Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1810-03-16 00:00:00, page 2

Diko—On Thursday night at Fort News*,
Major John Stun»er»> 6f the corps of Artille
■ Hats and Engineers of the United Stales'army, aod
- t«n year* pant, daring which time, it wet hit hep
pittett to enjoy 'the confidence af the government,
the eHaem anil respect of bit brother officers, and
the loyeof hit troop*. It happened that hi* coup.
*try not being engaged in war, oerer required the
Ittfff ine* of Major Saunders in the ftrW, bnt those
Who knew him beet, discovered readily many ol the
leading and essential qualifications which adorn the
character of a toldier. He had devot'd much of
Ihi attention to the trienre and practice of hi* pro
fession, hi< discipline was mild hut steady, and ohe.
dienceio those onritr hit command was a pleasure
Store than a duty.
* t I* private life he was math esteemed, and parti
• ewlarly in this community, 'where he bss resided
from his yooth. Hi* social, frank, and manly de
portment made him the friend »f every one, and »x
! -empted him from the mahre which party spirit ex
tends. too often to others, This general esteem
t Wt* not however purchased by any surrender of hit
opinions, which upon sit suitable occasions he
, maintained with unshaken firmness. Those who
enjoyed the pleasere of his more intimate soriety,
will lament with onaffer led grief, the loss of their un
it it pjvalled favourite. To bis afflicted family, under
their heavy bereavement, one who knew him well,
Wnd esteemed him much, offers this sincere but bum
ble tribute to his memory.
t^The friend* and arquamt«uj(e of Major
Saunper*. are informed that his Funeral will i,e at
IWt Nelson to nwmw(Sunday)at 11 o'clock. lionls
will be provided at the Count* Wharf for the pur
f pee Of taking them over.
The secretary of state has received from Mr.
„»inkney a private letter of the 4lh of J mimry, dc
tailing the particulars of a long conference at The fo.
reign office with ford WaUrsfoy. This letter e xpli
fitly states, that the British minister did not at
tempt to vindicate Mr. J«ksoa ; on the contrary,
be udiUlited that he was m thrwropg, that he must
ycturn, end that a successor would be sent out to
tbe United States. AW. lnt.
Erfract of a liter, dat'd Bardemt, December 3-1.
“ We regret to elute that the Frew h government
kesput all American property under sequestration.
“ Mr. Shaler, the messenger, passed through
this place this morning, ou his way to Palis, with
the anvrrnmeiit despatches, and will he there on
, Tuesday night, end we flatter ourselves that the
»»tttrfr(*f these despatches is surb as will alter the
present hostile dispositioaof this government.
* This measure of the Frenrh government was
* ex rented Only the 2&th of this month, and was rh*
|‘t Hss ex per ted, ns there were rumours of a vary paci
fck nature toward* America.*
Ntw-Yonx, March 0.
The Boston Palladium of Tu-tday, received late
l*»t night, mentions thearnv.il at Marblehead of
' lhl brig Increase, Widger, fram G jon. witb ac
counts to January IS.
I^tUW from St. Andero, Bill.oa and Si, Sehatti
' **•* all Concur in stating, that • general emt argo
lad fy+H laid in aft tbe Eastern ports—and it was
erpnrted, (hat Buonaparte bud declared war a truest
tbe United Stale*.
BaLTIMO**, March N>.
LfttiM received in town ironi Liston as Ule
tjd January, sWte thui 15,000 troops had recently
*irived fn>m England. ftowMlets this is, the corps
which was erroneously reported as destined for iia
Ws*. Flour aioLishi a ten dollars.
from tit [.Ya/o^cs] d'ttkly Chronicle.
4>*HOMtCATIO* Fnoit THE CAJITOVMETf.
• * 2. U'ashingt.m, Jau 2J, 1610.
Sinre the assumption «.f command l«y Brigadier
Ornersl Hampton, the camp has undeigone a ewn
plate change. The utmost attention w p dd to the
poltre, and to the emphut of the soldier ; «n ,x.
ilpMive detail has been made for the purpose of e
tert’mj %%»nerar hospit.,1 ; and every exertion it
* HUkipg for the accommodation of the aick.
