The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-09-16

on was not aCce pied bv America, because
America would not fulfil the condition on
which alone it was rendered, nan,eiv there
vocation of that proclamation by which the
British ships were not allowed TO enter the
harbors of America, while those of the enc
| my visited them at pleasure. But, sir, the
| manner in which the British reparation was
rendered TO America by a special mission
waa to all the feelings of nice honor, an eff
fective PREPARATION, although not accepted ;;
and so in fact we have every reason to -
lievc it was considered by the American go
vernment." .
! From the tlisgraceful animadversions with
which the federal prints abound it would
seem that they had entirely forgotten the
black outrage committed on our rights and
honor in the attack of the Chesapeake
This act is rarely alluded to, and only recog-
| niZed as topic of censure OH the admins
tration. While they are absurtlly denounc-
ed tor not heaping unav;iling rcmonstrance
| OH remonstrance OH the table of the British
cabinet against the British orders, the situa.
| tion in which the unatoned outrage Oh the
Chesapeake places government not mean
enough to couch to violence and injustice is
| studiously thrown out of view. Have these
party men forgotten the circumstances that
succeeded that daring outrage? If they lave
| the nation has not, and it is to be hoped win
not forget them until ample reparation is
made which Mr.. Canning pretends was ten
dered.
For the purpose of exposing the fallacious
! view taken by Mr.. Canning in his remarks
in this point, we shall concisely state these
i .uIisttnSSSS. Nc :cc:cce" ,.as the omtrare
committed, than the national sensibility was
excited to the highest pitch of resentment
with one voice 1t demanded PREPARATION or re-
taliation. Even the Essex junto was awed
into silence. Tie voice of treason was still
The demand for PREPARATION was listened to
by the British ministry with apparent res
| pect. The universal sentiment prevalent in
their own nation eXtorted this from them
| keparation was promised-lnstead howe
yer, christianity making it, and thus effectu-
ally wiping away the shade it had cast on
the honour of a gallant people, it was de-
terously converted into topic ofnegociation,
and special mission sent across the Attain
tic.
Immediately consequent on the outrage,
let it be rccolle cted, was the proclamation
OF the President, interdicting the British
armed vessels. This measure was univer-
sally approved throughout the United States
Even tederalists extolled it as an act, lust
magnanimous, spirited and pacific They
emphatically declared that more ought not.
and less could not have been done; and they
admitted That Jefferson had in this in
stance exhibited an unequivocal solicitude,
by the moderation of his measures, to re-
store our amicable relations with Great Bril-
tam.-On this occasion, to their honor, ma
ny leading federalists@ waited ON the Presi-
dent for the first time, at his public levee on
the 4th OF July, which Immediately followed
the issuing OF the proclamation to evince
openly their sentiments We speak, from
persoal knowledge, in saying they spoke in
the most decided terms of the soundness of
the measure, and of the duty. of the people
to give it their unanimous support.
Alter a very prntracted delay, Mr.. Rose
arrived in the United States. His first re-
QUESTION was, that the affair of the Cbesa-
peake should be separated from all other
topics of controversy between the two 90
vernments. This was instantly acccded to
by our government. Mr. Rose then stated
ms readiness to enter upon IT,. discussion
OF suitable repatriation, provided the Pre-
sidents proclamation were previously re-
scinded. This humiliating concession was
rejected by our government; who, however,
offered, in case the PREPARATION proposed
should be satisfactory, to make the receipt
1.-THE PREPARATION and the revocation of the
proclamation co-temporaneoust.- This pro
position was finally rejected by Mr.. Rose,
who left the United States, even after bav,
ing obtained, what Mr.. Canning was so anx
ious for in London, the separation of the af-
fair OF the Chesapeake from all others, with
out having made, or even rendered any spe-
Ciic reparation whatever
Let us now test the remarks of Mr.. Can
ming by this indisputable statement of facts.
I" In the whole conduct of the British 90
vernment, with respect to the affair of the
Chesapeake, we have endeavored to keep
in view the principle upon which we set
out, namely, to make ample reparation for
that which was a decidedly wrong act; but
to make that PREPARATION under a determi-
nation not to surrender right which the
great majority of the country has ever
considered as essential to its dearest inter
ests.
The outrage is allowed to have been de-
cdedly wrong act, for which the British
government was bound to make ample re-
paratlon. How have they shewn the stree
rity OF their purpose to make this PREPARATION,
.las this been shewn by their omission to max e
this PREPARATION the moment they heard Of
the outrage, when it might have been made
without negotiating with or at all consult
ing our government, by an unqualified dis
avowal OF the act, by breaking and punish
ing the officer who committed it. or deli
vering him into our hands for trial. and by
a pecuniary idemnity for the injury done to
the Chesapeake? Have they even restored
the men, who if they had no right to take.
III