Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-15
DOCUMENTS,
WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE
Presiaent's Message.
(COnciu6ed from our last.
Mr.. Smith to Mr.. Frskine.


Dehdrment Of sia'e, Nov. &c, 1909.
SIR,
That II still remains uncertain VIII e,her
ov the treaty or convention 10 which it re
lated. was not n.cant an eventual or pro
Vlsional treaty on the general relations be-
tween the two countries without any re .
Ference 10 The case of the Chesapeake
CeTtsin it is that the British government
IN '9rmcr like cases, as will be seen by
the adjustment of that part of the affair al
Noo'ka Sound, which is analogous TO this
case, did not consider any such distinct
fui power as necessary; nor is there The
slightest ground for supposing that MIR.
E'' "e' although cenCessedIy insIuele p
~ adjust this very case of The Chesapesks,
"a" furnished with any authority distinct
from his credenial letter. That Mr..
Jackson has any such commission is the
less to be supposed as it is but barely pos.
sipie' that possessing IL he should rot on
some occasion Cr in some form have used
language susceptible of no possible
doubt on this point.
but proce eding to the proposal itself.
1t rs 20 be kept III mind that the condH on.
forming is basis, are the very conditions
for the deViaing from which MIR. Frs
kins's adjustment was disayow Mr.
Jackson, it not On others, is on this pon,
eSVicit. 81 now add, says he. that IN.
,deSiation consisted il not recording il
tie Official document signed here the abb
rogation otthe Presidents proclamation Of
the I'd JULY 1907 as veil as the two re
serves specified in the paper of memoran.
da enclosed in my official letter to you OF
the Elm ul."
Considering then the conditions in the
proposal as an u!timatum. in what light are
we compelled TO view such an attempt 10
repair the outrage committed on the fri.
gate Chesapeake and to heal the disap.
poinIment produced by disavowal of q
previous equitable reparationF
IL IS impossible on such an occasion rot
TO recall the circumstances which cons,i.
uied the character of the outrage Ia
which such an uliima,um is now applied.
"A national ship, proceeding on an impor.
tant service, was watched by a supeIio,
naval force enjoying the time he hospo.
tality ofour ports, was followed and scarce.
W onl OF our waters when she was, after
an Insulting summons, attacked in hos.
tile manner 4; and the ship so injured as &c
require expensive repairs, the expedition
frustrated, number of the crew killed 8
wounded, several carried into captivity, S
one OF them put 10 death under miIitar,
sentence. The three sesmen, tho Anne
Tican Citizens, and therefore on ever,
supposiIlon detained as wrougfully as thu
ship would have been detained have not
withstsnding remained ia captivity be
tween two and three years and it ma,
be added, after it has long ceased 10 b.
denied That hey ate American cilizens.
Undcr'these circumstances, we are cal
led upon to ransom the captives,
lst' by acknowledging that precauli
aIy proclamation, justified by events PIE
ceding the outrage, by the outrage il
self and by what immediately followed il
was unJusIIliabl-, and that repeal OF
was properly condition precedent to
repatriation Tor the outrage. And this re
QUESTION IS repeated, too, afeF such q
acknowledgment had been uniformly as
serted BY this &, yernment 10 be utterl
irodmissiLle, aud what is particula ly re
uuKsDle, q, time when the proclamat
on as is well undeTs. God, was no lonee
~ iOrce. The occasion obviously invite
= silent assumption Of The ezis ing &c
END this would have excluded the d,fiicu
~ heretofore ipurd 10 be iusuperable.
"a. BY throwing into complete oblyiC
the coudsct Of the officer answerable Fl
the murderous transaction. with a know
edse too on our part, that instead Of belt
punisttd or even brought to trial, he h
bten honored by his government with a ne
shd more important command!
%. ~ admitting a right on the part
Grcat-BfHafD 70 claim a discharge trc
out service Of dcseHcrs, generally and pa
tleulafly o. her natural bern subjects, wit