The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-06
CONGRESS.
SENATE OPTHE UNITED S7.STES.
TUESDAY, Nov %.
pHap moo Dr,,.,r, c>

Mr.. Pohe.-Mr PRESIDENT rise with
more than ordinary difidence to address
you on the interesting question under consi-
deration. When Iconsiderth the present s.=;c
ct our country embarrassed with difficulties
nenaced with dangers by foreign nations,
our ships captured and burn. by one power,
captured, condemned and confiscatcd by the
other, storm gathering in the East, which
threatens to burst upon us with rebellion and
aisunioii, the honor, independence and best
interest OF the American people deeply in
vowed Hthe Course to be pursued, l am Sc
riouSly impressed with the immense resoon-
SIXTY which devoIves upon NE. as one of
their representatives ut this awful crisis.
L ne want ct some documents which | had
expected would before this have been furnish
&c u.s. ana OF more intimate acquaintance
with the commercial world, renders me un-
able to do justice to all the topics which gen
lernen have Il r., li,c w,de range
they have taken; although shall nut at
tempt to explore the whole ground, will
| enacavor with tic best lights possess TO no.
ice snch OF the arguments of the gentlemen
In opposition rs SEEM TO demand attention.
On the Eth OF July, 17Tt:, the people of
these states declared themselves free and in
dependent, and this declaration they sealed
with their blood Their independence was
Sson alter recognized by different powers of
self by this memorable and glorious event,
which released them from the shacklcs of
the British government, and gave them in
dependence, they became entitled to all the
rights and privileges on the high seas which
could he rightfully claimed by any other IA
tIoh; and these rights, presume, it will not
&c pretended they have either abandoned o.
forfeited. The high seas have been hitherto
considered The common highway of nations.
designed by the Cod OF Nature, for the COM
mon use OF mankind, and over which no pow
CT Could rlghtfnlly claim exclusive dominion.
snail not waste the time of the Senate TO
enquire whether France OF Great Britain has
oecn the FIRST aggressor OH our neutral rights,
or rom which we have received the most
/ INJURIES and indignitiss, because such an en-
curry appears 10 me at this time unimpor-
tant' am willing to view both nations with
an cqual eye as common enemies. Nor do
Nseh Unnecessary to retrospect injuries and
insults OF an ancient date, but shall confinc
inyseif 10 period and circumstances more
intimately connected with the present crisis.
In 1905 the British government asserted that
TINS country was not entitled to carry OF trade
witt her enemy in time of war, not permit
eeo IN time of peace. Under color of this
new prlhc,ple, a number of American YES
seis were captured by British cruizers and
condemned i'll the British Courts of admiral
". This conduct of the British government
alarmed the whole commercial interest of
tHiS Country, and memorials were sent to
inc President from the different commercial
towns in the United States, protesting in
strong and spirited language against this no.
vel principle, and calling upon our govern
ment to resist by negotiation it, AS well as
the impressment of our scamen. ] beg leave
to read part of the memorial from New
Haven, in the state OF Connecticut Mr..
Pope read as follows:
| THAT your mcmorialists have observed
with no common degree OF surprise and soil
c;tudc, the numerous embarrassments which
the commerce of the u. States has suffered
during the present war in Europe and the
Indies; arising from the adoption of new
principles by the admiralty courts of c.. BIi
tain, as well as from the depredatIons Commit
ted on our unprotected trade by lawless free
hooters, and the unwarrantable impressmen,
| CT our seamen. Your memorialists will not
attempt to discuss at large the principle
which they understand, has been adopted by
/ the admiralty courts Of Great Britain, in re-
cent decisions respecting the rights of nc,.-
/ trail nations; i is sufficient for them TO OBJ
serve, that In their opinion, the principle as
suned by Great Britain, of CONSIDERING all
| the trade OF a neutral nation as unl2 ,gfuI
which the Same nation cannot carry on i'm time
| OF peace, to be new & unwarrantabe a prin.
cipe net authorized by the maxins of sound
| justice, which have long been received and
respected BY nations, as laws by ehich their
mutual intercourse ought tubc regulated"
| The people Of boston, liz their me niorial
after reasoning with great ability ard pers-
| picuity to prove that this new pr;rcipic as
sumed by TIC British courts of Admiralty was
an alarming intraction of neutra, rights, So
licit the government OH account OF the i'm
| portancc OF the suOlec: t. Scnd special mis-
sion to London. Here M Pope read from
the Boston memorial as 4, ,ors:-
But whatever may tSvC 6ccn the motive:
for the proceedings OH the part Of Great Bri
tain, the effect is notorious. From her re-
cent conduct g,>at LOSES have been sustain
tanned; OK commerce das been checked aut
Embarrassed, and large Quan,i.r.. OF pro
CGce arc nov remaining locked up in thi
country, which were purchased for foreig,
markets; because our merchants Cannot yent
it abToat', without ta.Si risks on thcmsolyc
which pTuGeacc would not justify, OF withou
paying sucn rates Tor Insurance as tn.
trade OF tAc country cannot afford.
" Eh.s cirCunst4nced, the merchants o
Boston have tllousnt il their duty rcspecuu
II 90 make known their Complaints TO ihei
government. believing thc citizens Of th
United States dcsr uus q cultivatiug relation
OF amity wish the Ntole human race; all
particularly connected as they arc with G