Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-01-22
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELECATFS.
December s.

tIF. SAF1U'lr nom the fEleCI Cotnth'lV'
tee, u whom VAS referred Mr.. Pope's
res 2Aiions, made Q4c following report:
The General assembly OF Virginia
taking into their most serious consldcrs-
ton the prescn, crisis in our political at.
Fairs, and the circumstances which have
tended to produce it, would be unPars
donably negligent, were they to remain
silent. They deeply regret that they
have been disappointed in their srdent
wish. that the United States might be
forever exempt from those disastrous
commissions, which have been so long
desolating Europe. In the strict and
impartial neutrality praetieed BY the A.
merican government to all nations; in
the inviolable regard which it has s. scru-
pulously paid to justice and good faith,
they fondly imagined they had a firm
r. guarantee TO the continuance of peace.
But from the menacing aspect Of sf .irs,
it secms but too probable that this Aatter.
ing anticipation is about to vanish, and
that we shall have to act a part in the
melancholy drama Of the day. In re-
viewing the series Of causes which are
likely to terminate IN this result, we de-
rive great consolation from the reflection
that the government of the -UnitedStates
has done every thing on its part which
was calculated to preserve peace upon
honorable TERMS, and that there is no.
thing with which it can with propriety be
npbralded. The recapituIation IN detail
OF the insults and injuries received,
would be tiresome and disgusting
Blockades established contrary to former
usage, new and destructive principles
in~terpolated in the Laws Of nations ; our
free born citizens impressed onNboard
u own vessels, and torn frog thcH,
friends ard ca--rtry, have been dooffIs
to perpetual exile and captivity, whilst,
the cry Of " AN AN AMERICAN CIrI.
ZEN" has beeR treated with contempt
and disdain ; these are some of the OUT
z Of which we complain and for
which we had demanded reparaeion for
the past, and security against, for the
future. In the midst of amicable con-
ference upon those subjects of complaint,
arrived the 22d Of June, 1907, a day
which will be forever memorable in the
annals of ANT RIGA.
History wilt record that on that day a
ship of war belonging to Great-Britain
made an attack (tttended with circum.
stances the most ofcnsive) upon a nAtio-
! nal ship of the United States rePosing
upon the pledged security ofruHtic faith,
and that amidst The gtoans of r4nrdcr~d
citizens, the Gag OF the Uoited States,
the sacred emblem OF our liberty aud in
dependence, was SEGA covering beneath
British audacity, and British violence.
The SENSATIONS arising from this dar,
ing outrage peryadrd with the rapiditA oI
lightning. tht%~> asst continent, and pro
.+ aacsa a uniform sentiment ofiudigna
ton, under the influence Of which, dis
appeared all party distinctions. We ex'
Eb,ted to the world the pleasing sPecta'
Gle Of a widely extended nation with ont
accord burying in the tomb fits slaugh'
tered e;tizens all party differences, and
with one voice demanding ample Venge'
ance or honorable r~eparation. The &c,
neral Assemble reviewing the conduct
Of the government Of the United State.
10 this trying exigency, rejoice to reHcc,
nponIthe digni6sd attitude b it assumed
one that. was supported BY ,firmness
tempered with moderation. It has beer
a.certaiped to the world, that If war en-,
sue, the United States are innocent o
the calamities inseparably incident to tina
state Of things. And with confidence ir
that Providence which seems to have
made these states s~o6peeuliarly its care
we 6rmly anticipate the aid of Heaven
and a propitious result. We should b.
wanting In frankuess, were we TO sup
press our anxiety for the preservation Q
peace, but. it must be a peace purchased
with no sacrifice or honor. The honol
OF a nation, it is believed, on the part 0
the General Assembly, isajewer Of in
estimable value to be maintainedat ever,
~ hazxard-Iuspired with this sentiments