births or funerals, on the light of heaven, or on the air they breathe, rather than submit to an invading enemy. And I think it was ereditable to the nation, that congress relied so far on its patriotism as to risk their popularity on a system so obnoxious, which nothing but dire necessity could justify. But when peace was restored-when the merest sciolist in political economy must have been perfectly satisfied, that the impost would be amply adequate to meet all possible demands of government-it was a most unpardonable sin of the democratic majority not to repeal this most odious of all the odious forms of taxation. To continue the domiciliary visists of excisemen―and all the revolting detail of this system, when there was so obvisously no necessity for it, and when it could be done away without any possible disadvantage, was a gross dereliction of duty on the part of the thirteenth congress—a disregard of the feelings and just claims of a large portion of their fellow-citizens, that cannot fail to ensure them the most unqualified censure of their constituents. And there is no doubt that they had political sins enough to answer for, without this addition to the catalogue. IX. French Decrees-English Orders in Council. I have already several times incidentally touched on these measures in the course of this work. But I cannot resist the templation once more to raise my feeble voice against them in a few concluding observations. The history of the whole world may be ransacked in vain to find any parallel to these barefaced violations of the law of nations. They alone would be sufficient to stamp the era through which we have passed with disgrace and dishonor. Two great nations-or rather the governments of two great nations-strain every nerve for mutual destruction. For the attainment of this object, there is a most wanton and prodigal sacrifice made of human life and human happiness. Yet in the midst of this frightful devastation, they most perfecly accord on one point, which is, to depredate on the property of unoffending and unprotected neutrals-or, in terms of the Boston merchants-" TO PREY"-yes, it is "to prey upon the unprotceted property of a friendly power." This, as I have already stated five or six times, is the language of the merchants of Boston, signed by their committee, James Lloyd, George Cabot, David Green, Arnold Welles, John Coffin Jones, and T. H. Perkins. If it be offensive, let these gentlemen answer for the offence. What is the meaning of "to prey?" Dr. Johnson, who is indisputable lexicographical authority-tells the world-that-. "to prey," is neither more nor less, than "to plunder—to rob.” Thus it appears that the whole body of merchants of the town of Boston, in 1806, publicly accused the British government of "plundering and robbing" "the unprotected property of a friendly power." And no man will pretend to deny that the "decrees" were of an equally "preying" character. And what was the palliation of this preying system? France constantly and earnestly protested, that England had begun the trade of " preying," and that she had only followed her example. England with equal vehemence asseverated that the “preying” had begun on the other side of the channel. And on this miserable, contemptible pretence, they "preyed" upon American property between them, to the amount probably of thirty millions of dollars. In a word,it appears that both parties regarded us as unable to protect ourselves, and therefore that our commerce was lawful "prey," to avail myself once more of the phraseology of Mr. Lloyd and his friends. It might be thought impossible to add a shade to this odious system. But this is an error. The last stroke of the pencil is wanted. While each of those nations "preyed" upon the lawful commerce of the United States with her enemy, they carried on, in the midst of a raging and devouring war, a traffic with each other, erected on the basis of fraud and perjury, a considerable portion of the materials of which traffic arose from the American property "preyed" upon by their cruisers !!!!! The New York merchants prefer an accusation against the orders in council, full as strong in substance-but not quite so plain in style as their Boston brethren. They state that" having totally suppressed the external commerce of her enemies, Great Britain is counselled to APPROPRIATE to herself that of her friends." The term "appropriate" is rather more Chesterfieldian than " prey." But it is, after all, the same dish, a little more nicely garnished. The privateersman who “preyed" upon the "unprotected property of a friendly power" merely "appropriated" that property to himself. That in the whole world a single man who did not profit by this system, should be found to justify, or even palliate it, is amazing beyond expression. But that American merchants, whose vital interests and whose country's dearest rights i cut up root and branch, should have taken this ground, as we know they have done, will to our posterity appear as fabulous aud as romantic as the celebrated story of Don Bellianis of Greece-the renowned history of Parismus, Parismanos, and Parismenidesor the delectable tales of Aladdin's wonderful lamp, and Sinbad the Sailor. It will be asked, why discus this subject now? what purpose can it answer but to anger and to irritate―to prevent the wounds received and given from cicatrizing? Ought not these topics to be buried in eternal oblivion? Can this be a proper time for such enquiries? I answer, this is the time-the only time. What purpose would the discussion have answered during the violence and turbulence of war? A period of peace is precisely the time to investigate the question, all important to the United States, whether the rights of neutral nations are to be held by the tenure of the forbearance, the moderation, the justice, the generosity of belligerents-a tenure, or a precariousness whereof we have had so many admonitory examples-or whether the rights, the sovereignty, the trade, the commerce of neutral nations shail be treated by belligerents with the respect to which they are entitled. This is a glorious theme for enlighted men on both sides of the Atlantic-worthy of a Milton, a Grotius, a Puffendorff, of a Henry, a Dickinson, or a Franklin. THE END INDEX, No. I. Those articles not found in this Index, may be sought for in No. It.] Adams' Defence of the American Constitutions, tribute to 31 49, 50 Alexander, emperor, his opinion of the justice of the war 254 43 American revolution, barbarities perpetrated in 36 American merchants, true policy of 108 Americans vindicating the outrages of Great Britain 133 American impressed sailors scourged for trying to procure redress 207 223 Appointment of Mr. Gallatin as minister impolitic 58 Armistice proposed by admiral Warren 54-rejected by Mr. Ma- 55 Armistice proposed by Mr. Madison 56-rejected by lord Cas- 56 Arnold Benedict, treason of 340 Associations to prevent the success of the loans 305 Attack on the Chesapeake, statement of the 184-remarks on 228 52 316, 322 54 257 129 Berlin decree not enforced against American vessels for 12 months Boston has 44 members in the house of representatives of Massa- 419 Boston, turbulence of 268 Boyle's (captain) blockade of the British dominions 121 British depredations brought on the tapis in the senate of the U. S. 109 Combination treasonable to bankrupt the government Conflagration at Washington, effects of Congress, lamentable imbecility of Consular certificates of origin, a cause of capture Constitutions of various states, extracts from Copenhagen, flagitious destruction of Credulity, wonderful, of faction Critical situation of the U. States Dacres captain, address of to the court martial British government bills openly advertised for sale in Boston British privateers, horrible picture of the rapacity of British ministers, indefensible conduct of Brougham Henry, extract from speech of S18 88 129 364 356 112, 114, 116 31 177 Chesapeake, murderous attack on the 111-indignation excited by the Change in the prospects of the country Church is in danger, magical effects of the deceptious cry Classification system, excellence of 383, 384, 385-a measure of Cobbett, W. reflections of, upon the impressment of American seamen Colonial trade, liberal exposition of the nature of Commerce of America all-important to England 353-extent of Combination to paralise the government 306-ruinous consequen- ces of 308-particulars of Commerce of different parts of the U. States £3 409 195 84 353 $15 286 307 63 68, 64 131 387 Congress empowered to call out the militia in case of invasion 393 369 136 29 215 65. Danes, Portuguese and Swedes impressed on board American ves- Democrats threatened with vengeance as friends of Bonaparte Direct taxes repealed under Mr. Jefferson's administration Discord, attempts to produce, between the eastern and southern states 424 Domestic improvements and industry, progress of 430 294, 295, 296 Duty of the U. States to oppose British pretensions 86 Eastern states, pretensions of, to superiority over southern 274 275 |