^Tderal Hamilton decline* the sain, and at prr
- , nmeleas parade of a tody guard, rather than
JitWWih the foice^ao much wanted in the erection
nf Ituls, the hospital and in keeping the encamp.
•jagUd* «-I«anly and healthy atot**-nr than to de.
prise general Wilkinson of this empty prgeaniry of
pSice’ to which be ii so much attached.
t lbs arrival <>J general Hampton the sup.
I of the officer have given pi ine lo emnlati
^ W*1 *•*«*»>• The drill so tong neg.
lectcdUs been commenced witn Ida end spirit.
The appearance of the soldiers, and the cheerful
JMW pfthecRiBpJ throughout, strongly evince the
isVal satisfaction at the rhange of commanders.
The few officers attached to (be late commander
pf this district, were desirous of manifesting their
OMdcthypmnig him* pv^'lie dinner and an ad.
. ffinss on his cesigaation wf the command—let it
*mld not lie carried i»tn eflWct; • Jf„ addresses noi
nm' elHhad whb fiction >.r romance, *uuldbe£»*i*
ful to (he genera* e.r. Jdfeald jpot^dSfro*.
npsttiaavievr, Pelting tW glinmy
Jswrf «H Turtanox Bdmfi aw! subse^nem nwmt*.
It^WpiaukespiaspttOvcnew. /#%» «J**r
A '«
«*»«»** jt».i1c«in * rfisiurtedrto*
iftfa <* tfcwfamial fowt OKWthtl. tn
«• tecpopifrf much of «n*r
C*pl. Sf ntt*»4*ren charged mill O.M
t>ny infera** said, “ that should be ever go into
battle onder geo. Wilkinson he Would carry two
weapon*, the .me for the «n«my and the oilier foe
the geo*i4; for he did not know how soon he
might play the pa* of Arnold—that he wm a hnr,
• *rmindrel ami » traitor.” The opinion of the
rnurt is not jet published. Previous to their deci
»w»—*Gen. Wilkinson, nodnuht apprehensive that
tb» court would it<-quit enpt. Scott, or sentence him
tn some nindemte punishment, and in go doing ad
mit the troth of his assertions addressed a letter to
the court; threatening to rorrert them if they erred.
—'I hus odrring an ineult to the court aad to the
' ominainling officer who ordered it. The court
treated the 1-tter with tbe contempt it merited.
Further communications, from time to time,
shall he made to the publick through your paper.
Congress of the United Stales.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tt'ESOitY, March $.
CONVOY AN'}) ARMING.
The house resolved itself into a committee of the
whole, Mr, Pitkin in the rh.nr, on the bill “ eta
tiurisiig the prendrnt to employ the pvldick armed
tenet* iif the I’niltd Statet, in protecting fa/ convoy,
merchant vessels owned wholly by citizens of the Unit
rd States, in toy ages to ports or places with which
intercourse is prohibit, d be the decrees or or ders of
the governments of Orcat. Britain and France.”
'I he bill having been read through by sections
without any attempt to amend it.
Mr. Uutwell spoke in favour of the principle of
the hill. He wes for d* lending the strictly neutral
commerce of the United State*.
Mr. I'.pprs explained the reasons which indticefl
him to be in favour of the hill. He wished to see
commerce resume its natural channel, that our far.
uteri and planters might send a part of their ptor
dure to Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Holland;
and to effect this object he was willing to protect by
tore* the carriage of produce of our own soil, the
property of our own citizens, on board of our own
vessels.
Mr. Go*d s»»id, that having barely had time to
run over thehiil, he Was not able to form an opini
on as to all the provisions it contained. The pre
sent was indeed a tune of great difficulty, and he
who could get ever it without involving the country
in w.it would deserve well of his country. The gen
tleman from Virginia (Mr. Eppes) himself had ac
knowledg'd that the question oi the right of search
by the belligerents w as one of a very delicate natnre.
