Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-04-25
-6ntsrfsting Doritmsnt.
A4r. MABKsoN's Leter TO Mr.. RosE, on
she sp9ect Of the Chesapeake, &c.

LIZ KITS NCDhlSn~Cs yum alIAfaA was
awaited with every friendly solicitude ;
and our FIRST interview having opened
the way by an acqulescence in the
separation of the TWO cases insisted
on by his Britannia Majesty, notwith-
stending the strong grounds on which
they had been united by the President,
twas not 10 be doubted that a tender
sfthe satisfactionclaimed by the United
Stxtes for a distinguished and an &C
knowledged insult by enc Of his Off
GERS, would Immediately follow.
Tt was not, therefore, without very
painful surprise that the error Of this
expectation was discovered. Instead
ofrhc satisfaction due from the origin
al aggressor, il was announced that the
frst step towards the adjustment must
I rocceed from the party injured !; and
veur letter now before me, formally re-
peats that as long as the proclamation
Of the President which issued OH the I'd
July, 1907, shall be in force, it viii b
an insuperable OBSTACLE to q uegolil ion
even on the subject of the aggression
which preceded 1t; in other words, that
the proclamation must be put out Of
force before an adjustment of the ag-
erosion can be taken int discussion.
In explaining tie grounds Of this ex-
traordinary demand, it is allcdged to be
supported by the consideration that the
proceeding and Pretention of the Offend
ing officer, has been disavowed that
general assurances are given of dis
position and intention i'll his Britannia
majesty, to make satisfaction that a
special minister was dispatched with
promptitude, for the purpose OF Carry
ing into effect this disposition and
that you have a personal conviction
that the particular terms, which you
are not at liberty previously to disclose,
Sill DC deemed by the United States
satisfactory.
With respect 70 the disavowal it
would be unjust net to regard it as
proof Of candor and am3ty towards the
C1ited States, and as some presage of
the voluntary PREPARATION which il inn
Piled to be due But the disavowal
can be the less COMPOUNDED with the
PREPARATION itself; since it was sufi-
ciently required by the respect which
Great Britain owed to her own honor !;
it being impossible that IN enlightened
government, had hostility been medi-
tated, would have commenced it in
such a manner, and In the midst of
existing professions of peace and
friendship. She owed it also to con-
sistencv with the disavowal on a former
occasion in which the pretension had
been enforced by a British squadron
AGAINST the sloop Of war Baltimore,
I longing 70 the U'fftG States, and
finally to the interest which G1-eat- Bri-
Eain has more than any other nation, in
disclaiming a principle which you'd
expose her superior number Of ships of
war, to so many indignitles from inleri-
or navies.
As little can the general assurance
that repatriation would BE- made, claim
return which could properly follow
the actual reparation only. They cam
not amount TO more than a disposition,
or at most a promise to do what the
aggressor may deem fulflment Of his
obligation. They do not prove even
a disposition 10 do what may be sais-
factory to the injured party, who cam
not have less Than an equal right
10 decide or the sulIiciency of the re-
dress.
In dispatching special minister for
the purpose of adjusting the difference,
the United States ought cheeHully 10
acknowledge all the prooflt affords on
the part OF his Britannia majesty of his
pacific views towards them, nd Of his
respect for their friendship But whilst
they could not, under any CirCumstan~
ces, allow TO the measure more than
a certain participation in an honorable
reparation, i IS TO be recoIlected that
the avowed and primary object Of the
mission was 10 substitute foi the more
extended adjustment proposed by the
United States at London, separation
Of the subjects as preferred by his
Britannia majesty, and you wen know,
Sir, how fully this object was accom-
plished.
With respect to the personal oOnvic-
ZION wbich you have expressed, that
the terms which you decline to disclose
would Be satisfactory to the United
.Stafss, it is incumbent on me to observe
that with the highest respect for your
Judgment and the most perfect conf
d.nce in your sincerity, an insuperable
objection manifestly lies, to the accep,
n Il.