Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-24
TUESDAY, Nov. II.

Sloan and Key.
TUESDAY, Nov. II.
Mr. Blount from the committee to whom
vas referred so much of the message of
the President as relates to aggressions, SC
made report.
The report commences with an expres
sion OF sens;bility a the outrage committed
on the chesapeake, states the rccciDt of
information relative thereto from the state
ana navy departments, presents general
view OF the circumstances, observes that il
might De SAID to have been incnrtest;hly
proved that VIM. Ware, John Strachun.
ana Dehei Martin are citizens of the u
States; but the committee add that thew
conceive it unne cessary for them or the
Rouse, to So into any enquiry on that nsrt
OF the subject, AS in their opinion whe;he,.
the men taken from the Chcsapcale ware.
or were not citizens of the United Statcs.
and whether the Chesapeake was or was
nor within the acknowledged limits of th,.
United States at the time they were taken
Vne character OF the act of taking them re-
mains the same.
rom the foregoing facts it appears to
your committee, that the OUTRAGE commit
led on the fri5ate Chesapeake has been
stamped with circumstances of indignitv
ana insult OF which there is scarcely to he
found parallel in the history OF civil: zed
nations, and requires only the sanction of
-. .hS government under Color of whose au-
ui"Iity was perpetrated TO make it lust
cause OF, II not an irresistible call fer, in
slant and severe retaliation. Whether !,
"hi receive that sanction or be disayoyTcd
ana declared an unauthorized act Of a an
bcrd nate officer remains TO he detcrmined
~ u12 answer VIII Oh shall be givcn to the
demand OF explanation, that answer. now
oaiiy expected, will either sink the detes-
table act into piracy, or expand il to the
magnitude OF premedta,ed hostility A.
Ssihst ihe sovereigntv and iDdeDendence eff
'nib nation, and until ITS true character
Snaii We tlXcd and known, your committee
oSeh IL eXpedient to decline expressing A.
ny opinion as to the measures proper to
DC "u'lted IN relation to it. But as other
ATS ot aggression have been committed
I'M" cur ports and waters by British
S"'pS OF war as well anterior as posterior
80 'ils' SOME OF them manifesting the same
t'S' eS5'o VI our national ri shts, and seem
'"e " ne" from the same contempt for tn e
.,u.n"rl'y OF cur laws, and especially as the
'-''l'Sii squadron, of which the Leonard
|"s one, alter beng notified of the Presi-
"'"' proclamation ordering them to de-
part RON the waters of the u S. which
'hey Knew had been published in conformi-
~ 10 an &C. of Congress, anchored within
me capes OF Chesapeake Bay, and IN that
situation remained capturing American
vessels even within our Acknowledged ter
rieorial limits, and sending them to Halifax
Tor judication-impressing seamcn on
board American vessels, firing on vessels
ana boats Of all descriptions having occasi.
on 70 pass near them in pursuit of their
Lawful trade, and occasionally denouucinr
threats; Calculated to alarm and irr;tate
the good people oi the United States, par
Icutarly the inhabitants of Norfolk and
l. -.apton, al! which facts are substantial
ca ny the accompanying documents No
. D. the comm ttee are of opinion that il is
s%Eedient to provide more effectually for
the protection Of our ports and harbors, but
not beng prepared to report specifically on
mat su1ject, they ask further indulgence
81 tne i4ouse, and beg leave to submit FOR
their consideration the following resoluti-
on:
Re"oiOsd, That the attack of the British
snip OF war Leopard on the u. 5. frigate
Nhesape Ike, was Ragrant violation Of the
jurisdiction Of tho Unted States, and that
ne Continuance Ofthe British squadron (of
winch the Leopard WAS one) in their wa
ters, atter being notified of the proclama-
ZION az the President Of the United States,
them then 20 depart the same,
was a farther violation thereof.
The report was referred to a committee
OF the whole on Monday.
--a-zssas ID sS--
WASHINGTON CITY, November Is.