Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1810-02-23 00:00:00, page 2

THU REPORT.
of both bouse* appointed to (Mi>
nport om the expediency of expressing
of tbe legislator' no the pteeen't tl-iriii
4Kt« «f our foreign rein ions, and on the
whirb Itttt produced it; and whether »•
Odd tf arty, what measures may be adopted
«*Uheuvi}sof impending war—haw# at.
ti* the duties of their appointment—and
oo atami nation,
Mk That by the message of the president of the 17
•Stitarf Statu to congress at tha opening of tha pre
«•» Cession, sad the documents tharawith Iran*.
Igitted, it appaan, that a minister, deputed by the
government of Or tat Britain t*« thia country, with
nil powers to oegoeiate and conclude an aeroamno^
dettonofall controversies tu' sitting between tha
two nations, after being accredited *ud having en
tered upon tha object of hit mission, was suddenly
informed by the American minister, that no for
tbfr communication would Iw received from him, in
jaMMaqaenri^ an all edged etfenre in the language’
j»l in sotdBBki t of tiis correspondence. This *
view^HpRtnnaction v* nm tbe res«lutions 01
■5*ongrb®», fflnthe resentment discovered and inea
•orM proposed by the friends of the administration,
JK
have materially changed the posture of our relati
* one with Great Britain, since the last meeting of
tbit legist at nrc; and in lieoof the prospect of peace
and wn'My.'crhu-hwe then hailed as so auspicious
tb our national pCHpeiity, we discern a policy whose
tendency if to produce an open rupture- with the uv
two. A war with' Great Britain in the fires ni
lists of Europe, and under rhe existing cir umst.in
eea of o*if country, would be, in tbe estimation of
your ifommiftee, the greatest calamity that could
bahRthe United Statu, short of the ln„s of their »
bertj^ond mdip»ndem e ; sod would, in its c-.me
fttdHBendanger these. A conviction of 'losiruih.
wuuio^usliiy any member of the confe-ierary, by
whom it should be felt, in the expression of itsdis
approbation, and its fears, even if no measure*
ware adopted by other states calruliird to sup;>oit
dmuuslratinnin its hostt.e attitude. But as
of the state legislatures, partaking ol the
ihlltty ol the national executive, have approved
Uoa o. the British minister, in a- tone
Iw deemed to ditciose a spirit npe tor
lity wth his nation - it is, in our opuu
duty ol this ligulutur* to attempt to alloy
otlile propeasnies, and if posuole to pre
rumous ana uaiictessary war, >y such hii ex
of their sentiment upon the present cr«»,
demonstrate the extreme reluctance with
bapeoplcrnf ti is commonwealth would And
themselves compelled to em age id such a war.
Awaie of tha danger and connivance of rcllusi.
sene between tha measures of the runon-d and slate
. goveiOrtlfca, and persuaded Inal harmony add mu
,, , ^. tcduuiitut* tha basis of the power of
confederate states, your committee hava examined
tha documents accompanying the presidential mes
uage, with a sincere disposition to discover a suffi
etent justification for the rupture of a negotiation
•o deeply affecting the interests of the nation. The
epuae ailedgfd it, that the British minister in his
Cbrfcspoiuhpice persisted m using terms which im
Iihed that |u American government had know
edguof tbdfert, that Mr. Erskinehad not aulhn
mjr uKvnrraaf un nrraDgemeni inioe t>y mm in
b*i>aJf of hit government, after (orb knowledge
bod hern explicitly disavowed by the American ex
ecutive, It is not pretended that this is expressly
I by the British minister to be a fart. Your
Ittee are unable to discern either the asserti
the insinuation of this as fact; nor can they
feeive in any part of the coi respondent of the
ntisb minister, expressions of disrespect or dis
■rast towards the government; much less the nf
bhsiw imputation of falshOod. They profess not
|»; itetsrni'ine whether the style of the American
•hrretfry,«f'thi|'hf tlie British minister was most
t conciliatory anrifonlViu ilic to. diplomatic usage.