■ The genii’man had suggested however that this
bill hid peculiarly guarded against difficulty in re
losing the right of search, because it confined the
j cargo of tlsp vessels to be armed or convoyed to the
! products of the country, and excluded enemies'
| goods. Every gentleman, Mr. G. said, must see
j- that this was a question between two parlies, bel
ligerents and neutrals. Would the belligerents ac
cept ary evidence fromacustom house that nothing
w*S to be found on board an armed or convoyed ves
-sel ricftirary to the law of nations or to the-provisi
ons of this art > He railed the attention of gentl*.
men to the law of nations on this poim, whether it
, r untuned any such principle as that the belligerent
was bound to respect custom house evidence, de
claring the property of a vessel to be neutral* If
that had been ih» law of nations, there never would
have been any difficulty—nothing w< uld have been
more easy than for the neutral to- have adopted a
course which would at ouce have eluded this right
of search. This difficulty, which hod arisen during
every war for many years past, laid here—that in
lime of war the neutral always suffered. Any gen
tleman who would take pains to examine this sub
ject would find it throughout a subject of great dif
tvully. !» support of the general truth of this as
. seriion, Mr. G. referred to Marshal on insurance,
, and quoted these pu«sages :
“ That the right of visiting and searching mer
chant ships upon the high seas, whatever be the
ships, whatever l.e the cargoes, whatever be H e
destitution, is an incutitesMi.le right of the lawfully
commissioned cruisers of a b-Migerent nation.*
“ That the authority uf the sovereign of the neu
tral country being interposed in any manner of mere
force, cannot legally vaiy the rights of the belliger
ent cruiser.”
i nai me penalty lor u,t violent contravention
**f tl>is rithi, is the confiscation of the property so
withheld from visitation and search.”
In sappnrt <>! his position, several writer# were
cited by Mdrshal, Vattel, who was not an English
writer, contained the same position. “ Without
searching neutral ships at sea,” says the writer,
“ the commerce of contraband goods cannot be
prevented. There Is then is right of searching.—
Some powerful nations have indeed at various times
refused to submit to this seatrh. At present a neu
tral ship refusing to be searched would from that
proceeding alone he condemned as lawful prise.”—.
Tire retinae of evidence at the custom houses, guard
ing against the admission of enemies* property, Mr.
G. said could not be effectual. When bad a neutral,
i«r several years p ist, claimed a right openly to
carry enemy*' properly ? It was always covered by
neutral names. Was it expected that the custom
house officer, a tribunal of one patty, was, on ex
parte evidence, to deprive the other parly, the belli
gerent, of his right* Mr. Gold said he spoke of
things as they are, and not as they onght to he. If
congiess were tut to frame a code of laws for nati
ons, they might introduce whatever regulations to
them seemed equitable ; but, as it was, they must
abide hy the established law of nations. There
might le tbentnsoet faith in the officers of the cus
toms, and yet ei»tniee* property might elude tbeir
vigilance, nr,evade the law. Again-^Whet evi
dence would the custom house uffievrs have whether
a port was of w .s not actually invested when it
granted papers to a vessel l If it were not at the
tint* blockaded, how could they know that it would
pot be before the vessel arrived at ite place of desti
nation ? It was impossible to guard against this dif
ficulty. What constituted iavretineut I A tine of
oavul force drawn around a port to present actual
hasard to veesels entering^ WnnW gentlemen ad
oit ih.-t a veescl’s saiimg rtesiined to a pbrt 3000
miles detent, should be ground of forfeiture) Mr.
G. iMsiJ^JkMW th,»re had teen such ^pciituus in
Tm. ' , - 1
tto. A pun n«t,-fttW*trd **W a vessel s«iUd
become so before her «rn«il-*iii. H( threw
(W thew idesa witfc a view toshew ihe rliiTinlh^wl
JjBf W™inAl at *» great « distance proeauiuiog on
Wip question rclattv« tu bloc bade, and gi'vtag «•$<
evidence on lbe subject at should obviate the light
of ietFcb.
In reply to an observation of Mr. Burwdl, that
thi» hill by introducing the principle of resistance,
would do away the pretext of retaliation umlei
which our neutral right* bad been tnviuled—Mr. Q
said it would give hirn pleasuie if the belligerents
could he satisfied with this mode of reasoning.
