Star.
London, England, 1812-07-30 00:00:00

WEB.'T INDIES&

Mr. JACKSON, in rising to move for papers, on
which, in the ensuing Session of Parliament, he in.
tended to ground a vindication of the Inhabitants of
the Leeward Islands, from certain aspersions which
had been cast on them by Governor Elliott, in his
correspondence with the Earl of Liverpool, began by
drawing the attention of Government to the distres-
sed state of the West India trade. He then expatia-
' red at some length, on• the respectability of the West
India planters, who, if taken as a body, need yield
to no class of his Majesty's subjects for information
and philanthropy, particularly those of the Island of
Antigua. In every rank of society there were bad
men—but it was as unjust to suppose the whole of the
West India planters were like some infamous indivi-
duals who had been among them, as it would be to
assert that the character of Englishmen should be es-
timated by the cruelties which had some time since
spread terror through the metropolis. The Honour-
able Gentleman concluded by moving,
" That an Address be presented to his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, praying that he would be graciously pleased to
order, thu Cure be laid before the House Copies of the Speech
and Address of Governor Elliott, to the Council and Assembly
of Antigua, on his assuming the Government of that island, and
the Answer thereto: and the Address of the Council of the island
of St. Christopher to Governor Elliott, and his Answer."
Lord CASTLEREAGH was of opinion, that a
much stronger sense was piit on the words of Gover-
nor Elliott, that he meant to convey at the time he
corresponded with his Majesty's Government. He
opposed the motion, however, on the ground, that no
use could be made of the papers this Session, and, it
they were granted, it would seem to countenance the
charge made against an individual, before any invts
tigation took place.
Mr. BROWN expressed himself very anxious that
an early opportunity should be afforded the Colonists
to repel the charges which had been made against
them by Governor Elliott.
Mr. STEPHEN rose to perform a sacred public
duty, not to blame Mr. Elliott or the inhabitants. lie
believed Mr. Elliott's general assertions to be un-
founded. We had certainly heard of some monsters
who resided in the West Indies, but their crimes were
no ground for a GOvernor to stigmatize a whole po-
ipulation who might live around them. The letter in
question was written in confidence, and therefore, in
'his opinion, ought never to have been made public.
The Hon. Member then detailed the cruelties corn.
mined at the island of Nevis by Mr. noggin, (as
they appeared in the newspapers) but srated, that
the Assembly_ ordered him to be prosecut:d ; yet a
poor industrious printer at St. Kitt's was prosecuted
and imprisoned for what was termed a libel, but
what was, in fact, no more than a copy of the Reso-
lutions entered into at the island of Nevis. Mr.
Hodge, of Tortola, had notoriously committed a mul-
titude of murders upon his slaves ; he even invented
new modes of torture, in pouring boiling water down
their throats. He was, however, convicted of one
murder out of sixty which he committed, but with
astonishment would that House hear that the Jury
recommended him to mercy, and such were the ap-
prehensions of Mr. Elliott that a rescue would be at-
tempted by the lower order of white inhabitants that
he proclaimed martial law, and called out the militia,
to prevent tile possibility of the culprit escaping. Was
it then wonderful bat a Governor should corm no
very favourable opinion of a people who wished to
extend mercy to such a wretch ? The Hon. Gentle-
man then addressed himself warmly to the House in
favour of the slaves, and said, that, although some
men, lists Mr. Huggin and Mr. Hodge, might be
found in the West Indies, yet there were many there
of liberal minds, and the utmost humanity.
Mr. BROWN highly commended the conduct of
Mr. Elliott in ordering Mr. Hodge for execution, but
he denied that a majority of the white inhabitants
were for rescuing him, on the contrary, the militia
were called out to prevent his being torn to pies= iso.
fore the sentence could be put in execution.
i Mr. JACKSON said, he had been upon the spot,
and knew that the white people, had they had an,
opportunity, would have torn Hodge to pieces. As'
for Huggins, he was despised, wherever he went,
among the white inhabitants ; and the Jury, on his
trial, would have convicted him, could they have done
it legally. His (Mr. Jackson's) property lay in the
island of St. Vincent's, and he could bear testimony 1
to the general humanty of the white inhabitants there.
On his own estate the whip had not been used but
once in two years, and that WAS upon a man whO
,committed an offence that was thought very lightly
'of in this country—he thought another man's wi4
WAS prettier than his own, (a laggh ), and he entered '
her hut, and ravished her ; for that offence he ordered
him twenty stripes, abd prohibited all intercourse with
him for two months, which so operated upon the
poor man's mind, that he must- have died, had he not
been reconciled to him.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
hoped the motion would not be pressed till next Ses-
sion, when the House would be in possession of better
information.

