The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-01

4 or our unresisting countrymen are massacred,
lothers are carried off. OF whom one has
suffered an ignominious death, and the sur.
vivors are still detaine d aud forced isro the
service of the aggressors. The vessel by
which this exploit was performed quietly
returns soher station in our harDors, aud a
proclamation prohibiting this abuse Of our
hospitality IS iusolentiy disrs ga, ded-this is
what in the Courtly language Of diplomacy.
rs called the affair of the Chesapeake-at
the time. it was known by its true name,
and the FOUL MURDER, the cowARpLY
AGGRESSION, excited am indignation that
was with difficulty suppressed. Your mi
MISTER was instructed that this "enormity
was not d subject of discussion'-. hat {" a
formal disavowal of the deed and restoration
OF the seamen, were things of Course and in.
dispcnsible"--,hat cal negotiation On oshcr
points should be suspended until satisfaction
should be pledged for this"-and that" if
satisfaction SHOULD be refused. he should
take measures to hasten home all American
vessels" to provide against the event Of a
war, which was III that case considered as
unavoidable, the nation was electrified bv
the stroke. and pronounced uuequvocaily
its determination IL wash cut the insult in the
blood of the agsressors.
At~ sending one minister to arrange
mrs uTctr, who came without powers, af,er
disavowins the arrangement made by ano
Their, third is now sent, who has the har-
dihood to think. that we can now patiently
hear the Conditions OH which alonement is To
&c made.
First. We are to apologize for having
dared to exclude his majes','s ships from
these shores, thev had polluted with the
blood of our countrymen, and We must re-
cord this mean dereliction of principle, in
the act of arrangement
Secondly. The survivors of those whom
slaughter, the gibbet, or the scourge of their
tyrants has spared, shall be gracously res
tored to us provided we'll only promise
TO re deliver them the next moment, when
they shall be demanded as natural born sub
Iects OF his plajesty, or dcserteIs from his
service. National born subjectsl' Eve
~ American who fought for your indepen
dence-every Englishman, who has settled
here since to enjoy it, come under this
description---and the atonement offered
FOR the blood of your countrymen must be
bought, by surrenderng men to whom you
have piighted your faith for protection, and
calling IN doubt the allegiance even of your
President himself. "Desertcrs from his
service" insotence unequailed, unparal
leled effrontery lnhuman, insulting irony
The government which had the audacity to
| propose this condition to ours, had been of
hciatly told, that these unfortunate men
were natiUe americans, that they had
been IMPRESSED into the British service,
that they had escaped and taken refuge un
der the fag OF their country.-And they have
now, Il want word to exposes their un
biushing andacity,) to propose-that We
shal call TINS escape desertion, that we
shall meanly recover our fellow citizens, and
after tantalizing them with view Of their
native shore, and momentary freedom from
slavery. treacherously deliver them to the
vengeance OF their oppressors that we shall
mark our own front with the brand Of dis.
honor, and purchase nominal PREPARATION by
voluntary degradation and eternal infamy.
| These are the terms that are offer you,
my countrymen Are you prepared to &C
cept them? Do they present the prospect
of favorable changer Or do you blush
at having heard, and feel degraded in think
ing, that even your enemy should have sup.
posed you capable Of receiving them!
VINDEX