The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-04


and after the ahence of about Que hour repc-ea the
Following preamble. and refoutons which were read
ana on the que:tion being pu, by the chairman were
anahiihouiiy adopted by the meeting
although the citizens of Hanover now convened
are eonicous thehielvss OF the purity of the motives
and principles which will influence them, in the r,ea.
lures and relolutons they are about TO adopr yer
oeerence to the opinions of mankind eens to require
all explanation OF the circumstances and cauies which
nus )nhcture under an expreion of the public fem
timent 10 important.
Ever tnoe the -&abliIhment of our Indepepdenee
"reae Britain viewing with jealous eye, the riny
eohereiai greatness OF theie Uaited States has u
'''ot'iy maniietted towards us, fpirit the mott ill
oera, and conduct the mon hofliic.s The eviden-
ees rms beralty and hoftlity, though numerous,
VIC mai enueavonr fummarily to unfold She has il:
violation OF an Srtcle contained ia the treaty of
'''o' Carried away property belonging ia the c,i-
Gems OF the United States to an inoscuable asopn,
one mas III contraventon Of another article i'm the
lame treaty, forcibly detained for more than ten
years ieveral important fortreies belonging. to the
She has, whilit in the illegal poll4liisn of thole
more than once, brought upon the defencelefs
"'ahts Oh our frontiers, the merclefs Indian fava
yes, "hoie known rules of warfare is an undan-
guned dearneton of all ages, fexes and conditions
one mas oy her nearious parties involved US in war
WIZ, thoie favages, in which the bodies of eigh, hum
su Oh our fellow citizens have MANFRED the fields
OF the Miami, and their blood dyed the tributary
itreams OF the Ohio. She has by an ordor other ex
ecu'iVe council, in June, 1898, commanded her fhps
OF war to capture and carry into her ports A.rc.n
'e"ei'' laden with proviiious, and defined to the
ports OF france; and although onr fituation in this
pa eicular' was iomewhat ameorated by the treaty
OF iief, yet by fubfequent regulations f,e has 70
i"eied the lift OF contraband articles that the conre
quehoes to our commerce, have been nearly as deli
as thoie we experienced under the proviiion
one mas continued the impeachment of our fea-
eu TO iuch an alarming extent that in the wear 1903
appeared by report made by the Secretary Of STATE
70 the PredeHt of the United States thar more ,ba,
S'0oo American Seamen were then confined OIL
Doaro the Britih navy. She has declared molt of
'ne ports OF her numerous enemies in nate OF block
ade' and although no real blockade has ever been
commenced, ihe ha: inhibited the American and o.
er neutral Veies an entry into thoe, under the Pc
naity OF confication She has murdered an Ameri
can citizen within the waters and iurfdi9;on of rho
United States and after pretended trial of the off,
Ger who perpetrated that murder e has added n(ul,
TO injury, by promoting the murderer to the COM
maHd OF "a Gun Ship. Arrogant from long impu-
NIFTY, and the dpotion for peace n,auifeed by three
taccefive administrations, and rritated with our fede
raj Executive Tor the rejection of treaty which con-
tanned no liquidation for the fecurity of our feamen
and their exemption from future impreGments; ihe
has at length PerPetrated aa totally derogatory
10 our national homer and independence and which IL
luiiered to ecape with impunity, will tx inde!ibe
itain upon the American character. An American
trgate failed in the month of June la from the port
OF Norfolk, defined for the Mediterranean for RI.
PurPoie OF reraning the piratical depredatons of the
Bar6ary Coriars, in the fuccefs of which all the ci-
vilized nations of the world deeply interened
The cauie of humanity in which ihe was engaged, if
her national flag was Inefficient, ough, have pro-
cured her Pajiqort through the world Unprepared
Tor action with, becauie he unfupcious of dan
ger from the hips of Great Britain, with whom we
were connected by atreaty of amity and commerce,
TINS American trigate, in the waters and urilGi6on
OF the United States, is attacked by Brti(h flip of
hyperion force, and by broad Jes cruelty repeated
ven after her turrender, is entirely dlabled, and
number OF her crew are inhumany murdered and to
complete this fcene of national degradation, from the
balance OF the crew Compelled by BTitiGh Lieut..
TO parade on the deck ftll m0akiug with the blood
OF their comrades and anfwer the call of their own
rolf four native American citizens are dragged on
board Brtiih ihp of war. After infults and iniu-
ries ike theie, ferbearance would be cowardce and
u6mifiion, treaion againf the contribution we have
iworn to fupPort.
R5Ive| Therefore, That it is with emotions OF in
dgnant horror and JUN recruitment, that we, the ci,i-
zens OF Hanover, now convened, have heard of the
late wanton and pufillanimous attack made by the
Britiih ihp Leopard, upon the American frigate
Chefapeake, within the iuriidi9ional limits and wa.
not only infratfon of the exiting law of nations
but grois violation of the laws of hoptality accom-
panied with circumstances of inhumanity and perhdv
unworthy the head OF a civilized nation and to
which we cannot fubmit without total pronration of
our national honor andindependence.
Psokved, That altho we are feniible of the many
benefits derived to country from fate of peace
which we know how to appreciate and deprecate--
greatly deprecate the caamitiss incident Gate of
war; yet war with all its concomitant horrors we
ihaIl not hetate to prefer faacous f.curity, an
inhdions, and conlequently, dihonorablc peace
RgoEVs3, That we will, mott cordially, corporate
with the re Of our patriotic fellow citizsns through
out the union, in the execution of uoh meafres of
either offence defeRce, the preiideDt and con-
greis Of the u. s. in their wildo and patriotifm NAV
deem it expedisnt in the prsfent cris to adopt and
that FOR the defence and prelervaton of our national
rights and independence, pledge to the conRitut-
ed authorities Of our country, lives our fortunes
and our facred honor.
R5oiVed As the opinion of this meeting. that no
remuneration or diiavowal by the Britih government
OF the az perPetrated by ;he Capt. Of the Leopard
will, ought be admiIIbe or fatisGactory une(s
the officer, who in the preparation Of tha, a of ri
rscy and murder, hal be lurrendered up for trial to
the federal judiciary Of this country to which by
the law of nations he is and ought to be af1enable
and unleis allo the eamen fofcby taken from Of,
board the CheaPeake hali se renored and ample re-
Paration made for the damages Gulaned in eonfe-
quence Of the attack made that lriga,e but upon
this, as uron all other national fbjees we will flb-
init TO al bide by the deoion of the preGdent and
congreis OF the u. S. 20 whom it belongs TO adiuR