The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-24

emf things The last would wound deeply the
honor OF the nation, and PROSTATE the character
OF the government; but the first is in perfect con
formity with the spirit and purpose of the law
| and while It would furnish signal proof of the
equity and moderation of our public councils
would preserve unmpaIred, that firm and digni
ned attitude which it becomes us at all times, but
especially now, to maintain" This signal proof
OF the equity and moderation of our public coun-
Gus was instantly given, not only by suspension
OF the transportation act, but a power given the
president to suspend it for further time, if the
| state OF things between the two countries should
| require 1T. This done by the President in
the month of March 1907, even after he refused
| " ratfy tic treaty negotiated By Messrs Mon
roe and Pinkney, until the ne xt meeting of Con.
Sfess Thereby giving to the British government
new evidence of a most sincere desire of putting
an ndto differences that oasi,t e4io< be,
tween two nations, having so many motives to es
tabh'h and cherish mutual friendship. In March,
| 1897, the President received from our minister's
| IN England, treaty, signed by the commissioners
| OF the TWO nations, the 31st December preceding ::
TINS treaty.. for reasons that will hereafter ex-
pam, vas with great propriety, rejected by the
FreSideat, and our ministers were directed TO re-
new the negotiations with Great Britain, with
tne rules: assurances ct our desire to maintain
the friendly relations between the two nations, so
conducive to the happiness of both; of which
jdsPosit'onhe had given recent and unequivocal
proof. 1T any further evidence is required to
prove the sincerity of this declaration, / need
only refer to the correspondence between Mr..
| Madison and our ministers in England, from
| which 1t does appear, that we not only have right
on our side, but that claims have been assert
ed with an ability, dignity, temper and modera-
tion, that ought to have ensured us redress, and
that the failure only be ascribed to a conf.
dence in power and disregard of right.
Not long after the return of this treaty, it i.
| known to you that the British ship Leopard, in
view OF a strong British squadron, then within
our waters, committed the most fragrant and
outrageous violation of national honor, by at.
| lacking the American frigate Chesapeake, under
] circumstances of the most aggravating kind that
| Immediately afterwards, this squadron took a
station near Norfolk, and committed every act of
hostility, short ofattacking that town that in de-
hance Of the, Proclamation, it remained within
! our territory, even after the arrival of Mr. Rose
at Washington, and pending his negotiation If
the President had been DESTROYS, as he has beea
falsely charged, 10 SO TO way with Great 2 r.a;f
how easy and with what little responsibility could
he have then plunged the nation into war, In
stead vi which, without sacrifice OF our honor
he took the course dictated by the soundest wis
dom and policy. He demanded of Great Britain,
| whether this act had been committed under the
authority OF that government, and if not, that
she should make honorable and prompt reparati-
on, such she would expect under similar cir-
cumstances
You have seen the pretence that was made in
England, for not making reparation, treat
! ing about r-that Our overnment demanded, &c as
security OF the future, entire abolition of i'm
pressments from vessels under the flag of the Ue
nited States" The connection between thes
subjects must be obvious, as, but for the prac-
tice OF imprcssment, there would have been no
pretence for the outrage committed without the
abandonment OF the practice, there would be no
security that there would not be a repetition of
the same violence. The British demanding the
revocation of the proclamation of the President,
as preliminary to discussion Of the nature and
extent OF the PREPARATION should receive is a
proof that the abandonment of the right to ini-
press from orr vessels being required, did not
prevent MIR. Monr"e's adjusting this subject with
the British government for it was here, so it
would there have been required, that the revoca-
ton should prccede the discussion and it is known
that MI. Monroe Rad no authority to treat upon
that subject and hope, for the honor of my
country, there is not one American who believes
he ought to have had. You are informed that the
refusal OF our government, to revoke the procIa-
nation, as a preliminary to discussion of the re-
Paraton we ought to receive, is the ground upon
which the negotiation with Mr.. Rose was broken
! OH. This whole transaction ought to convince
every American, in the strongest aud fullest man
ncr, that there does not exist a desire i'm the ex-
| ecutive to go to war with England and that If
we are involved in it, or in circumstances that
produce distress, it is TO be ascribed to the fo y
| and wickedneSs of others, and not the choice
misconduct or remissness of our government, in
a single instance. For although an adjustment
OF the affair of the Chesapeake, would have re.
moved only small part Of our difficulties with
Great-Britain, and although that adjustment did
not give us security against acts of violence pro.
ceeding from the same cause; yet our govern.
ment, in orCer TO remove all suspicion of an TN.
Willingness to lessen difficulties, entered into
a negotiation upon that subject alone, with a
tranlness and sincerity peculiar to it. and pursu
ed II as long it could be done, without national
degradation. II is painful to me to speak in q
manner Of any government, or it's accredited n.
gents, that may nJt be considered respectful. Tn
tins case, however, feelit TO be my dutv to state
cxphct ly, Tat do not believe it was the inten
ton ct Great Britain TO give us satisfaction upor
this point. The extravaganza the demand that
we should prccede the diScusSion of the reparati
on We were to receive, by making repatriation tt
her, t'rbids the belief that she could have ex
/ pected we would do IT. The impunity of ADM
) raj ,Berkcley, whose life could not have atonet
! to his own country, for the embarrassment i,
} which lc had involved her, by committing an nc
OF great enOrInty and hostili q against The onl,
i-tiOn with whom she was in amity, and who's,
friendship was important TO her; the detention
} OF TIC unfortunate men taken from the Chesa
pc2ke, who lave escaped the merciless venge
ance o. Berkeley; but above all, their orders O
= the l1th November, prohibiting the commerce o
neutr"lS with the enemies Of Great Britain whic