Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-03-28
No IL.
GANNTTNN
TO Mr.. CANNING.
Portland Place, September I, 1907.


SlS, ,be order of my government it is rrly
,o request your attention to the a8gres-
guy ,s,ely committed on the peace and soye-
So" a ~ ~ the U. s. by msBrtanlac malestys
r s,S c usrLeopardin an attack orranAmeri-
snip pes;a.te the Chesapeake off the capes OF
Ien mt The object of this communication
ao'ohtyin from his majesty government a
s = PREPARATION for that outrage, and such
- arrangement of the great Interest connect
= with i, as will place the future relations OF
~ tvo Davcrs or solid foundation OF peSce
apa friendship. :
n bringirs the subject again 20 the view of
,;.,,o;esfy 5 coyerTsyaeat,it IS unnecessary to
-, EroIl On circumstances which are already SO
Vii Vii lno.ys, % you. BY me documents which
Ib.re the hoaor o transmit Yen, IS shewn
.,bsf While The outrage was unprovoked and
r.exnee ed on one side, there was nothing to
sv,snuate on the other, The commander OF
r. MAJESTY 5 squadron on the coast of the =.
{ .nnesrs to hare acted on presumption
hat he possessed he power to make war and
.aJee;de on the causes of war. 1t viii be dill
e,,,s To ex,,Iair1 the conduct of that af3tser on
any other principle, and equally SO to find an
I exarple CT al aggression marked with such
b;ph inlignity and injustice to a friendly pow
The p.e.cxt for this aggression could not
Eil to heighteR the sense OF injury which the
actitself was SO signaliv calculated to excite.
NV government was taught to infer from it,
that there was no Limit TO a pretenslon which
had already produced SO muca mischief, and
against which 50 many remonstrances had
been presented in its application 10 merchant
vessels. But I find with great satisfaction. that
this pretension forms no topic for discussion
bstween. Us ia respect TO ships OF war; and
trust that the Jas, AID enlightened policy
Which produced The decision ia one instance,
pilsurmouut the obstacle which has hitherto
embarrassed it in the ether.
The na5ionai character of the men who
were taken thus violently from on board the
Chesapeake, make no part OF the question. 1t
isimpossible thar it should come into view IN
estimating the injury which the =. S. have
received The outrage involves a great and
uncOntessed principle, which ought not in any
view, to be affected by appealing to national
sensbiitieS On either side. | have however
the honor to transmit you documents whicl
will, presume, satisfy YOU that they were
American citizens.
WithrespeCt to the reparation which my
government ought to receive for this outrage,
twill only be necessary to appeal to those
sentiments which Great Britain would be sure
to indulge, under like circumstances to that
senslbility to national honor, which has disCn-
Sushed 50 many epochs OF her history. 1t
VIII be recoIlected that the injury, which in
Itself was great, was much aggravated by the
circumstances which attended it: that the
peacefui relations of the United States were
Violated, and their unsuspecting confidence
surprised. But l forbear to recitc details
which 1t is painful to contemplate. You viii,
aa persuaded, be satisfied that iii every light
(which the subject can be seen, the honor Of
my government and of the whole nation has
Oeen greatly outraged by the aggression, and
0at 1t becomes the honor OF his majesty's
government to make distinguished repara-
Ton Gorit.
nprescOsing, in this friendly manner, this
Important subject to the. consideration of his
hSlesty's government, am particularly IN
sGuctedto request its attention TO the great
.ause to which this, and SO many other lnju-
.SS OF like kind may be traced; the I'm :
fsessment of men from the merchant vessels
= ne Uaited States. In many essential cir
sfls'ances the objections which are applica-
hsSo l,npressments from ships OF war, are
w applicable to Those from merchant
els. To the individuals who suffer by the
cace, the injury is the same in either case.
"sn Claim on their government for protec-
r ssa,. Is IN both cases equal; every maxim of
fsuuc law, and pirate right, which is violated
oe' Is equally violated in the other. The
sNaOh OF the belligerent to the neutral pow
Ne ~ extends to certain objects only, and IS
E4lea IN each by known laws. Beyond that
a's the rights of the neutral are sacred,
nv cannot be encroached on without violence
Nv Nv Mlnshce. Is there aquestion of contra
NJ the vessel destined to blockaded
ss.s N violation of established principles, or
:. ~ she contain enemy's property, the great.