But they are utterly at a ions to discover either
or covert insult, or any insinuation which, ac
iti to tlie arbitrary rules of honour, would jus
rupt terminationaf a conference between
individuals, desirous of amicably ad
fiyate controversy. This conclusion, re
> rarelttl examination of thepubltck
•ts, becomes irresistible in, lb* minds of
'MAMaiUea, from the consideration that the
.not only is not apecitied with pre
• f American secretary, but is, anion,'
the advocate* at administration, bothinaod nut oi
t*M( ••• assigned to dirtermt letirrs ; to uijfrrenl
etpmjMMt in the Saab* Utter; and to the enure cor
op the part of the British minister; a*
o*n discurd.mt ronsirui lions, end
andcomments suggested by tluu vn
U»*» sod modes of reasoning. It,
British minister bad, either through
design, permitted lntn*eil to use equivo
caMidOB which, in uidinary times, might jus
hie repulse by a proud monarch, prepared lor
n hostilities, and glad of a pretest for War and
juest; yet at this era ul poIitia.il convulsi
«s, »ba« the tempest of war has swept every re
jHhlir but nuts from its base; and when questions
of diplomatic ceremonial and usage, even at the
|I,HM f«wrt». «fe forgotten amidst the mure
’ •CjUtumal safety and existeuce
cancel vr^gputl the national hom.ur ol
and pacificrejjufilic wruM, for the esc
h doubtful words, o about even demanding an
r '“W retpti*# the diftnttaai of an ambassador
pear# from one of the belligerent power*, especi
W* °fl|oadnninijuutiun had die*
nd patient# forbearance under slots
r«P» from the other.
■ Ruetrnnirol, to inantpirioo* In
t ie c ocntiy, auumn a tuore a
io cenbeciibn^with
traasar
iporta||
tally empowered
bnuuthoiijjfd
terms
me «t»io reg.rd «»
_ _i<in( ami a _
(a amicable MgoUaiina. Nor
•Oman (lM uibjacLfiiniintlhed by
■p teibpg aud 4gpJiKt »i the govern
mwt# tmtliir wli|nia(. Of the cfpraeUr
*t ike correspondence with Franco by our resident
minister, or tho n|«k of our negotiations with that
power, art can form baton imperfect opinion, in
c»Meq«encc of the mutilated state in which it has
been presented for public inspection; but from sorb
small portions of it es has been published or reveal*
ed, from the insolent and dictatorial letters of the
French minister, published in the face of all Europe,
«od the indifference or patieora with which they
have been received ; and from the approbation ex
pressed by France of nor late restrictive mrssores,
w# are compelled to fear, that neither the honour
nor interest of the country have been- guarded or
maintained with Iheapirit and dignity becoming an
independent nation.
The importance of these repulsive measures is
increased by the deplorable stale ol the puhlick
treasury. From the reports of the secretary of the
treasury it is appaient that the net revenue of the
United States during the year 1807, was sixteen
millions fifty-nine dollars. That during Mteyetr
1808, under the first operation of the embargo, the
same revenue was only ten nyflliom three hundred
anil thirtj||two dollars. That during the year ISC'f),
under the further operation of the Same syMeni, it
was redun d to six millions and an half dollars.—So
inat the difference of tha amount, of revenue be
tween the years 1807 and I8O9. \* nine mMuu* and
an half of dollars. It is also slated, in the last re
port from that department, that the expenses of iht
government for tire last year, exclusive of pay
ments on acrobat of the principal of the publtrk
debt, have exceeded the actual receipts into the trea
*ury nearly thirteen hundred thousand dollars,
winch deficiency has been paid out ol the surplus of
1 he preceding years, ft is further stated, that the
expense o| government upon a peace establishment,
for the year 1811, will he about ten millions ofd"l
Isis, and eight millions .rfier lint year—and that a
■0itn ot lour millions has already become necessary.
