Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-06-06
MARTMSBURC, June 6.
From the Norfolk Ledgs'.

an ADDRESS 10 AIS 'GOuSutuCuISS from
which we have made some extracts,
which viii merit the consideration Of e.
very true American. This address is
written with degree Of temperance aud
ability, that demands attention. Mr..
Garnett is republican and represents the
district composed Of the counties of Ca
roline, Essex, King and Queen, and
King William. Having stated the ma
ture Of our differences with great Bri-
tain aad the resolution offered by Mr..
Gregg, Mr.. Garrett Observes.-
ITO engage in any contest to which
the resources four country were incom-
petent, would be an evidence rather Of
madness than courage. 1t was no dis.
grace to our country to be at this time in
capable Of waging commercial war with
Great Britain, nor was there a shadow
either Of Justice or reason, in charging
US, for affecting this incapacity, with a.
ny Partially for England, unless the o.
pinion which we had been hardy enough
TO pronounce, that SIX American frigates
were not match for eight hundred Bril-
fish ships Of war, could be construed as
a proof of such Partially. The love Of
country, which prompts the glorious sa-
cri6ce both Of life and fortune, would
prove a curse instead ola blessing, I'M
less accompanied by the Judgment at
all times to perceive our true interests,
and to estimate properly our capacity to
4ssert and maintain them.
Another objection to the proposed
measure was that it could not, at one aad
the SAME time be considered. a. some
called it, "taking such pacific step as
could give her 10 offence" If the first,
its ruinous tendency, we~thought, had
been sufficiently demonstrated. If the
last, its inefhcacy to cure the evils COM
planned of, must be manifest. 1t was
asserted that Great Britain could be CO.
creed only by strong measures and all
we asked was, that those who propose
them, would prove to us the policy and
the power Of using them atthis time, and
the capacity of the country to persevere
in them. We conceived it . sufficient
answer to all the arguments, used en-
these points, to remind gentlemen Of the
difference between six frigates,~ or twen-
ty if they pleased, and eight hundred
ships Of war and of the magnitude OF
the sacrihce, which we are called upon
to hazard, compared to the object for
which it was to be made. To the argu-
meats urged in favour of doing SOME
thing, at this time, we answered, that
our minister at London was, at this We
~ time, engaged in discussing our diff.
ferences with that court; and that he had
given Us reason to hope he should ami
cably adjust them that if any reliance
could be placed in his assurance, It would
be premature to do any thing whilst this
negotiation was pending. II England
wax disposed to go to war, this measure,
before it could be broughtto operate up
On her, might enable her to do US meal
culable mischief, by the capture oil
cur vessels, and perhaps the plumber Of
some of our seaport towns. On the con.
trary, ifshe was inclined to peace, any
evidence of hostility on our part, nigh,
retard, but could not possibly accelerate
it. Unless indeed we could presume
that she feared US, which, after our con.
duct towards Spain, it was utterly impos.
sible she could do. Whatever impressi.
ON we might have made upon her at the
irst OF the session, by the proposed mea.
sure, she could now be made to believe
that we would persevere in this, or any
other measure adopted ostensibly to co.
cree her, after knowing that a power,
which had injured and insulted US full a.
much in proportion to her ability 20 do il
as Great Britain had done, had been trea.
ted in the manner in which we had trsa.
ted Spain. After acting, apparently a,
least, so pusiIlanimously towards tina,
nation, nothing less than an actual decla,
ration Of war, could make 6. Britain be.
lievs Us inearnest, in any attempete force