The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-11-12 00:00:00, page 2

ordinary mission to London, arc alrea
dy known to yon. The instructions
given to our ministers, were framed in
the a i nee rest spirit of amity and moder
ation. They accordingly proceeded, in
conformity therewith, to propose ar
rangements which might embrace and
mule all the points in difference ' etween
us:, w hich might bring us to a mutual
understanding on our neutral and na
tional rights, and protide fora commer
cial intercourse on conditions of some
equality. Alter long and fruitless en
deavours to effect the purposes of their
mission, ami to obtain arrangements
within the limits of their instructions,
they concluded to sign ■ a■> could be
obtained, and to s r » them for consider
ation, candidly dei fy ing to the other
negotiators, at tlie ene tim , that they
were acting against th ir instructions,
and that their ; veer..men* th re fore
could not be pic .1. i for rat 1 vnion.—
^ >me of the article rr • dmightliuve
been admitted on a print mi. of compro
mise, but others w re too hi ghly disad
vantageous, and no sufficient provision
vyas mam- ngaui't the prior pal source
cl the irritations and c diulonn which
"Vcre continual';, endangering the peace
* t the tw >
tore, whether a treat) sh >ul.l be accept
ed m that form, could have admitted
hut of one decision, even had no d. du
rations of the other part\ impaired our
conhd^T'ce in it. Still anxious not to
•docc tlu* door against friendly adjust
ment, new niodificatiou . were framed, i
s r c o n c
• Id befi >re have been supposi 1 nee s
carv, and our mini • i - v. re. instructed
to resume their negoctu'hns on these
grounds. On this new r I'ercnce to a- '
riduu : le discus .ion, we were reposin ; in
conluh nee, \\ hen on the 2 id dav of | une
I'.usl, by a formal order 1‘rom a Ihitidi
jidmiral,thf* frigate Cliesapeak , 1< lving
i ■ ' >r a int rvi was at
tacked by on • of those vessel:', which
liad hr on lying i" our h rrbmrs nn I r i
the indulgence . o! ho-ou.di'y; v.di;- j
nhled itom nroc.r d v ; li.nl several of,
her c.r w ! ill :d, an 1 lour ta';en a., ay.
On this outrage nne' rniv. marie , are ne
( - ry. Its cha ter has h< on pvo
i nmt.cl hv the ind1 uit1 vote <<■' • ur
eili/. n« with an emph sisa-d mvi j
tv never exceedi !. ! Is un ' t-lv, bv '
proclamation, incrdiei.d nr irtroi. us
and water\ to ah B ili ,h a ,, } Ves* el , J
lorint le in' men usse wit.i in . • . g ;j._ 1
certain how l’tu hostilities .*er« i end- |
c.l, and the town of Norfolk indeed be
ing threatened with immediate attack, a
suiHcient force* v. ns ordered for the pro
tection of that place, and such other pre -
parations commenced and pursued as
the prospect rendered proper. An aim
ed vessel of the United States was dis
patched with instructions to our mini
sters at London, to call on that govern
ment for the satisfaction and security
required bv the outrage. A verv short
interval ought now to bring the answer,
which shall be communicated to vou as
soon as received : then also, or as soon
aite-ras the public interests shall be found
to admit, the unratified treatv, and pro
ceedings relative to it, shall be made
known to vou.
The aggression thus begun, has been
continued on the part of the ISritishcom
maiulers, l»v remaining within our wa
ters in defiance of the authority of the
country; by habitual violations of itsju
risdiclion ; and at length bv putting to
ii<..uui < o. nit' j) . sons v, noin ttiev naci
forcibly taken from on board the Chesa
peake, These aggressions m-ccssarilv
lead to the policy either of never admit
ting an armed vessel into our harbours,
or of maintaining in evert hartioursuch
an armed lor, r as may constrain obedi
ence to the laws, and protect the lives
and pr rty ol our citizens against
ill- ir ai • -d guests : but the expense of
such a t unding force, and its inconsis
ti nee with our pi uk ’pies, <1- mense with
those courtesies which would necessari
ly call lor it, and have us equally free to
exclude the navy, as we are the armv of
a tore) ;n pavei, from entering our li
mit*.