In the report 01 the same department, lor the year
1806, it was stated, that after defraying all the ex
penses of government, an annual surplus of iiveaud
an nail mm.ou*, ot dollars-would remain* But ar
cording to the last statement, there, will be a dcfi
cien.-y tor the present year of lour millions, making
against the United States an annual difference as
before ot uine millions and an lull'. But when, with
these statements, are taken into view, the still pro
^resssive diminution and probable annihilation nl
r venue from commerce iu the event of war ; and
the additional and incalculable expenses, which
must be tendered necessary in it* proser ution,-yoor
loinniiueecan perceive no means of supplying this
miserable deficiency of revenue, but from direct
taxes. The expedient of great and enormous loans
mi^ht be a resource for the first exigencies of the
war j but a nation entirety deprived of visible end
actual revenue, could support hut a doobtlu) credit
and t‘ e contemplation of a debt constantly aug
menting iu au unjust and ruinous Contest, would
disgul the patriot and terrify the contractor. In
these circumstances it is but too obvious that the
only remaining resuuicrs of ilus government would
be either forced contributions or oppressive taxes
upon the yeomanry.
. While such have been the pernicious effects of the
measures of the administration upon ourselves,
your committee would willingly spare themselves
the humiliating confession that by the belligerent
nations they are regarded as partial and harmless.—
So fir have they been from disposing Prance to any
relaxation of the imperial decrees, that they have,
been the subject of praise and approbation with her
emperor, whose ouly dissatisfaction has;een m- ni
fested at their temporary suspension. By Grcat
iintain, they have been regarded with indifference,
’.hough in their operation they have secured to her
the carriage ot our produce, and the monopoly of
the commerce of the world. Her manufactures have
not decreased, nor has her revenue or power been
in any visible degree impaired. Wt.ile au inter
course with the United Mutes has ever been deem
ed by that nation ol secondary importance in com
parison with the great objects for which she is con
tending, its advantages have never been disregarded
or undervalued by her statesmen. It remained for
our infatuated councils to reveal the fatal secret,
that the commerce of these states was of less im
portance to her-pr«spenty and greatness than her
own politicians had predicted. That our country
bus sustaiu- d injuries Irom the operation of the Bri
tish orders, and suffered from the outrages of her
officers, tor which it is entitled to satisfaction, is
not t* he denied. It ought not, however to be fur
gotten, that during the entire period of these com
merriul restrictions, France, with whose consent
they were imposed and eentmurd, had seised nud se
questrated nearly all the American property which
has fallen within her grasp, while Britain, against
whom alone they could be expected to operate, has
if»p«ct'd our flag, convoyed our ships, and admitted
us to a free and lucrative commerce with every
port of her dominions.
With this view of an empty treasury end aban
doned commerce, it is impossible to overlook the
defenceless state of the couutry, and especially nf
the entire seaboard of the United States—while the
Aaieriruu flag would be driven from the ocean, our
sea putts would be at the merry uf the most for
midable navy that ever existed, and before our for
tifications or armies could be in a situation to sus
tain the first assaults of the enemy, our cities
might be buried in ruins, and our sea coast exposed
to inconceivable distress.
a« tbs miseries or such a war would be incurred
without adequate motive, they must be sustained
without a possible chance of indemnity. On the
ocean, Britain h at present invulnerable. It in on
ly upon th* side ol Canada that the American arms
mold feme into actual collision with her domini
ons. and it the chances of war, alter a profusion nf
Mood nod treasure, should enable the Uni tad States
to add to tbeir territory, alswtdy too extensive, this
proviure of Krturbign, would he tbs amount
nf the Acquisition! And far whom would it be ne*
Wired i iV hold it as a colony would bo meunaist
rot with the genius of oecjutiiutioes. To adopt
jerity of iti
?xs^
U is
streams »(
.,_)g forth uu
ceietse-s warms of Getks
andalls, #Mcln t»
•KUoce with u*lg« tritflfr would encompass’ the
p|Bl. ,
• fav®He project of the atti
union with a bait
ant tnouchy, whwfa probaMy has man been relin
quished.
