Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-05-20

OF the questions In controversy between
us and Britain. The wisdom Of the
embargo is question Of great, but tran
sient magnitude, and omission sacrifices
no national right. Mr.. Pickering's OBJ
iect was to dissuade the nation from
war with England, into which he sus-
pected the administration was Plunging
US, under French influence. Bat the
tendency of his pamphlet is to reconcile
the nation, or at least the commercial
states, to the servitude Of British pro-
lection, and war with all the rest Of Eu-
rope. Hence England is represented as
conte nding for the common liberties of
mankind, and our only safeguard a.
gainst the ambition and injustice of
France. Hence all our seusibilities are
invoked in her favor, aud all Our antipa-
thies against her antagonist. Hence NO
all the subjects Of differences between
us and Britain are alledged to be on our
part mere hrcfencrs, of which the rigAt
is unequivocally pronounced to DC on her
side. Proceeding from a senator Of tn.
United States, specially chArgrd as a
member of the executive with the m4i0-
tenance cfthe nations right against To-
reign powers, and at moment xtrcm--
~ critical Of pending negotiation upon
all the points thus delinested, this for
NAL abandonment Of the American csuse,
this summons of unconditional surren-
der to the pretensions Of our antagonist,
is in my mind highly alarming. 1t be-
comes therefore duty to which every
other consideration must yield to point
our the errors of this repre- Sc nt1tion.
Before we strike the standard of the M.
ton, let US at least examine the pu~port
OF the summons.
And first, with respect to the impress
ment Of our seamen. We are told that
" the taking of British seamen found on
board our merchant vessels, by British
ships Of war, is agreeable to a right,
claimed and exercised for ages" It is
obvious that this claim and exercise of
ages, could not apply to US, as an inde-
pendent people. 1.-THE right WAS claim
cd and exercised while our vessels were
navig 'tiug under the British Dag, it
could not authorize the same claim when
their owners have become the cirizens
ola sovereign state. AS relict Of CO.
l0uial servitude, whatever may be the
claim Of Great Britain. it surely can be
no ground for contentling that it Is en,i.
tied to our Submission 49,.
Fit be meant that the right has been
claimed and exercised for ages over the
merchant vessels Of other nations, / al
prehen nd it is mistake. The case never
occurred with sufficient frequener to
constitute even practice, much less
right. lift had been either, 1t would
have been noticed by some of the VII:
tiers on the laws Of nations. The Truth
is, the question arose out of AmeTiean
independence from the severance of
one nation into two: 1t was not made a
question between anv other two nations.
There is therefore no right of Preserip.
ton.
But, it seems. it has also been claim-
ed and exercised, during the three. ad.
ministrations of our national govern
ment. And is it meant to be asserted
that this claim and exercise constitute a
right If III is, appeal to the UNIFORM,
unceasing and urgent remonstrances of
the three administrations; I appeal not
only to the warm feelings, but the cool
justice of the American people nay, 1
appeal to the sound sense and honorable
sentiment of the British nation itself.
which, however it may have submitted
at home to this practice. never would
tolerate its sanction by Law, against the
assertion. lfit is not, how can il be
affirmed that il is on ourPart a mere pre-
tenCe!
But the first merchant in the U. States,
in answer to Mr.. Pickerinc's late en-.
quiries has informed him that since the
affair Of the Chesapeake there has been
no cause Of complaint; thathe could not
find a single instance where they had ia
ken one man out of a merchant vessel