The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-24

position 20 applaud and from the Uerts oil a |
coping which, 1T is no derogatioN that it af- |
fords an insulated instance, since the accessi- !
en- to Office .of the present ministers, OF their |
having entitled themselves to the approbati-
on of the public.
By the Proclamation, the right OF searching
ships of war is completely conceded, but that
of searching for and Selling British seamcn
in merchantmen is retained.
The mode of preventing recurrence of
the occasion which has excited so vehement
a tone of evaporation amcng the Americans,
is that which, without the insNuctions con-
tanned in the Proclamation, would haze natu-
rally suggssted ITSELF & in conformity to which
mad admiral Berkeley been disposed 70 act,
all that has occurred might have been avoi-
ded In the event of foreign national ships
resisting the application for delivering up
British seamen, the power is very properly
denied to British commanderto embroil his
country, and make his fat conclusive be-
tween us and nations with whom it might be
the height of impolicy to engage in warfare.
The single consideration of this evil, were it
allowed to operate, far outweighs any which
NAV be opposed to the concession arising
from the seduction and retention OF our sea-
men on board ships of war belonging to to
reign states. Had admiral Berkeley been
disposed to entertain this rejection i'll all its
appropriate bearings-had he been capable
of moderatipg the fervoar OF his zeal III sup
port of the sovereignty of the seas, by pau
sing awhile on the fallib.lities of ignorarec,
the blindness OF irritation, and the temerity
of power-he might have been disarmcd
from the lawlessness Of his conduct, and OBJ
tanned from his forbearance that estimation
in the opinion of the public which the rash
ness of his proceedings will occasion him in
vain to look for. The appeal is now just
where it should be--nct TO mess-room, but
frNfh nsn yyh rs
tclligence for the most part is limited to the
economy of ship, but to those who are pre-
sumed conversant in the business of a state.
By the terms of the Proclamation, the griev-
ance, when in any case II shall be discover
ed, is to be eventually represented to gov
eminent, which, through the medium OF OIL
eial communication, will represent the matter
of complaint TO the delinquent state, whose
disposition to Justice or aggression will be as
certained, and acted upon accordingly. Io
this there Gun be no possible objection The
necessity for an instant restitution OF deser-
tiers is not very likely TO occur. We have ne
yer heard of a case in which 1T did occur
it was not the case in respect tothe Chesa-
reake; and if the necessity OF an immedi-
ate REIMBURSEMENT of our .eamen is not like
ly to present itself, surely the necessity of
proceeding to immediate hostltities respect
ing them might he avoided. There arc MA
nv who affect great deal of so!icitutle about
= our retaining the sovereignty of the seas but
the sovereignty Of Justice ought to be still
more anxiously supported. The sovereignty
Of the seas, as to all that relates to its real
advantages, is inst as unimpaired as it was
before the determination CT ministers. 1t
consists in undated power, rot in the vexa-
tious or misdirected application OF it---lts
needless exercise is one OF the sure means ol
bringing it into contempt. 10 exact from
should sc - y 80 io 70 ,.ai,,
the accusations which have been so lavishly
poured out against the ruler of France foI
his violation of public principle against our
selves. Let us initiate him in any thing ra-
Their than in his tyranny. Because his power
has enabled him to stihc the appeals with
which equity would modest him in his pro-
gress on the continent, it can furnish us with
no excuse for practising the same conduct OH
the seas There may be more truth in Lord
Stanhope's rejected proposition. declaring
s'that England had no maritime rights which
were not common to all nations" than the
persuasions of selishness will allow us to adj
nit. The maritime rights Of any one natl
on can he none other, than these which are
compatible with the interests under Identical
circumstances of all nations. The disailow-
ance of this principle may be more consonant
to the contracted policy of mercantile spi-
= rit, than tothe dignified character of an eXaI-
ted country In the VcEcnenCe OF their i2-
voTitism for the boistercus exercise &c the do
rninion Of the seas, our journalists have been
led from one error into another. The muir
tlerous despotism of our conduct towards
Denmark. has gained the ungracous scnti-
ments Of some in its support, merely from an
extension of the principle by which the ex-
travagant usurpation Of maritime power,
respecting the right Of search, is sought to be
established. IF power consccrates right,
their arguments are sufficiently acid but
we should be altogether as unwilling 10 adj
NIT this axiom in theory ?s We trust the MI
nisters of this country viii be to acknow-
ledge itin practice.
There isione dcfe-: ir the Proclamation,
which it might have been more satisfactory
to the public to have avoided. 1t is that OF
not explicitly avowin9 the intentions Of gov
eminent in rc>,ard to the search of mer-
chant ships. Does it design that the right of
search soould be reCiprccnit This is a oucs-
tion which WIZ pronal,ly he rseolved IA rho
adjustment of the treaty which Mr.. Rose NAV
be instructed to conclude with America
From the character Of the proclamation,
which was ostensibiy made for the recall Of
our scamen from foreign service, perhaps no
thing declaratcrry Of the rights of ether natl