Mr. JACKSON accordingly consented to with-
4:;w ins motion t U lifs4 6051141."-4CIPUIPedP

“ WASHINGTON, nnt is.
ig MESSAGE TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE Or Mom: 3m
TATIVES OP THE UNITED STATES.
” I communicate to Congress certain documents,
being a continuation of those heretofore laid he.
fore them, on the subject of our affairs 'Vrith Great
Britain,

Wiiliout going beyond the renewal in lei, of
the War in which Great Britain is engage'', rad.
omitting unrepaired wrongs of inferior magetwk.
the conduct of her Government presents a sail of
acts hostile to the United States as :in indepaeltu
and neutrAl nation.

bee
cad
too
•1

"• British cruizers have been in the continued prac.
tice of violating the AmeriCan flag on the great high:
way of Nations, and of seizing and carrying of per..
sons sailing under it ; not in the exercise of a ha.
gerent right, founded on the law of nations against
at► enemy, bus of o ,
tish subjects. British jurisdiction is this extended as
neutral vessels in a situation where no laws can ope.
rate but the law of nations and the laws of the coun-
try to which the vessels belong ; and a self redress
is assumed, which if British subjects were wrongfully
detained and alone concerned, is that substitution of
force for a resort to the responsible sovereign, which
falls within the definition of war.:—Could the seizure
of British subjects, in such cases, be regarded u
within the exercise of a belligerent right, the atlases.
lodged laws of war, which forbid an article of cap.
tuned property to be adjudged, without a rejular in.
vestigation before a competent tribunal, would m.
periously demand the fairest trial, where the sacred
rights of persons were at issue. In place of sack •
trial, these rights are subjected to the will of every
petty commander.
“ The practice, hence, is so far from Koala,
British subjects alone, that under the pretext of
searching for these, thousands of American citizens,
under the safeguard of public laws, Mid of theirs's-
, tional flag, have been torn from their country, oat
from every thing dear to them ; have been dragged
on board ships of war on a foreign station, and a.
posed, under the severities of their discipline, to be
exiled to the most distant and deadly climes, to risk
their lives in the battles of their oppressors, and is
be the melancholy instruments of taking away this
of their own brethren.

66 Against this crying enormity, which Great Bti.
twin would be so prompt to Avenge if comwitted
Against herself, the United States have in vain es•
hausted remonstrances and expogulations. And that
no proof might be wanting of their conciliatory dis•
positions, and no pretext left for a continuance aids
practice, the British Government was formerly as-
sured c f. the readiness of the United States to enter
into al rangements, such as could not be rejected. if
the recovery of the Blitish subjects were the real and
the sole object.
66 The communication passed without effect—Bei-
ash cruizers have been in the practice also of via
lating the rights and the peace of our coasts. They
hover over and harrass our entering and departing
commerce. To the most insultiag pretensions they
have added lances proceedings in our very harbourer
and have wantonly spilt American blood within tba,
sanctuary of our territorial jurisdiction. The princi.
pies and rules enforced by that Nation, when a nes.
.•
tral Nation, against armed vessels of belligerents ha:.
vering near her coasts, and disturbing her commerce.
are well known. When called on, nevertheless, by
the United States to punish the greater offences car,
ibitied by her own vessels, her Government has be. .
stowed on their Commanders additional marks ci
honour and confidence.

