The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-12-03 00:00:00, page 3

The desire to preserve our country
jfom the calamities and ravages of war,
h) cultivating a disposition and pursu
ing a conduct conciliatory and friendly
to all nations, has been sincerely enter
tained and laithlully ioliowed : it was
dictated by the principles of humanity,
the precepts ot the gospel, and the ge
neral wish ol the country; and it was not
to be doubted that the society of Friends,
v ith whom it is a religious principle,
would sanction it by their support.
1 he same philanthropic motives have
diiccted the public endeavours to ame
liorate the condition of the Indian na
tives, by introducing among them a
knowledge of agriculture and some of
the mechanic arts; by encouraging them
to lesort to these as more certain, and
less laborious resources tor subsistence,
1;“U1 chase ; and by withholding from
tneni the pernicious supplies ol ardent
spiiits. I hey are our brethren, our
neighbours; they may be valuable friends
anu troublesome enemies. Both duty
and interest then enjoin, that we should
extend to the m the blessings ol civilized
iite, and prepare their minds for becom
ing useiul members of the American fa
mily. In this important work I owe to
your society an acknowledgement, that
Me hate hit the benefit of their zealous
< o-operation, and approved its judicious
d.lection towards producing among
1 hose people habits of industry, com
lortalne subsistence, 8c civilized usages,
as pieparntory to i\ ligious instruction
anu tlic cultivation of letters.
Vv hate \ c*r may have been thr circum
stances v. liicn influenced our iorelathers
to permit the introduction of personal
bondage into any pert of these states,
and to participate in the wrongs com
mitted on an unoffending quarter of the
globe, we may n joice that such circuin
stanct s, and such a sense ol them, exist
no longer. Is is honourable to the na
tion at large, that their legislature avail
ed themselves of the first practicable
moment lor arresting the progress of this
great moral and political error ; and I
sincerely pray with you, my friends, that
all the members of tin human family
.may, in the time prcsciibed by the Fa
ther of us all, find themselves securelv
established in the enjoyment of life, li
berty and happiness.
Tit: Jefferson.
Remark—“If you spend the day
profitably, you will have cause to rejoice
in the evening.’*
COURT OF IN&UIRT.—REPORT.
At a Court of Inquiry, assembled on
board the United States ship Chesa
peake, in the harbour of N. rfolk and
state of Virginia, by order of the
Hon. Robert Smith, Stcretary of the
Navy o! the United States, and con
tinued by adjournment from dav to
day from Monday the 5th day of Oc
tober, 1807, until W ednesday the 4th
day of November, 1807.
Present,
Capt. Alexander Murray, President;
Isaac Hull, 1 Members
Isaac Chauncey, j thereof.
I he following Opinion and Report was
unanimously given, and directed by
the Court to be transmitted to the ho
nourable the Secretary of the Navy
ol the United States.
i ursuant to an order from the non.
Robert Smith, Secretary of the Navy
°l United States, to Cnpt. Alexan
der Murray directed, dated the twelfth
day oi September, in the year of our
I-ord one thousand eight hundred and
seven, the court proceeded to inquire
into the causes oi the surrender ot the
Chesapeake, a frigate of the United
States,then under the command of James
Barron, Esq. a captain in the Navy of
the United States, to a British vessel of
war ; which surrender was made (as is
in the saiil order stated) without that de
*ence being mat e w hich might have
1,11:11 expected from the know n valour of
Americans : and having heard all the e
vidence adduced, as well by the judge
advocate, as by the said captain James
Barron, and having maturely and tho
roughly considered the same, (captain
Jann s Iiarron having declined to oflR r
any defence) Report to the hon. the Se
cretary of the Navy of the U. States, as
• >v his said warrant is required, a state
of the matters touching the said surren
der, together with their Opinion there
on, as lollowcth :
1. It appears to the court, that the U.
States ship Chesapeake, then under the
command ol captain James Barron, Es
quire, a captain in the navy of the U. S.
sailed from Hampton Roads, on an in
tended cruize in the Mediterranean sea,
on the morning of the 22d of June last
past, having on board a crew consisting
of more than three hundred and seventy
men, and completely equipped with eve
ry thing necessary for such a ship of
war sailing on such a cruise.
2. It appears to the court, that captain
Barron was appointed commodore of
the ships and vessels destined for the
Mediterranean service, on the 15th day
ol May last past, and hoisted his broad
pendant on board the Chesapeake the
first time he came on board of her after
her arrival in Hampton Roads, to wit,
on or about the sixth day of June last
past.
3. It appears to the court, that com
modore Barron visited the Chesapeake
only twice during the period she remain
ed in Hampton Roads, and before he
came on board to proceed to sea ; on
neither ol which occasions did he exa
mine particularly into her state and con
dition.
4. It appears to the court, that the
guns ol the Chesapeake were never ex
ercised belore she proceeded to sea; that
her crew were quartered but a few days
previous to that time, and had never
been called to quarters more than three
times prior to her sailing for sea.
5. It appears to the court, that the
ship was reported to commodore Bar
ron to be ready for sea on the 1 7th of
June, that he came on board on the 21st,
and tiiat the ship sailed on the morning
ol the 22d ol June last past.
G. It appears to the court, that antece
dent to the sailing of the Chesapeake,
there had been received on board of her
some persons who had been claimed by
the British government as deserters
Irom their service, but who were not or
dered to be delivered up by the Atheri
can officers ; that there was also a report
in circulation, and generally known on
board the Chesapeake, that a threat had
been used by the captain of the British
ship oi war Melampus, to take these
men lrom the Chesapeake* That com
modore Barron had full knowledge of
the lacts that such men were on board
his ship, th it they had been demanded
by the British government, and had not
been delivered up, the court are perfect
ly satisfied ; but no positive evidence
has been adduced, to prove that the re
port of the threat above mentioned was
communicated to him before his ship
sailed.
7. It appears to the court, that the
Ch- sapeake in proceeding from Hamp
to Hoads to sea, passed a British squa
dron at anchor in Cynuhaven Bav, who,
r«t the time of her passing them, were
making signals to each other; which was
not only reported to commodore Barron
by one of his officers, but actually ob*
served by himself*