Yonr committee, however, do not disguise tbeir
belief, that neither an existed treasury, nor a
ruined rommeira, nor a depopulated teacoast, nor
the miseries of war without a possibility of success
or definition of object, would constitute the princi
pal disasters of a rupture with G, eat-Britain. The
spirit and resources of the country, when roused and
caller ted, are, under the blessing of Providence,
sufficient foi its defence, and would, in time, be ap
plied to this object. But the consummation of the
public k calamities will be found in an alhauce with
that desolating and giganlirk despotism, whirb has
crushed the governments and subverted the liberties
<>1 Europe, and whose genius is not more hostile to
every republican institution, than to the spirit of
commerce, by which such institutions Ire cherish
ed and preserved. Nothing but a mysterious infa
tuation, can induce an administration to seek an
alliance wi*b * government whose hostility to the
United Statem has been manifested, not inertly in
inisconsiructions of doubtful poiuts of national law,
and in the unguarded expressions of its public! mi
nisters, but in an open violation of treaties, and
contempt of neutral rights; not merely in illegal
captures and casual injuries, for which reparation
has been offered, but in un unvaried series of in
sults and aggressions, of sequestrations of property
upon laud, and ol plunder ana burning of our ships
upon the mean ; not merely in the impressment ol
seamen claimed as bey own suijreta; but in the
captivity and confinement jn dungeons, of our ac
knowledged citizens, without colour of pretence.-—
i he calamities of such a war would be indeed ag
gravated by the dangers end infamy ol such an alli
ance ; and our success, il success could reasonably
:.e expected, would ttasten the period in which w«
should find eur»< Ives compelled, without any inter
vening barrier, to grapple on 'our own so:) with on
enemy who has long made war upon u» in every
possible lorni but that of actual invasion, and who
reserves his most taiihtul allies lor bis most exem
plary victims.
Id conclusion, your committee are persuided,
that no honourable means should be Iett uimitempt
ed to institute and pursue a negotiation with Grtat
lirituin lor the accommodation of diflerenees, and
that the whole system of commercial restrictions
should be abandoned, before the natural sources ol
our revenue are entirely exhausted, and the course
ol trade so diverted by new habits, and so conceal
ed by evAsious, as to produce permanent and irre
trievable rum. And they accordingly lecommend
the following resolutions :— '
*V m hilt AS Francis James Jackson, minis
ter plenipotentiary from the court of Great- Britain,
h»vmg lull powers 10 negotiate and conclude a treaty
lor the amicable adjustment of the controversies un
happily subsisting between the United States, ami
that nation, alter being duly accredited by tne exe
cutive ol the tfniifd States, has been suspended
from the exercise of hisiunrtions, for some expres
sions contained in his correspondence with the go
vernment ol the United Statu, which ate all edged
to be derogatory to the honour and verarity ol thu
executive government; and the legislatures of som>
ol nur lister states having declared their assent to
the construction given to the said correspondent,
and their approbation ol the dismissal ol the sa.d
Uriustt minister ; and the legislature of Massichu
setts, having exain.ned the said correspondence, auci
being unable to discern in it any passages or words
whicn, in their judgor-nt, can he fairly construed
to convey disrespectful ana offensive imputations
And whereas the doings of the saio legislatures, com
bined with the resolutions 01 congress, have a ten
dency to widen the breach'alieady existing, and to
remove still farther the prospect ol accommodation.