" Under pretended blockades, without the presence
of an adequate force, and sometimes without the
practicability of applying one, our commerce hal
been plundefeci in every sea. ; the great staples of our
country have been cut off 'Toni their legitimate mar•
kcts ; and a destructive blow aimed at our agricultn,
ral and maritime interests. In aggravation of these
predatory measures, wry have been considered as is
force from the dates of ibeir notifiCation ; a retrespov
two effect being thus Added, •as has been done is .
other important cases, to the unlawPaness .)I the
course pursued. And to render the outrage the
more signal, these mock blockades have been reitera-
ted and inforced in the face of official coosnausuca-
Lions from the Pritish Government, declaring, as the
true definition of a legal blockage, " that paiticular
ports must bs actually invested, and previous warn-
ing given to vessels bound to them not to enter."
vs Not content with these occasional expedients fir
ilayibg waste our Acutrul IrAdeJ th cabinet of Grca;

kis IF„.z.zatip• ................e 1.•.•••",• , 1 • • . . A I ./2.,:,....__- :
_O4l b
THE EVENING STAR.. to
~-
- bich
LONDON. • iv
avi
THURSDAY, JULY O. • 1
DECLARATION OF WAR BY AMERICA, I'
We have at length received this important D. yGI
be
went. It was brought to Portsmouth by the jcu4
• sloop of war, Captain GA.RIABItt who arrived 17 's
'night at the Admiralty with dispatches from Adtfit. •
rid SAWYER, at Halifax. We have not room for any
comments on the American Declaration, but instill •
think that the change of policy adopted by Oh
1
country mutt produce a corresponding change in O
go
American Councils :

--

•n mow& at length, to the artepittg system of
ruti
kadtw, under the name of Orders in Council,
bids has been moulded and managed as might best
peg its political views, its toMittercial jealousies, or
tbs Avidity of British croizert.
1.0 our remonstrances against the complkated
od edant injustice of this innovation, the first
y Was
that the orders were reluctantly adopted
fol
b Britain as a necessary retaliation on decrees
~ Got
/ toy proclaiming a general blmckade of the
(Ogren
tip
Isles, at a time when the naval force of that
y dived not to issue from his own ports. She was
without effect, that her own prior blockades,
renuoui-
os___arced by an adequate naval force actually ap-
p
and cotinued, were a bar to this plea ; that eze-
mw aces against millions of our property could
iot be retaliation on edicts confessedly impossible to
beexecuted ; that retaliation, to be just, should fall
otheparty setting the guilty example, not on an in-
ram party, which was not even chargeable with
as acquiescence in it.
• when deprived of this flimsy veil for a prohibi-
fo of our trade with Great Britain, her Cabinet,
boa of a coriesponding repeal of a practical dis-
csboance of its orders, formally avowed a determi.
so to persist in them against the United States,
opi the markets of her enemy should be laid open
oltitith product' ; thus asserting no obligation on
soma power to require one belligerent to encou-
sge,b7 its internal regulations, the trade of another
blimirat ; contradicting her own practice towards
isdos in peace as well as io war ; and betraying
iikitheesity of those professions which inculcated
MK that, having resorted to her orders with re-
gal, she was anxious to find an occasion for putting
aN rod to them,
-irAbandoning still more all respect for tho neutral
tights of the United States, and for its own consis-
tency, the British Government now demands as pre.
requisites to a repeal of its orders, as they relate to
the United States, that a formality, should be °b-
end in the repeal of the French decrees no wise
lemury to their termination, nor exemplified by
British usage; and that the French re peal, beide% in-
dading that portion of the decrees which operates
"Ohs a territorial jurisdiction as well as that which
operates on the high seas against the cc rime Ile of
the United States, should not be a single special re-
peal is Mission to the United States, but should be
wended to *Weyer other neutral nations tureen
toed with thefts may be affected by those decrees.
" And as in additional insult, they are called on
ke a focal disavowal of conditions and pretensions
armed by the French government, fir which the
IhiteiStates are so far from having been themselves
reeponsillte dm), in official explanations, which have
tem published to the wend, and in a correspondence
tl the American Minister at London with the &kis!,
Saister for Foreign Affairs, such a responsibil ty
vssexPlicitly and emphatically disclaimed.'
16 It has become indeed sofficiently certain that the
commerce of the United States is to he sacrificed, not
o interfering with belligerent rights cfGreatßritain,
totes supplyirg the wants of their enen,es, which
As herself supplies; but as interfering w ith the n o-
uopoly which she covets for her own commerce and
mrigation. Sbe carries on a war against the lawful
commerce of a friend, that she may the better carry
ou a commerce with an enemy, a comtherce polluted
by the forgeries and perjuries which are for the most
Put the only passports by which it can succeed.

