The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-01
No. 10.
NO. IL.
TO MR.. CANNING

No. ID.
TO MR.. CANNING.
Portland Place, September Z, 1907.
SIR,
by the order of my government it is my
outy 10 request your attention To the aggres-
slsn' lately committed or the peace and So
yereignty of the U. S. by his Britannia ma
Jesty's ship OF war Leopard, in an attack on
an American frigate the Chesapeake off the
capes OF Virginia. The object of this COM
munication is to obtain from his majesty's
government suitable PREPARATION for that
outrage, and such an arrangement of the
great interest connected with 1t, as will place
the future relations of the two powers on a
solid foundation of peace and friendship.
In bringing the subject again to the view
OF MS maJesty's government, it is unneces-
sary to dwell on circumstances which are al
ready SO well known to you. BY the docu
ments which / have the honor to transmit
you, II is shewn that while the outrage was
unProvoked and unexpected on one side,
there was nothing to extenuate it on the other
The commander of his maiesty's squadron
on the coast of the. U. S. appears to have
acted on presumption that he possessed the
power to make war and to decide on the caus-
es or war 1t will be difficult to explain the
conduct OF that officer on any other princi-
pie, and equally SO to find an example of an
aggression marked with such high indgnity
and injustice to friendly power
= ne Pretext for this aggression could not
lail 70 heighten the sense of injury which the
act itself was SO signally calculated to ex-
cue; MY government was taught to infer
from 1T, that there was no limit to preten-
sion which had already produced SO much
Hhlschlef, and against which so many remon-
strances had been presented, in its applica-
zion 10 merchant vessels. But find with
great satisfaction, that this pretension forms
no topic tor discussion between us in respect
10 ships Oh war, and trust that the lust
ana enlightened policy which produced the
acc sion In one instance, will surmount the
oDstacie which has hitherto embarrassed it
in the other.
Inc national character Of the men who
were taken thus violently from on board the
chesapeake, make part of the question. 1t
is impossible that it should come into view
in estimating the injury which the u S have
received The outrage involves a great and
uhcontested principle, which ought not in a.
ny View' to be affected by appealing to natl
ohai senslbllity on either side. have, how
ever. the honor to transmit you documents
~Mch VIII, presume, satisfy YOU that they
were American citizens.
with respect to the PREPARATION which nv
government ought to receive for thi. outrage.
!. WIN ohiy be necessary to appeal to those
'Sh'ilhthts winch Great-Britain would be
sure to indulge, under like circumstances tn
that sensibility to national honor. which has
distinguished so many epochs of her history.
II VIII be recollccted that the injury.
winch IN ltielf was great. was much aggra-
saleo oy the circumstances which attended
IL that the peaceful relations of the Uni
tea states were violated, and their unsus-
Pectlng confidence surprised. But / for.
Dear to reci,e details which it is painfnI
10 contemplate. You will, j am persuaded,
De satisfed that in every light in which the
SUBJECT Can be seen, the honor of my govern
meht and OF the whole nation has been great
outraged by the aggression, and that it be-
comes the honor of his majestv's government
to make distinguished reparation for if.
In presenting, in this friendly manner. this
important subject to the consideration of his
naDestys government, | am particularly in
sIruCteo torequest its attention to the great
cause TO which this, and so many other in
Jurles OF IKE kind may be traced the i'm
Pressment of mel from the merchant vessels
OF the United States, In many essential cir
cumstances the objections which are applica-
Die to impressments from ships of war. are
equally applicable to those from merchant
vessels 10 the individuals who suffer by the
PidSIiSc, tne INJURY is the same In either
case. Their claim on their government for
protection is in both cases equal; every
maxim OF public law & private right, which
is violated in one, is equally violated IN the
other The relation of the belligerent TO
the neutral power, extends to certain objects
only, and is defined in each by known laws.
Beyond that limit, the rights of the neutral
are sacred, & cannot be encroached on with
out violence and injustice. Is there cues
ton OF contraband, is the vessel destined to
oiockaded port, in violation of establish
ed principles, are, or does she contain enc
my property, the greatest extent to which
the maritime Jaw IS carried by any nation ;
In these cases, she is conducted to port for
trial the parties are heard by an impartial
and responsible tribunal, and are heard a.
gain by appeal if they desire it. Are anv
OF the passengers on board the neutral ves-
sci In the naval or military service of
the enemy If such are found they are
made prisoners, but as prisoners they have
rights which the opposite bellgerent is
bound to respect This practice whoever
| looks to other objects than are here recit-
ed. 1t involves no question of belligerent
on one side, and OF neutral on the other.
1t pursues the vessel of friend for an lin-
lawful purpose, which it executes in man
ner equally unlawful. Every commercial
vessel of the u. States that navigatcs the o.
cean is liable to be invaded By it, and not an
individual on board any of them is secure
while the practice is maintained. 1t sets up