Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1807-11-06
M ESSAGE.
! &c Seaaff and HeNss ef Represtaid
dives efehe Uniied States.

Wves efuee Ghsfed St1fes.
Circumstances, feyow.citizens, which
seriously threatensd the peace OF our
country have made Il ! duty 10 convene
you q an earlier period shan usnal. The
love of peace 50 much cberished 10 the
bosom Of our citizens, akichhaaso long
guided The proceedings Of sheir public
councils. and induced ofbearancc under
% many wrongs, may notensure ourcon-
tinoance il the quiet puraiits Of indns-
Try The many injuries and depreda-
ionscommittedo on our cDmmerce and
navigation uPo1tie high seas for yesrs
Past, he successive innuvxtionas on ihose
principles Of public law which have been
established 81 the reason md usage Of
nations as the rule Of their intercourse,
and The umpire and security Of their
rights and peace, aud al the rircnmstan.
ces which inducedthe extraordinary mis-
sion % London, are alssldy Known 10
you. The ipssructiols giskn to our mia
isteFs were framed ID the slntsress snirit
OfanAy and moderation. They accord
inelYrroeeedcd, In c~onlbFnitS Aere-
,Nitk 20 propose arrangements which.
Eighg embrace and settle IN the points
~ dsiIerepce between Ms; which might
bring us 70 : mutual u1dsrstandine on
out neutral and national rights, and pro
vide for : Commercial Intercourse on
conditions Of aome equality. After long
and lruisless endezvcrs 70 effect the pur-'
poses Of their mission, and 20 obtained
arrangemeats within the limiu Of their
Instructions tHey eonclldedtos ian such
~ could Be Obtained. and 10 send hen
Nv reconsideration candidly deslariaes g
the other negoelators, af The samS time.
that they were netting against their IN.
strucions. and thar their government
therefore could NOT Be pledged fnr rafie-
sstions Sume ofthk artisles proposed
might ase6sensdniued on = p-rincitis
cfcompf0mise, but Others were 100 hieh.
y disadsantageousi and % sulEcient
prosisions Vas made agsinst collisions
which were ecnstautly endnnrering the
peace DC The two nations. Tks Question
therefore whether : ueaty should Be &C.
cepledin that form could have aanissed'
but of one decision. even had no deela-
rano1s ofdle other party inpaifed our
cunldenee u iks Sill aiziouS NOT 10
close The door sgainst friendly adiust-
mcnt. new modi6cations we're framed,
ahd(ursher Concessions authorised than
could before have been supposed neces.
safys md our ministers were instructed
70 resume their negnciations On these
grounds.
Onthis new reference to amicahle dis.
e~ussion We were reposing IN eonEdence,
Whsn on he twsnty-sccond day az June
lzst. By . formal order from / bIitish id.
mirsl, ne frigafec hesapeake, leaving her
port tor . Distant service, was aftacked
BY one Of those vessels which had been.
lying N our hlrhofs under tie induleen.
ces Of hospitality, Wis .disabsd from PRO.
sesdi.ss nd .ssefhofh rtre6.k sled,
ind four taken away. On this ousfarss
no commentaries are necessary. Ii
rhAEaetefshas Inexperienced by tie In
dignsnt voice ofonF eifizens wth "a EN-.
phasis and uqanimity never exceeded.
immcdietely by proclamation, inter-
diced our harbors and waters 10 I'll Bri-
tsh armed vessels, forbade ~intercoorse
with them, and, ancertainhou ksr hos-
tiIiees were intended, aud the eoun Of
N6ridlk indeed being thneatened with
immediAte atfark, a.nikcieas force was
ordered Cor de projection ofsh.ts place,
and sach other preparations eonmeneed
and pursued . the prospect rendered
proper. Anarmed vesselof the United
States w4s dispatched with Instructions
10 our ministrFsa e London, 10 call ON
shat governmsnt for the satisfaction and
security required By the outrage. Ave.
ry shastlntervd ought now % bring tie
ansWrr which sh1ll &c communicated Is
yoa i, saon = receiyed: dice also. or q
sspa sttsr - The public interests shaIl be
EoDndlta simiG die nnratiied treaty and
ptpcesdings relative % Il shai be made