" Anxious to make every experiment short of the
last resort of injured nations, the United States have
*Wield from Great Britain, under successive modi.
legions, the benefits of a free intercourse with their
market; the loss of which could not but outweigh
the.profits accruing from her restrictions ( f our corn.
totree with other nations. And to entitle those ex-
Pctiments to the more &rout able consideration, they
were to framed as to enable her to place her adver-
sity coder the exclusive operation of them. To these
4PPetat her Governznent has been equally inflexible,
as ifirilling to make sacrifices of every sot t, rather
than yield to the claims cf justice, or renounce the

errors tf a false pride. Nay, so far were the attempts
tarried to overcome the attachment of the British
Cabinet to its unjust edicts, that it received every
encouragement, within the competency c f the execu-
tive branch of our Government ; to expect that a
*al of them would be followed by a war between
tba United States and France, unless the French
edicts should also be repealed. Even this conamuni-
eati9ot although silencing fer ever the plea of a dis-
position in the United States to acquiesce in those
edicts, originally the scle plea to them, received no
:Mention.

sere and lasting reconciliation. The prospect, lirnv-
ever, quickly vanished. The whole proceeding was
disavowed by the British Government without any ex
planation which could at that time repress the
that the disavowal proceeded from a spirit of hostility ,
to the commercial tights.tnd prosperity of the United
States. And it has since come into proof, that at the
very moment when the public Minister was holding
the language of ft iend hip, and inspired confidence in
the sincerity of the negociation with which he was
charged, a secret agent of his government was em-
ployed in intrigues, having for their t.bject a stahver-
,ion of our Government, and a, dismembertmnt of our
happy union.
In reviewing the conduct of Great Britnin to-
wards the United States, our attention is necessarily
drawn to the warfare just renewed by the savages cm
nne of our extensive frontiers; a warfare that is known
to spare neither age nor sex, and to be distinguished
by features peculiarly shocking to humanity. It is
.ifficult to account for the activity and combinations
which have for some time been developing themsclve_
among the tribes in constant intercourse with British
traders and garrisons, without correcting hosti-
;ity with that infinerce ; and without reco;lcct;ng the
authenticated examples of such interpositions hcreto.
fore fin n;slfed by the office! s and agents of that g' -
0 vernennt.