And whereas this legislatuie, while they are always
ready, at whatever hazard, to embark in a just and
necessary war, and to support the national govern
ment with the whole lor*e and resources ol the
state, are nevertheless persuaded, that no just r.iuse
exists for a rupture with Grtat Britain, and that
its effects, detrimental to both nations, would tend
to the impoverishment of this commonwealth, to
the destruction of its commerce, and to the aggran
dizement of a power already formidable to Ilia liber
ties of mankind. And whereas we deem it a duly
to use all the means in our power to allay the ex
isting iirilatlons, and prepare the way for ibe resto
ration of u fnendly intercourse between the two na
tions whose interests are in many points essentially
united :
THEREFORE RESOLVED,
That the legislature ol Massachusetts, is affected
with siucere and profound regret at the late unex
pected and sudden termination ol the correspond
ence between liie American secretary of state, and
Francis James Jackson, his Ununairk majes
ty’s minister, for which they can perceive no just
or adequate cause.
RESOLVED, That it is our anxious wish that
some means may be devised, consistent with the ho
nour of the United States, to resume the negotiati
ons between the two countries; for obtaining repu
tation fur real injuries ; and to establish peace ana
amity, so essential to the interest and happiness »i
both, upon a Hcrmanenl basis.
HESOLVEL), Thiu arts of embargoes and non
intercourse, and the whole system of commercial
lesiraints, adopted and contemplated by the I ite ann
present administration, are impediments to a resto
ration of our amicable relations with Great Britain,
and have proved in the highest degree pernicious to
tha best interests of this countiy, and especially ol
this commercial state—That all the predictions o.
their opponents have been verified—That by the o
peration of these acta, the publick treasury has
been drained, and brought to she verge ot bankrupt
cy, that the commerce of the country has been pul
sit-d, and in n great measure imcuverebly destroy
ed ; that ,t|>* whole of this impotent system hue be
come a subject of derision with those it w..s intended
to coerce, and that its mischiefs have recoiled upon
our own country. . < . .
. HEbOLVED, Thet the temporary suspension ol
these acts afiuded demonstration ot the meat
the Uniir^JjfifupwtoootighUJucraiiiw
roexce, ey*VB»r dusting emhdMvmen
«rt all limes
rwt of this iwiiam araWlhe present rwsi.
arty unfortunate, »ad ought to I* discount^,
by all constitutional meins—That oar count
defenceless and oar t ms ary e.Thauated—'I
fi»uify uh and replenish tha othor, wilt
time, «conom; ftDdlbcadya&tagtft eJ«**»w«n_»
meree—That, on the contrary. Great Britain is ift- «
arressable aad invulnerable, except in nna pf h*
provinces, tha conquest of which, ifit coti&ie ef- • -
fected, would prov* a ruse and a- scourge,
selves and our pestarity,.
RESOLVED, That a war with Great
would inevitably lead ttrqn alliance with
and thus furnish to her ambition the meafts a
pretexts for organizing within tbs tfaitbi ‘s
the materials and instruments for schemas of.,
domination. These materials unhappily abotmd «
the noi them frontier, and in our newly acquired te^
ritories in the South. From such a contest, tfa
United States, it unsuccessful,'would be compelled to
retire with a disgraceful surrender pf tha obje ts of
the war, or, it euceettful, bjr cohtribuling io ih
duwnfal of Britain, would be left alone to en>« S
a power, who unopposed by the navy of his p.„
enemy, would call into requisition all tbs reson..^
and energies of our solitary republic, to defend, in
doubtlul conflict, our liberties upon our own shares
Extract from the Answer of the Senate to the Go
remove's Speech.
