Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-28


proclamation, as preliminary TO discussi-
Oh OF the repatriation we ought to receive,
is the ground upon which the negotiation
With Mr. Rose was broken off. This whole
transaction ought to- convince every Ame-
rican, IN the strongest and fullest manner,
that there does not exist desire in the
executive TO go to war with England and
that IT we are involved in it, or in circum.
stances that produce distress, il is to be
ascrioed to. The feliy and w.ckedhess of O..
TIERS, and not the choice, misconduct or
lremissness of our government, in a single
instance. For although All adjustus N
OF the affair of the Chesapeake, would have
removed only small part Of our Difficult
tties with Great Britain, and although that
adjustment did not give us security against
acts OF violence proceeding from the same
Cause yet our government, IN ordsr tore
move all suspicion of an unvillingness to
lessen our difficulties, entered into a neyo-
lcIauon upon that SUBJECT alone, with a
ltrankness and sincerity i,eculi,r to It, md
pursued it as long as it could be done, with
out national degradation. 1t is painful to
me to speak IN manner of any govern
inent, or its accredited agents, that may
not be considered respectful. In this
icase, however, ] feel it o be my duty, TO
Istate explicitly, that do not believe it
Twas the intention of Great Britain to give
Jus satisfaction upon this point. The ex-
ltravagance of the demond that we should
Iprecede the discussion of the PREPARATION
I've were to receive by making reparati-
len to her, 'forbids the belief that she could
have expected we would do it. The i'm
lpunity ut admiral Berkeley, whose life could
not have atoned to his own country, for tue
embarrassment in which he hid involved
her. by committing an act of great enor-
unity and hostility against the only nation
with whom she was IN amity, and whose
Friendship was important toher the aeten-
ltlon OF the>unlortunate men taken from the
lChesap Ike, Who hive escaped The merci-
iess-v vengeance of Berkeley; but above all,
ltneir orders of the 1lth November, prohi-
lpiting the Commerce OF neutrals with the
Iehemies OF Great Britain, which orders
l"niy operate on the United Sta,es and
nt r concealing from Mr.. Rose Of this
was done) and from our IN nisters in Lo -
Idon, their intention to issue such orders
IAN these things prove the determined hos
ltihiy OF the English ministry. For it is
linconce vable, tina. t should nor have been
lconte mplat,d by the British 10 issue these
borders, Defot e Mr. Rose left England las
these events happened within a short time
lot each other j and if. they did, they could
not believe anygood could haveresulted from
ISny reparst,oa they cou. d ofer, for The
Iat.ack upon the Chesapeake, when il was
- he imme diately succeeded by a measure
OF so decidedly hostile and ru nous cha
1racter to the United States. To nation
proud and reg rdless as the British are OF
The rights and f. liuSs of others, there
cou be no iuducement to make atone
ment for one act OF vol. and indgnity,
when theywere about to perpe rate another,
that would inflict mortal wound upon the
Il honor and the interest of the United States
cannon but entertain suspicion, that the only
OBJECTS ot Great Britain, in send ng Mr. RsGe
to this country, were to get time to put
her colonies in our ne ghborhood, in a state
n defence, and to tax the chance of EN-.
DdrraSNinS us al home. by exciting in the
minds OF Il portion ut the American people
: a distrust OF their own government. That
such an effort has been made and is ma.
king, must be obvious to all who read news
!, papers-how else can various publication
be accounted for!
Il Wnen the Embargo was laid, circum
stances fully justified it. 1t is fact, how
ever, that this measure WIS taken, not on
ly in c. nseque nee of outrages then commit
ted, but N expectation of others of NOR,
= y grant nature, not only from England, bu
Ao"NS' WhSH bnc pICSlu6nI IeCOHlmSD
ded to Congress TO lay the Embargo, h,
, informed them that the Emperor of Franc,
had announced, through Mr.. Champaign
to General Armstrong our minister at Pa
: ris, determination to appIy his decree O
the 2lst of November, 1906, for the block
ade of the British is es, to us as well as o
: ther ueutrals, from the operation of which
5 decree our commerce had hitherto beer
exempt. We knew, that our demand fo
t separation for the attack upon the Ches
I apeake had not been complied with. w,
believed, Great Britain would instantl,
declare all Bonaparte's dominions ant
those of his allies IN a state of Blockade
this opinion was founded upon the past con
duct and declaration of that government
Accordingly it appeared, as we had antici
pated, that orders to that effect issued n
: Great Britain Oh the 18th November, 1907
: We at the same time received the procla
nation of the King of Great Britain com
! nanding his cruizeTS TO impress all hi
: native born subjects, whenever they shoul
be found on board merchant vessels, am
TO demand all such as should be On boar
: ships OF war-his officers Being made tn
sole and absolute judges of who were, am
who were not his native born subjects
et The British orders of November las. bav
been followed by the French decree OF DE
: cember 18th, extending to every poss, bl
case, the authority to capture America
-. a.