There were other difficulties which be bad not
time to examine. The list of contraband might b<
correct ; but a neutral nation had no right to saj
that such and such articles alone should be deemed
contraband of war.unless the list was so broad ai
to exclude all possibility ol disagreement. He fount
on examination, that Sweden and Spain asserted the
right to search neutral vessels* and to examine, I
whether the kst at contraband urticle3 was currerl
in principle; and 2. whether thecargocorrespond
rd with the derlasalion. These were a few of the
d.fficulnes which Mr. G. said presented theinseUe:
td liiA initiii on. tine u.H.Lat
Mr. Mutfiford^.aid ti ut the sentiments expresses
by Mr. Burwelt had gic-n him ynat pleasure. U<
hoped that congress would protect tbsir own corn
mc-rce, as they were indispensably bound by the
constitution to do. Ills colleague hud quoted wri
ters on the law of nations — he ought have found ma
ny others—but in Kusope they were considered as
nothing. Power (said Mr; M.)- constitutes right;
and we, being the weaktr on ti e ocean, are obliged
to submit to the strong. But I hope tire right ol
search of vessels carrying the productions of oui
own s il will not be guijiuilteiJ to. The gentleman
say s he does not understand how our custom house
officers are to have knowledge of a blockade’s tak
mgplace. I have always understood that notices
ol blockade are given to foreign ministers; such
has been the casein relation to the blockades hy
; France aud England. In co othrr way could this
government have udirusl knowledge of theiu. Il
the gentleman from New York admits the doctrine
of blockade hy proclam itmu, I tor one cannot a
grc» with him. I do not see how our tri.dr could he
carried on to the continent of Europe unless you do
convoy—for our manners, dress and language are
so marly similar to the English that they cannot
be distinguished. Now (he only wny to make the
character of our v- ssels undoubted, is to convoy
them. Respecting the association of merchant
vessels, I do not leel confident ; it is putting it too
much in the power of other people to declare war
lor you. It we ale to have war, I wish to have
some one responsible fur it. The nfScer command
mg the convoy is rcsputis-ble to the government,
but captains of merchant vessels are aot.
Sir, we have now arrived at .1 crisis when it be
haves every man to come out in defence of his coun
try’s rights. No doubt our countrymen have had
enough information on that subject. You have for
the last three vears sent them 5000 topics of reso
lutions and 5000 copies of long an-i elaborate re
ports of committee* and p nuplif. ts of speeches._
They are now pnlerlly acquainted with y.otm fo
reign relations; they know aud all the world knows
and acknowledges that we have the best oi the ar
gument ; but the people will not be satislj- d unf-ss
you come uut boldly end asset 1 your rights in a.dig
nilied manner. They expe< t it from you. Seve1.1l
of the state I eg is !.i hurts have patriotically expres
svd their sentiments to you on this subject in lan
guage not to be mi understood ; while the legisla
ture of anotherstate, within the s undof the cannon
of Bunker’* hill, hate expressed sentiments that
were m.l to be expected front the cradle of our glu
tton* revolution.
Mr. Troup remarked th*t this hill presented to
consideration- some very important and somewhat
novel propositions. It proposed to occupy a ground
essentially different from that heretofore taken hy
our government, ft was generally understood and
generally acknowledged that the belligerent h »d a
right to sea re h neulral vessels and the rigid had ne
ver been questioned by our government. To a-rtord
farther time for reflection ,n the subj-ct, he moved
that the committee rise and report progress.
Mr. tXana said that the gentleman from New
York had slate-1 that writers on the law of nations
were no authority now, and that power constituted
right. As the object of the bill was to maintain
•ur maritime rights, he wished to know how mueh
power was in the bill. 1 Tow many public vessels
and of what (Wee did the bill proaide i He asked
this question, because rf this bill was inlinded lor
an efficacious assertion of mu right, to ensure to us
any respect, it must be something more than pa
per. How many frigates, fully equipped, officered
and manned, how muuy ships of war, and how ma
ny subordinate vessels wese provided for in the br|l f
If it was to he merely a formal declaration, with
out any farce, or with merely one or two vessels to
carry it into effert, he considered it perfectly useless
for mercantile protection, efficacious only for this
purpose—thut a battle might take place between
one of our vessels and a vessel uf one of the bellige
rents, and thus mvolve ps in war. He had ano
ther question tn ask about the collectors of the cus
toms ascertaining property—whether it was sup
posed that the president of the United States in pre
scribing regulations, was authorised to prescribe
oaths, and inflict punishment for their violation ?
