Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-25
G9yaNoria Daas aBbsrttser.
SATURDAY, aaueusr rs.


From 'Sae>M Turk E0ens Post II nov
return 10 those customary editorial dpJies
which have been for more thar month
suspended, to give place 10 tie most awfp'
and affecting subject that ever occupied my
mind and weighed down my heart TWAS
my in3eationto have closed all discussion
Of the melancholy event, BY an attempt to
exhibit the charactts Of him whor,, can
never cease to mourn as the best Of friends,
and the greatest aud mostvlrtuous of men;
but that ground has been so much pre.oceu-
pied, that the design, though in a great
part actually executed, is. for the present
deferred. Aud unless it should be rem
dered necessary, by attacks or remarks
from certain quarter, | shall not againsbe
disposed to bring the affair into the papers.
The first subject of political nature,
that presents itself to sur view, is the very
extraordinary conduct Of his Majety's iii
gates, the Leauder and the. Canibrian, lii
Ming off our harbour for several weeks,
withthe express design, five may. believe
the oath of.one of our captains, of,annoy-
ing, ste americans. a dispuse has been
CARRYING on ia some of the morning papers,
about the precise distance from the shore
that these ou,rages have been committed,
one side contending ], was within one league
of the shore, the other that it was net -
This dispute seems to have arisen from q
superstition, that it depended on the DIS
tance from the shore, whether the proceed
ings on the part Of the British were correct
or not==a snppositioa altogether foreign to
theaaesuon. We hold the law Of nations
strictly to be- $50,
First. That no ships or vessels Of var,
may lie in wal! for, nor take means to
learn what enemy's vessels are expected to
arrive; and in case they should discover
them off the port, ,hey may not go out to
capture them; and ;fthey attempt they may
be compelled by the torts or ships Of zuar, X
to return toport.
Second. They may. not conceal: them
selves insthe bottoms Of BAYS and galphs,
nor behind the heads of land and small
Islands Of q neutral country, for the. pur-
pose OF. surp.:zing and capturing. Ieven]
enemy ships; they cut not in any manner
TO disturb the free and secure approach OF
aay vessels Of ANIMATION whatever, towards
p ris or upo'afbe co ~ a neg r. s:qte.
Azunl, q pass ~
Such are the principles Of maritime law
now recognized throughout Europe. tits
altogether immaterial, therefore, whether
these shirs lie at onetwo or three league
distance. from the shore; for chem to be
upon tn coast at all, @fcr the purpose OF an
moving our comm cree, under whatever pre-.
text, or OF. disturbing the free and secure
approach of any vessels whatever to oul
port, itisa aagafant infrin s,em@ ut upon oui
national sovereignty and gross violation
of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF nations. Fo,
this attack upon'the rights Of cur citizens
this indignlty. tS the state and country, we
have a,claim on those to whom the nation.
al administration Is committed. It is <
high handed wrong, demanding.speedy ane
adequate redress. Next TO the late affair
.ofthe Cambrian this transactions the mos
disrespecti,i and eontemp uous. taat VIZ
have vet Witnessed, and In point of actua
injury, is far beyond it. And SOW the oals
question is, what will be The conduct of GU,
government? Judging from what has late
II happened in another quarter, ~ may
easily predict what 1t will be-