Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-04-25

ldoes, and therefore can never be rea-
sonably expected from one which res
poets itself as much as this has right
10 do.
I ! forbear, Sir, to enlarge on the in
rinsic incongruiy of the expedient
proposed. But must be allowed to
Iremark, as an additional admonition Of
he singular and Notifying perplexity
In which compliance might involve
the president, that there are in the let
Tier of Mr.. Canning, communicating to
| Mr.. Manroe the special mission to the
/ United States, pregnant indications
that other questions and conditions may
have been contemplated which would
be found utterly irreconcileahle with
the sentiments OF this nation.
If neither any nor all of these consid-
erations can sustain the preliminary
demand made in your communication,
it renains to be seen whether such
demand rests with greater advantage
to the mere precise ground OH which
you finally seem to place 1t.
The proclamation is considered as
hostile measure, and discontinuanCe
of 1t as due TO he discontinuance of the
aggression which led to it.
It has been sufficiently shewn that
the proclamation, as appears on the
face of it, was produced by train of
occurrences terminating IN the attack
on the Cbesaheake frigate, and not by
this last alone. TO demand therefore
that the proclamation be revoked, it
would be perfectly fair to oppose de-
mand that redress be FIRST given for
the numerous irregularities which pre-
ceded the aggression on the American
frigate, as well as for this particrla.
aggression, and that effectual control be
interposed against repetitions of them.
Aud as no such redress has been given
for the past, Notwithstanding. the lapse
OF time which has taken place, nor any
such security for the future, notwith-
standing the undiminished reasonable
ness of it, it follows, that continuance
OF the proclamation would be consistent
with an entire discontinuanoe of one
only of the occurrences from which it
proceeded.
But It IS not necessary to avail the
argument of this view OF the case, al
though of itself entirely conclusive.
Had the proclamation been founded on
the single aggression committed on
the ChesaheGke, and were it admitted
that the diaconnnuance OF that aggres-
sion merely, gave claim TO the dis
continuance of the proclamation, the
claim would be defeated by the incon-
testible fact, that that aggression has
not been discontinued. II has never
ceased TO exist and is in existence
at tn5s momeRt. Need remind you,
Sir, that the seizure and asportation Of
the seamen be onSing to the crew Of
the CheSaheake entered into the very
essence of that aggression, that with
an exception Of the victim to trial
forbidden by the most solemn consider
atoms, and greatly aggravating the
guilt Gifts author, the seamen in ques-
ton are still retained, and consequently
that the aggression, ifin no other res
pect, is by that act alone continued and
in force
1t the view which have been taken Of
the subject have the business which
they claim, they viii have shewn that
on no ground whatever can an annul-
ment Of the proclamation of July 81 be
reasonably required as preliminary
TO the negotiation with which you are
charged. On the contrary it clearly
results, from recurrence to the causes
and objects of the proclamation, that,
as it was at FIRST minated, the strong
est sanctions of Great Britain herself
would support the demand, that Prcvi-
Gus TO discussion of the proclamation,
due SaIislact on should be made to the
United STATES that this satisfaction.
ought 10 extend to all the wrongs which
preceded and produced that act and
that even limiting the nae rits of the
question to the single relation of the
proclamation to the wrong committed
in the attack OH the American trigate,
and deciding the question OH the prin-
ciple that discontinuance of the latter,
required Of right discontinutnce of
the former, nothing appears that does
not leave such preliminary destitute
Of every Foundation which could be as
sum-d for it.
With right to draw this conclusion,
the president might have entrusted me
to close this communication, with the
reply stated in the beginning Of it; and
perhaps in taking this course, ne would
only haua ~nncuIf.I a espcihiI,v ~