Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-04-18
3Intrrfsting Document.

Continuation Of Mr.. MABIsoN's Letter
10 Mr.. ROSE, on The subject Of The
CHesafeGke, &c. conlmencedi,z the last
Gazette, and dated
Department of State, March S. 1903.
A CASE of another character occur
red in the month Of September, 1906.
The Lnlhetueur, French ship of IA
guns, whsn aground within a few
hundred yards of the shore of North
Carolina, and therefore visibly within
the territorial jurisdiction and hospita-
bic protection of the United States was
fired upon bearded and burnt, from
three British ships of war, under the
command Of Capt. Douglas. Having
completed this outrage on the sove-
reignty and neutrality Of the United
States, the British commander felt no
scruple in proceeding thence into the
waters near Norfolk nor in the midst
Of the hospitabIe rites enjoyed by him,
to add to what had passed refusal to
discharge frem his ships impressed
citizens Of the United States not denied
to be such, on the plea that the govern
ment Of the United States had refused
60 surrender to the demand Of Admiral
Berkeley, certain seamen alIedged to be
British deseTters demand which it
is well understood your government
disclaims any right to make.
1t would be superhuous todwell on the
features which mark this aggravated
insult. But must be permitted to
remind you that in 50 serious a light
was a similar violation Of neutral terri
tory. by the destruction OF certain
French ships on the coast of Psrtagai,
by British squadron under the COM
mand Of Admiral Boscazvan, regarded
by the court of Great Britain that a
minister extraordinary was dispatched
for the express purpose Of expiating
the aggression on the sovereignty of a
friendly po~er.
Lastly presents itself, the attack bv
the British ship LeQtard, on the Amer
lean frigate Chesaheake a case too
familiar in all Its circumstances to need
a recital Of any part of them. It's
sufficient TO remark that the conclusive
evidence which this event added to that
which had preceded, of the uncontroul
ed excuses Of the British naval COM
mander, in insulting our Sovereignty,
and abusing our hospitality, determined
the President TO extend to all British
armed ships, the precaution heretofore
applied to few by name, of interdict-
ing 10 them the use and privileges Of
our harbors and waters.
This was done by his proclamation
of July ?, 1907, referring to the series
Occurrences ending with the aggres-
sion on the frigatc Chcaaheake, as the
considerations requiring it. And if the
apprehensioAs from the liceatious spirit
Of the British naval commanders, thus
developed and uncontrolled, which led
to this measure Of prccaution, could
need other justification than was afford
ed by what had passed, it would be am
ply found in the subsequent conduct
Of the ships uEder the command Of the
same captain Douglass.
The officer neither admonished by
reflection on the crisis produced by
the attack Oh the Chesateake, nor con
trouled by respect for the law ofnations,
or the laws Of the land, did not cease
within our waters to bring to, bv firing
at vessels pursuing their regular course
OF trade and in the same spirit which
had displayed itself In the recent out
rage committed on the American fri
gate, he not only indulged himself in
hostile threats, md indications Of a
hostile approach C Norfolk, but actu-
ally INSTRUCTED our citizens in the ordi-
nary communication between that and
nelghbouring places. His proceedings
constituted in fact, blockade Of the
port, and as real an invasion of the
country, according to the extent Of his
force as If troops had been debarkcd,
and the town besieged on the land
side.