I u’or ner . iolationsof maritime rights,
anotiier is now added of v rv < xt. n. r e
( licet. 'Hie government of th: t nation
his .s su .an order, interdicting all tr:»
by n ut: (1 - >;*ts n* t in a mi tv w; h d.cni;
and being now at u,.r with n* arh t \. rv
nation on the Atlar. o and IMedlurri
ne ;;n sea.-, our vessels ere rtquT*id to
sacriace tin ir < trgm-s at the first port
th. y t ouch, or to r t'.': ;i liora w .ihout
tr.e I -nefit ol goin to e.nv . her nia -
ket. t ider this f th icean,
otir ii'.d« on theTd dii.rrant ’a luts h eo
swept a .. ay hy m i/.ur; . and rood mn t
fioo-., and that in otlu • .xv.s is threat. :i- j
ee. iv ;ih the s ime f u .
f Hr clilii fences \ .th Sump rein ui
sti.l mis Itlf 1. r.o niea-.v, s havincr h- *n
taken on lu r put, si at mv last comm u
n.:ations to cot, j: •. t j ‘.ring th -i <o
a dose, hut under a cute of tilings
which may favour reconsideration, thev
h v • c. rece ntly pressed, and an ex
pectati n is entertained that they may
now soon he brought to an issue ot some
st rt. With thi ir subjects on our hor
de rs, no new collisions have taken place
nor seem immediately to he apprehend
ed. To our forme r grounds of complaint
has been added a very serious one, as
you will see by the decree, a copy of
which is now communicated. Whether
this decree, which professes to be con
iormahle to that oi the French govern
ment of X >v. 21st, 1806, heretofore .
communicated to congress, will also be
confoi tned to that in its const; action and*
application in relation to the Unit d
States, hod net been :'r .riained at the
date of our last commu. ucations. Tlv se,
how mr, gave reason to expect such a
contormitv.
Willi the other nations of Europe our
harmon> has h» en uninterrupted, and
commerce and friendly intercourse have
been maintained on their usual footing.
Our peace with the several states on
the coast of 11 rbarv seems as firm as at
any former period, an l :.s likely to con
: tof any ot i nati m.
Among our Indian neighbours, in the
north-i tern quarter, some fermenta
tion was obsetved soon alter the late oc
crrrenccs threatening tlu- continuance
of our pc m e. Mi “- ages were said to bo
interchanged, ancl tokens to I>e par inr5
which: usuallv denote a slate of lvstle -s
iu ss among the m, and the character ol
the agitators pruned to the sources of
eaxitenv-nt. Mcavnr. s were inumili
tely take n for providing against that
danger: instruction.i vert given to re
quire < y.nlan: *. ,as. : ;■ 1, wit.i assurances
of • ur cout'u’a d IV m' -.hi]., to admonish
the trio i , n main qui ; at horne,takiag;
j ] : rt in quarrels ot belonging to
them. A < f r a v arc yi t informed,
tii- fiber i,. our \ ieini?v, who are most
advanced in the pursuits of industry,
are sin; crelv clisnc d to adhere to their
friendship with us, and to their peace
with all oth rs. While thos • more re
’not do not pter.cjnt appearances suffici
ently (.diet ; »jw iif■ ti • intermission of
mi’it try prctauli >n on our pait.
• he great tribe - • »»ur south-wt stern
- cl hevond the o
■ rtcr, muen
! household arts,
n in a grim,
l •:
i i ntifying their
our it amp.i; ri
i bon to th - ir
' t\ ith on's •
ill >’ vlx'lt of those
if' • t . Wi
•r. 1 ‘hall continue
p> y.
v vm.
d friendship with
to in •de.iii
.te
i