Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-01

! G ON 6 r E S S.
TyEspay, Nopsn5er %.
EcoNTIaUED.1
Mr.. PCPE. Mr.. President lis,

Mr.. POPE. Mr.. President rise
viii more s!aaa ordinary diGidence to ad-
dress. YOU on tfs interesting question under
consideration. When / consider the pre-
sent state of our country embarrassed with
sEsscuities, inenaced with dangers by To-
.ga nations, Our ships captured and burnt
5 bs one power captured, condemned and
s,oniscated by the other, a storm gathering
Is the East, which threatens to burst upon
rs With rebellion and disunioa, the honor,
;n,,s1endence and best interest Of the Anne
ryan people deeply Involved in tie course to
Is pursued, ! ara seriously impressed with
he immense responsibility which devoives
MON me-, as one of theirrepresentatives at
.,is awful crisis. The want .. some doc,,-
gsnts which had expected woah before
this have been furnished us, and of a more
;utiais,ss acquaintance with the CON msrc'al
,.orld renders me llnssbleto %; justice to all
t,.!.e sasss ayssGh genflencn have Introduced
Il ths' MI sr.snge they have taken altho''
1911 not atteaapt to explore the whole
erouasl yiu endeavor with the best lights
saosses to aistice the rgsilnents of the gsSTas
ssraerl ii 81 position IS seem % demand at
tsation. 5
On the ath of JULY, 1..ST6S, che people Of
these states declared themselves free and M
d pendent, and this declaration they sealed
WITH is tl,sif bieotl. rhcir independence was
soon ..tss recognized By different powers OF.
Eurore, and finally BY Great Britain her
SELF Bythls memorable and glorious event
which released them from the shackles Of.
the British governsgent, and gave them m,
dependence, they became entitled TO all the
rights and privileges on the high seas which
could be iigidully claimed By any other ma
ton; and these rights, | presume, IT wiil
moi Be pretended they have either abandoned
CT forfeited.
Tie high seas have been hitherto consl-.
dared the common high way Of nations, de-.
seaea 81 the God Of Nature for the COM
mon use of mankind, and over which no
4 pufysr coal ri;yghSffailv claim exclusive. dos
miai0n. shall not waste the time OF the
4 Senate 10 enquire whether Fianee or Great
\ Britain has been the first aggressor on our
neural rights, or from which we have re-
csivea the most injjar: IS d:indignities, be-.
cause such an esssfssiry appears 70 me at this
time unimportaps. I am wiling to view.
N bosi nations with al equal eye, as common,
n ulsmies. Nor do deem i necessary to
nsrospect injuries and insults of an ancient
4 da.c, bat shall con6ns myself TO a period
4 and circumstances more intimately connec-
led with the present crisis. In 1893 the
4 Erissh government asserted that his caun.
n Try was not entitled to carry on trade with
her enemy in time of war, not permitted IN
tine OF peace. Undercolcr OF this new prin-
4 eiple. number of American vessels were
esptirred by British cruizers and condemns
& I'd IN The British courts OF admiralty. his
,cnduct of the British government alarmed
The whole commercial interest ofthis coun-
ry and memorials were sent TO the Presi-
dent from the different commercial towns
nthe United States, protesting N strong
and spirited language against thlsnovel pr'n'
cple, and calling upon our government e
resist BIZ negotiation Il, as we as the iH-
pressment Of our seanen. beg leave t
read a part of the memorial IRON MsW !, IA
ven, in the state of Connecticut. Mr. fop'
read as follows:
s Thai yoar memorlalisss have ooss.Ve'
with 40 common degree Of surprise and and 50
hcinde, the numerous embarrassment
which the commerce Of the Y. States ne
suffered, during the present war III IuloR
and the Indies !; arising from the adoPtlo
Of rev principles by the admiralty courts
6. Britain, as web as from the deprsda.,,0 %
committed on our unprotected rade by law
less freebooters,s and the unwarrantaole lm 3;
pressment of onr searnen. Your memoir
ais,s viii not attemp. TO discuss at large 70
principle, which they understands mas 9 3 ::
adopted By the admiralty courts OF Y. 8. pr