Mr. D. said he had another question to ask as re
spected instructions to be given to theofficers of the
navy—whether it was supposed that the president
of the United States was authorised to give instruct
tions to the commanders of armed vessels, so that
their arts should be completely compulsory on the
merchant vessel! And whether he could give such
instructions that if the merchant vessels should not
obey signals, the matter should he enquired into ?
And whether such disobedience was to be consider
ed no offence I
Mi . Eppes said lba| before this su'jert should a
gaib come under discussion, be should take the gen
tleman’* questions into Consideration, and prepare
himself to answer them—and he asked the gentle
mao front Connecticut to prepare to meet another
question. In this house every attempt made to se
parate on tiro belligerents on land had been rejected
as useless and dangerous; hut the house had beep
told nevertheless (hut gehljetnsn w}rt> prepared to
’ttaiutaiu the rights of the nation. He iall-,1 upon
the gentleman to prepare liiinvli tounswi-rjrheqgbe
qtiratmn was fairly before the Howe, whether \ffiai
bad keen Mid against teatsttug the bell igr toot* is gay
•ayswratta basnldowa Wlk&V*
imposture, orw bother he weuffrf takdowItWtba
‘here vartta wajMo defend tbs right* «d . th| com
iryf-f •• * *%*•*£( '''$/£'■'■?
Mi^JWtenWie wished the grt*f*mai»,; aa b«
.bob promised, to take liBVn(jni'f<t rot« nijAidn*
lion, lie wit&ed that thegeffih-uun, Btrtialrmia
*rf lb* committee who reported ths biH, w—ld rum.
descend to exercise his talents in presrfThiaga sui
table system foi regulations. The gmtl-m»* if b«
had not made the enq'b-iryvmight also be led to ea>
qsire how many-vesselsthe United States now hedL
As to himself, be believed it would be serollrcted
that he hadluever claimed the honour tor mint of
r. suonsihihty for publie measures,' particularly
when, in attempting to vindiralt lock jaw*’ mea
sores, it had been so frequently assorted that tha
majority only were responsible for the public mea
sures. This he w>m not wiHing to admit in its full
extent. The gentleman from Virginia he believed,
however, was n<>tan advocate of tba gvg rule. Am
to any system of defence Mr, D. was willing In giva
his opinion, when not asked for in an abrupt or
improper manner. The adoption of any system
most depend much on the views of the «xtPUtivft
and his friends, as its surress mist depend on tba
manner in which it is carried into execution. And-,
as^toour foreign relations, if any measure tend
ing to bring us into a collision with foreign powers
was to be adopted, it would be very satisfactory t»
his miod first to have a view of the whole ground*
And on this subject, Mr. D. said he was not as
sured to his satisfaction that he knew the fall na
ture of our foreign relations, nor did he say that hw
ought to know them. There might be good res—
sons for not communicating the whole; for he ima
gined, on inspection of the correspondence with ouw
ministers which was communicated, it would bw
found ileal the whole had not been laid befora tbo
house. Mr. D, said if be would offer a measures
worthy the attention of tlie house, and could malum
it in 24 hours, he really should not in a case of such
difficulty preseot it on so short a consideration. Hw
said Ire should hope that gentlemen, with-tba aid
of the executive knowledge, with all their various
projects and with all the honours of empire, would
n«i hod themselves exhausted by the introdnetiofe
of xMinple project ; but that they would beablw
to supply to it what wasdrtkient end reject wind
was mkimlant. &
Mr. Epprs said be bad been induced h>bring fop.