" If no other proof existed of a predetermination
ef the British Government against a repeal of its Or.
*Tit it might be found in the correspondence of the
Kanter Plenipotentiary of the United States at
Lail" and the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs
1810. on the question whether the blockade of
illty,'lBo6, was considered as is force or as not in
keco. It had been ascertained that the French Go-
vernment, Which urged this blockade as the ground
slits Decree, was willing, in the event of its removal,
to repeal that Decree ; which being followed by al-
ternate repeals of the other offensive edicts, might
ilbolish the whole system on both sides. This invi.
'leg opportunity for accomplishing an object so im-
portant to the United States, and professed so often
lo be the desire of both the belligerents, arm made

IcittnithLD the tritish detetallititt. As Alt Co tangle it in the h onfests CA' Vie* of Other toiverii
'tient admits that an actual application of an ade. and preserving a constant readiness to concur in an
quate force is necessary tti the existetke of a legal honourable re.esttblishment of peace and friendship,
blockade, and it was matorions, that if such a force is a Solemn question, which the Constitution +wisely
had ever been applied, its long diScbtuinuance had confides to the Legislative Department of the Go-
annulled the blockade in question, there could be no vernmenr. In recommending it to their early deli-
sufficient objection oti the part of Great Britain to a berations, I am happy in the assurance that the deci-
formal revocation of it : and no imaginable objection sion will be worthy the enlightened and patriotic 1
to a declaration of the fact that the blockade did not councils of a Virtuous, a free, and a powerful nations
exist. The declaration would hate been consistent i " Having presented this view of the relations of the
with her avowed principles of blockade, and would United Statbs with Great Britain, and of the solemn al- •
have enabled the United States to demand from ternative growing out of them, I proceed to remark
France the pledged repeal of her Decrees ; either with that the communications last made to Congress on the
success, in which case the way would have been subjectofourrelationswith France,will have shewn that
opened for a general repeal of the belligerent edicts ; since the relocation of her decrees as they violated the
or without success, in which case the United States neutral rights of the United States, her government has
would have Leen justified in turning their measures authorised illegal captures by its privateers and public
exclusively against France. The British Government ships, and that other outrages have been practised
would, however, neither rescind the blockade, nor de. on our vessels and on our citizens. It will have been
dare its non-existence nor permit its non-existence to seen, also, that no indemnity had been provided, or
be inferred and affirmed by the American Plenipo. , satisfactorily pledged, for the extensive spoilations
tentiary--On the contrary, by representing the bloc- ; committed under the violent and-retrospective order I
kale to be comprehended in the Orders in Council,
of the French government against the property of our i
•
the United States were compelled so to regard it in citizens seized within the jurisdiction of France.
their subsequent proceedings. 4‘ I abstain at this time from recommending to the i
" There was a period when a favourable change consideration of Congress definitive measures with
; respect to that nation, in the expectation, that the
in the policy of the. British cabinet was justly consi.,!er.
result of uncllsed discussions between our Minister
ed as established. The Minister Plenipotev.tiary of 1
: Tlenipotentiary at Paris and the French government
his Britannic Majesty here proposed an adjustment of
the differences more immediately endangering the trill speedily enable Congress to decide with greater
harmony of the two countries. The proposition was
advantage, on the course due to the rights, the inte-
accepted with a promptitude and cordial:ty, cc rres-
rests, the honour of our country. " JAMES MADISON."
ponding with the invariable professions of this govern. " AV ACT, DF.CLARING WAR BETWEEN rue UNITED
ment. A foundation appeared to be laid for a sin- Ktvorsisi OF ORE IT EIHLf AIN AND IRELAND, AND

TIIE DEPENDENCIES 'mentor, AND THE UNITED
sa•Ams or AMEUICA, AND THEIR TERRITORIES
" Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Re-
present:uives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, that War be and the same is
hereby declared to exist between the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Depen-
dencies thereof, and the United States of America,
alid their Territories ; and that the President of the
United States be and he is Vereby authorised to use
the whole Land and Naval Ferces of the United
States to carry the same into effect ; and to issue to
ivato armed vessels cf the United States, Commis-
sions or Letters of Matque and General Reprisal, in
such fr.rrn as Le shall think proper, and under the
Seal of the United Gtates, against the Vessels, Goods,
and Effects of the Government of the said United
! Kingdom of Great Britain. and Ireland, and the sub-
jects thereof.--JusE IS, 1312—Arrrovia).
1 " JANIE•i MADISON.'