The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-12-13

government ought not to have made such
nronosition because it not only, like others,
naturalzea aliens; but in relation TO the Oni-
ted States has even refused TO discharge from
the British service native citizens oil the Unaed
States. inyolutsrily detained. If an American
seaman has resided in Great Britain, or has mar
ried therein, or has accepted bounty III her ma
val service, his discharge tbereroin, on the regu-
lar application to the British government, mas
been invariably refused by its board OF admiralty.
This state on the authority OF the onclai re-
ports male to this department. II IS, therefore,
truly astonishing thar, with knowledge OF
these facts such pretcnsion should have heen
advanced at all, bur above all that II should have
been made sine quo non TO an act ct PLAN JUS
tice, already so long delayed. inns is the more
to be regretted; asthe Omen does nor favor tue
belief We would willingly cherish, that no pre-
determination exists in the councils oil his Dill
tannic majesty irreconciable 10 an a'nlcabie ar
Tangement Of an affair, which, affecting so deep
ly the honor Of the United States, must precede
general regulation of the mutual Interests OF
the two countries.
Alter the correspondence with Mr..
Jackson was terminated, TWO notes, OF
which copies are herewith sent to you,
were presented to mr. in the name aud
by the hand of Mr.. Oakley, the British
Secretary of Legation,
The frs. requested document, having
the effect of special passport or SAFE
guard to Mr. jackson and his family dur
ing their stay in the United States. As
the laws of this country allowan unohslrues-
ed passage through every part OF 1t, and
with the law OF nations, equally in force,
protect public MINISTER'S aud iteir families,
in all their privileges, such an application
was REGARDED as somewhat singular. there
was no hesitation, however, III furnishing
a certificate Of his public character and t"
be used in any mode he migat chuse. bn'
wha, surprised most was the reasons as as,
signed for the applications ne '''su''
he alluded to was then, Tor me nfs' ""'o
bronpht 10 the knowledge of this govern
ment. I, had, indeed, been among Inc fa'
mour, of the day, that some unbecom'ng
scene had ,akep place at Norfolk or Hamp'
ton between some officers belonging 10 the
Afr;cane and the inhabitants, and that u
ORIGINATED in the indisrretion OF The Tor
mer. No attention having been called '"f'
and no enquiries made, the sru'h OF 'he
case is unknown. But 1t was never sup
posed that Mr.. j,ckson, himself, who was
on board the Frigste, had beea personally
insul.ed. Nor is it yet perceived 's "ha'
wav he considers it as having happened.
II is needless to remark that an, represfn.
ta,ion on the subiec, would have Instantly
received every proper attcnt'oa'
Another ground on which PROTECTION
was asked for, is the supposed tendency OF
the language of our wspapers 20 excite
popular violence on Mr.. Jackson's person.
Had he been longer and better acquainted
with the habits ard spirits OF the American
people, he would probably never have en-
tcrtaiued an apprehension OF that sort. 4!
he mean, to animadve-, on the free language
of the newspapers, he might justly be re-
minded that oar laws, as those OF lis coun.
try, SEE bounds. to that freedom; that the
freedom OF Blush prints, however great
with respect to puhlic characters Of the u
nited States, has never heen topic o: com
paint, and surprising the latitude ct the a
mericap press TO exceed that ut Grea
Bai,ain, the d;lferenc: is infinitely less Ii
this respect between the two, .han be,wee'
the British press and that OF tie other ma
tiuns OF Europe.
The second not. seems to I've essential!
intended as justification of the conduct 6
Mr.. Jackson in tina, part OF the CORES
pondence which has given umbrage. IT h
Intended it as . con.iliatory advance, h
oueh. not TO have preceded 1t by a deman
of passports, nor by the spirit or the maj
ner in which that demand was made. Il
ought in fact,i such was his object, to hay
substituted an explanation in the plat
Of his reply TO my pren,ontory letter. -
whether he had one or other, or both
these objects in view, it was nece ssary II
him to nave done more than is alsempts
IN this paper.
twas never objected 70 him that
had stated it as a fact tina. the three prop
sitions in question had been submitted
me by MIR. Erskine, nor that he stated
as made known to him by the instruction
Mr.. Canning, that the instruction to N
Erskinc containing those three conditio
was the only Que from which his author
WAS derived TO conclude an arrangem,