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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
Administration of Mr. Jefferson, weakness of

31

49, 50

Alexander, emperor, his opinion of the justice of the war
Alien and sedition laws, opposition to

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
American slaves on board British men of war

207

223

Appointment of Mr. Gallatin as minister impolitic

58

Armistice proposed by admiral Warren 54-rejected by Mr. Ma-
dison 55-impolicy of the rejection

55

Armistice proposed by Mr. Madison 56-rejected by lord Cas-
tlereagh

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
Bank of the United States, non-renewal of the charter of the
Bankruptcies numerous in the middle and southern states
Baring Sir Francis purchased 220 shares in the Bank U. S.
Bayard James A. his opinion of the orders in council
Baring's inquiry into the effects of the orders in council

228

52

316, 322

54

257

129

Berlin decree not enforced against American vessels for 12 months
Bell's Weekly Messenger, defence of America by

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Boston has 44 members in the house of representatives of Massa-
chusetts

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

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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
Dardin's (Amy) horse, proceedings respecting

British government bills openly advertised for sale in Boston
British depredations, mercantile meeting's against 85, 86-ruin-
ous consequences of

British privateers, horrible picture of the rapacity of
British system towards U. States, impolicy of

British ministers, indefensible conduct of

Brougham Henry, extract from speech of

S18

88

129
354

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
Civil war, danger of 31-endeavors to produce

Classification system, excellence of 383, 384, 385-a measure of
the American revolution

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-

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Democrats threatened with vengeance as friends of Bonaparte
Democrats rail at the appointment of judge Jay to negociate with
England

Direct taxes repealed under Mr. Jefferson's administration
Disaffection towards the government, instances of

Discord, attempts to produce, between the eastern and southern

states

424

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Domestic improvements and industry, progress of
Duties on exports paid by the different states

430

294, 295, 296

Duty of the U. States to oppose British pretensions

86

Eastern states, pretensions of, to superiority over southern
Eastern states, character of at various periods

274

275

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