Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-05-27

held to sanction his proceedings. ne
three other men had not even been de-
manded 10 his orders They were taken
by the sole authority ofthe British search
ing lieutenant, after the surrender Of the
Chesa2eake.-Ihe here was not the shad-
ow Of pretence before the court martial
that they were British subjects, or born
in any of the British dominions. Yet
by this court martial they were sentenced
10 suffer death They were reprieved
from execution, only upoa condition Of
renouncing their rights as Americans BY
voluntary service in the kings ships
They have never been restored-To
complete the catastr ophe with which this
bloody tragedy was concluded, admiral
Berkeley himself 10 sanctioning the doom
IL these men--,hus obsained--thus tried
and thus sentenced, read them a grave
moral lecture on the eporpity of their
crime, its tendeacy to revoke war be-
tween the u. States aid Great. Britain.
Yet amidst all this ptrade Of disavow.
nj BY his governmet-amidst all these
professions Of readiness 70 make repara-
ton, not n single mark Of the slightest
disaPprobation appears ever to have been
manifested to that officer. His inssruc.
lions wereexeeu.ed upon the Chesapeake
IN June-liumoEs Of his recall have been
circulated hers-But on leaving the sta.
ton a: Halifax in December, he receive.
ed complimentary address from the
colonial assembly, and assured them ia
answer, that he had no official informa.
tiou Of HE recall From thence he went
to the West Indies; and on leaving Der.
mudA for England 10 February was adj
dressed again By: thai colonial govern
nasnt, in terms of high Pauegyric upon
his energy, with manifest allusion to his
achievement upon the Chesapeake.
Under all these circumstances without
apply ing any Of the maxins Of a suspi-
cious policy TO the British professions, +
may still be permitted to, believe that
their ministry never seriously intended
to make as honorable reparation, or iu-
deed any PREPARATION a. allfor that Gun
fortunate affair"
1t is impossible for any man to form
an accurate idea Of the British policy to.
wards the United States, without taking
into consideration the state of parties in
that government; aud the vie vs., eharac-
t=rs and opinions Of the individuals at
their helm OF stare--A liberal and hos
tile policy towards America, are among
the strongest marks Of distinction be.
tween the political systems of the rival
statesmen Of tina. kingdom-The liberal
party are reconciled to our independence:
aud though extremely tenacious Of every
right of their own country, are syste.
mAtiraliy dis posed to preserve 3. ace with
the United States. Their opponents
harbor sentiments Of very different
descriprion----thrir system is coercion
their object the recovery oftheir lost 10.
mlnioa 10 North America-This/ partv
now stands high in power-Althoueh
admiral Berkeley may never have re.
ceived written orders for his enterprize
upon the Chesapeake, get 10 giving his
instructions to the squadron at Norfolk.
he knew full well under what adminis,ra.
stion he was acting. --~Esesy measure of
that administration towards US since that
time has been directed to the same Dur.
pose. To break down the spirit of our
national independence heir purpose.z
as faras it can be collected from their
acts, is to force Us into war with the m
ot with their enemies to leave Us only
the bitter alternative Of their vengeance
or their protection.
Both these parties are no doubt will
Ing, that we should Join them in the war
Of their nation against France aud her :
aEhss-Ehe late adninissrasiou- would
have drawn Us into it by treaty, the pre-.
sent are attempting il by eonpOlsion,-l
The former would have admitted us as
allies, the latter will have US NO other.
wise than as colonis.s. o. the late de-
bates in,parliamsnt, the lord chancellor
freely avowed that the osdErs Of council
efilth November were intendsdto make I