“ The people of this commoriwesllb, believing k
to be the indispensable duty of the states to < oniri
butfltn the exigencies of union, hare been arcu*
turned to consider it as a reciprocal duty o| the ge
neral government, to protide for the common de
fence. and knowing that the United States contain
the most ample military and naval resources—rand
considering the imminent dangers whi^i threaten,
m" c mnot but express the deepest conrlfn, that aur
extensive frontiers are so defenceless—and that our
naval lores is to utterly incompetent la tha parpoa^g:
es of national security—and unbecoming the jnatfl
claims and the dignity of oar country, tn this
larming situation of our public afftirs, our immedL
ate relmoce must be on the militia of the State, and
assoye your excellency, that •• to render this, to tap
the /ewe, ourfrst resource far defence, at rJScient
« r™"'* "• consider ittobe,-^ JkJ,
dictate of prudence, but the imperious caH tf a ne
cessity, imposed bp cir cumstances, over which, at mam
hare no con trout” * - • «f
i i»c policy oi the United States was pears
To'preserve this blessing it brrame netrwvy not '
°"v o«/end the right* of neutrality, but to retneeft
the rights of the belligerents. Tfie federal adminis
tration did not, originally, rest satisfied with ap
peals to the reason only of the great powers at "nit
—but made adequate provision, aad snsiuiested s
determination to maintain the rights of their cm>
try by the sword—Hence resulteda state of nation
al glory,and of unexampled prosperity.
“ It would unquestionably be the policy af" a
neutral nation to submit to the inrooveaiencies and <
privations necessarily incident tn collisions between
uelligerent and neutral rights—but a neutral, po*
sessing the means of resistance, and yet acquiescing
in such aggressions of the one party to lbs war, as
would justify measures of retaliation by tba other,
must be considered^ having abandoned or forfeited
its neutral position & privileges. The people .if t£§
state, will wiih their'accustomed energy and promp*
put oe, support the measures necessary to maintain
.m honest neutrality—even if they should involve a
just and necessary war—but tuck a amr mb, will
have tnttr encouragement.
" While we concur with your excellecncy in opi
nion, “ that in the perilous state of our foreign rtr
lut tons, it would be the extreme of delusion to consider
•war as improbable,” we are obliged frankly to de
clare our apprehension that this war will inevitably
lr .dto an alliance, which would ha the presags olf
destruction ; that this war is menaced sguipst s
nation, which opposes the only barrier to the ne
cessity of an immediate conflict with the tremendous
power ami despotism of France—which has already
overwhelmed the liberties of the old world.
And when it shall apppar, that the administra
tion of the general government pursue a policy to
wards the great belligerent powers, which seems ta
conceal and palliate- the wrongs and insults nf tha
one, and to magnify the injuries, and discolour tba
views of the other—to submit to the*ruel aggfct
sions af the one, committed in routempt and viola.
Uou both of treaty and public law—and Io refuse tg
accept from the other party, reparation for unau
thorized injury, and proffers of adjustment, that
might be reasonable and just, the people of this
commonwealth will consider it “ a duty too ^
rathe to be neglected, to exercise all constituting &
means, either to prevent impending calamities, orfr *
prepart to meet them in a becoming manner"
Postponed Sale. ,
Will be sold on Saturday, 3d March,
at XII o’Clock in the forenoon on the premises foe
ready money, by virtue of n ’deed In trurt to se -
cure a sum of money due to loin Lkslik, ' »
A LOT of LAND,
front and rear and from 129 to 132 feet deep,
132 feet deep.
The Trustee.
February 23.
- »*:-«•
lo be bold on Monday the !9th of
D”1*in town Potuiiowl.;hdb*
the Court-House, ?» “
„ . A TRACT of LAND,
Containing about sixty acres, lyinrandbeiae situate
in Norfolk County, in the Parish of iSfe*
<>.» Broad Creek, formerly thaproperiy of Bnunndl
omit, sold virtue J : "fT
iacomic, sold by virtue
. *9** ln t™**' Ititie'll be
the late Charles S. Booth ,
■hi tSUctof ••
of assembly most
in force as it respects « %*,
• tit- , lierds «*
frost, ki/* to
LV!f‘ i f” *** “
three milei
WonMk by l«)i(Twwyrr:
ere on the
• DeeliiUf-HocsO, C
Fame* Dawie