc i r V ' " i I j i i i v .- t . -v A. ;-,-h. .4 - V v , 4 -.
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 30, 1809, edition 1
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