Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-05-27


lounded-" the unfortunate Hffair Of the
Chesapeake. The orders of admiral
Berkeley, under which this outrage va,
committed, have been disssowed BY hi.
government. General professions Of
willingness to make reparstion for Il,
have been hvished in pVofusion and We
| are now instructed to Jake these Profes.
sions for rndeavoursS 70 believe them
sincere, because his Britannia majesty
sent Us special envoy and cast the
odium Of defeating these sndeayors up.
Oh our own governments.
I have already told you, that I am not
one Ut those who deem suspicion add
distrust, in the highest order of poli,i.
cal virtues. Baseless suspicion is, in
my estimation, a vice, as pernicious in
the manage ment Of public affairs, as it
is fatal to the happiness Of domestic life.
When, therefore, the British ministers
have declared their disposition TO make
ample reparation for an injury ola most
attrocio"s character, H'mmitted BY an
officer Ct high rank, AID, q they say,
autter!y without authority, ] should most
readily believe them, we're their profess
sions 70. positively cor radiet.d BY facts
Of nor powerful eloq uFnee> than words.
Have such facts occuk red I will not
again allude to the cireJ instances Of Mr..
Roses departure upon his mission at
such precise Poine 4 time, that his
commission and the ordtrs Of council Of
ll,h November, mighfhav been sign.
ed with the same pen f4l of ink. The
subjects were not immE diately connect.
ed with each other, AMI bis majesty did
not choose to associale distinct topics
Of negotiation. The attack upon the
Chesapeake was disavowed and ample
reparation was withheld only, because
with the demand for satisfaction upon
that injury, the American government
had coupled demand for the cessation
Of others ; alike in kind, but of minor
aggravstion. But had reparatiOn really
been intended, would IL NOT have been
offered, not in vague and general terms,
but in precise and specific proposals !
Where are any such made: None. But
il is said Mr.. Monroe was restricted
from negotiating upon this subject apart;
and therefore MIR. Rose vas to be, sent
to Washington; charged with the single
object and without authority to treat
upon, or even discuss any other. Mr..
Rose arrives-The American govern
ment readily determined to treat upon
the Chesapeake affair, separately from
all others but before Mr., Rose sets his
foot on shore, in pursuance Of pre-
tgntion made before by Mr.. Canning, he
connects with the negotiation, . subject
far more distinct from the butehery of
the Chesap AXE, than the general inn
pressment OF our seamen-I mean the
proclamation, interdieting to British
ships Of war, the entrance Of our har.
bors. . - --~-.-z=------
The great obstacle which has always
iuterfered in the adjustment of our diff.
ferences with Britain, has been that she
would not acquiesec in the only princi.
pie upon which a negotiation between.
independent nations can. be conducted,
the principle of reciprocity, that she re-
fuses the application to US OF the claim
which she asserts for herself. The for
chile taking Of men from an American
vessel, was an essential part Of the out
rage upon the Chesapeake. It was the
ostensible purpose for which that act Of
war unprecedented, was committed.
The presidents proclamation was sub
sequent act and was avowedly founded
upon many similar aggressiohs, of~hieh
that was only the most aggra' ated.
IL then Britain could with any co lour
of reason claim that the general question
Of imprisonment should be laid out of the
case altogether, she ought upon the
principle Of reciprocity to have laid e.
qually OH. Of the case, the proclamation.
measure SO easily separated from it,
and in its nature merely defensive.
When therefore she made the repeal Of
the proclamation an Indispensable pre-