w*rd (Ins ni«nsnre, in order to see whether tbs r**
preseut iUv-fs of this nation could agree so any Meats
sure short of what he behoved to bea n<>ked surn-n*
der of its rights by repealing the nouciatercosrs*
art. It the hill was not perfect, he invited gentle*
men to.unite their talents, andexamine-whether the
iviraeiyf* of lire l.ilt was that of resistance to th*
decrees which violate the law of nations and de*
-troy the rn utral commerce of the United States-**
tf such was tlie principle, he called upon gentlemen
toun.te in rendering it effectual for the defenceof
our rights, II the loll inpnnciple shnuld-'prave totally
in -orrn i, Mr, 11, said he would take any other gentles
in-.n should think hi tter. He wak willing t epass in rn*
view every meisare whirh-cuuld he suggested to das
h mi uur rights against the tyranny of Great firi*
tain and France ; and as we had withdrawn from
Ihr m euafitr years, andfailedin obtaining by nego*
gptintimi a revocation of the outers in- council, bo
was willing to-try the only thing left, arming or in*
tei position of Circe in some way to operate on lh*
belligerents. Every attempt hitherto mad* to ope*
rute ou these nations ha* failed ; and when tbs bill
is bu/tigbt fairly under discuesmn, it will be difficult
for gentleman, who have recorded their nanus a
gair.st submission, who have refused to opera l*
against the belbgerents in any manner by land, la
oppose thu bill. Mr. E. said he was against any
measure which should drive the nation to a turren*
der of its rights ; and, if there was only Ibis mod*
l it to in.unt i»n our own rights, he was far trying
n. Ii driven from the ocean, he would be ready to
act on laml. There was no instance in the civilised
world, in whieha nation having a sea coast; of ISO#
antes, a population of six millions of people of'
wluno six or eight hundred thousand wereenpableoC
bearing arms, ten hundred millions of capital, fntor*
solid than bullion, because consisting of 500 millions
of acres of land, at two dollars an acre, daily in*
creasing in value) had submitted to the restrictions
of Hiiotber nation on. its agriculture and lawful
coindserce. .Much had been said at various time*
of the resources of other countries— what wer*
they ? Look at the papers bid before the BritwV
parliament, said he—what do they prove? That «•
very thing capable of taxation is taxed. Wa haw*
no internal taxation at all ; the only t«s is on on>
consumption of foreign products. - We are oftt*
told that we have no resources ; whilst 1 belie**
that there is not a nation on earth that baa sain*
resources. Shew me a nation that has ten hundred
millions of bullion—and I aver that our espitahi*
more valuable than so mtl h bullion, because the
bullion would be a dead capital, and our land I*
continually rising in value.
With the number and force of the publie..vessalo
of tlie United States, Mr. Eppes said the gentle*
man from Connecticut was ut least as wdJacquaint*
ed as .he was. 1 heir flames and number bad bee*
so repeatedly laid before the house during Ibspm
sent undiale sessions. A hill was also before th*
house fur the fitting for service all our frigates. If
congress decided for taking any caeasuredn defend
the rights of the nation, he was for tkat<bill, .^f
the nation was to go into a naked surrender of M»
rights, the best course would beat ones to bar*
the navy they were not able use, and redact tbs at*
my which w.tt of no service.
Mr. Quincy observed, that if this bill vosterfo
ously meant to be passed, if it was not merely *
newspaper measure, or party burus pocus, not only
its principle but its details must be rigidly eitmi*»
ed. And he was therefore to favour of tbs commit*
tee rising.
The committee rose, ayes 74, aad obtained leav*
to tit again.
IN SEN AT E—March 8..
Mr. Bradley presented a bill fur the preservatiaa
of pear* and maintenance of tlie authority of ifc*
Unitrd States in the ports, bar hours, ami ntiM
under their jurisdiction, which w«* pusaetf tmvae*
cond reading, , ■ «• h^a;-- » I**
Mr. Laib submitted" tbs following. rfcsutafioM (tf
coWji U-ruisn: . .• - »
Res'ilvri, 1’h‘iHhr president o^the Um'eA Stale*
be required to our minister at the.rnert «f
Gr«*-.,Br:Uiu, tr%lus<i of tfce firtuah.go«p£