Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-07-19
Mr.. Pickering's address

TO THE
! PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
NO. XVII
FELLOW Citizens,
In my last address gave an account
of the engagement between the American
fripate President, commodore Rodgers
commander, and the British sloop of wal
Little Belt, captain Bingham, commander
and the reasons on which pronounced the
proceedings on the part of the American
frigate unlawful, aud an act Of sodr. al
80 remarked, that those proceedings orr.
yinated, unquestionably, in the orders oil
the Supreme Executive power of the u.
States, for which they consequently are res.
ponsibIe-of which an explanation will be
required--and for which, satisfaction viii
by the British government be demanded
and by our government refused. lam now
10 exhibit the grounds OF this opinion, and
particularly why satisfaction being demand
ed will be refused.
again take up the official report of com.
nodore Rodgers. His reasoning at the
Instant the action commenced, by a sho'
(as he statesl from the Little Belt, is not
little singular, and requires particular no.
tice, as indicative of the temper IN which
his orders were conceived and executed
" When the hrst shot was fred (says the
eouamodore) being under an impression
that it might possibly have proceeded from
accident, and without the orders OF he'
commander, had determined, at the mo-
ment, to FIRE only single shot IA return
bot the immediate repetition of the previ
Gus unprovoked outrage induced me to be
Geve that the insult was premeditated, ano
that from our adversary being at the timt
ignoraut of our real force as was OF his
he thought this, perhaps, favourable op
portuni,y of acquiring promotion, although
at the expence of violating our neutraiit,
and insulting oar aag."
Here [ musttake leave 60 ask few cues
tons. As the commodore,s impressior
was that the 6rst shot from the Little Bel
might have proceeded from accident, and
he was within speaking distance, why, IN
stead OF FIRST asking an explanation, did nc
determine to return even single shot!-
Was it sde part Of commander possessing
Gas he says of himself, and doubt not tru-
ly--but he had orders which he found him.
self bouad 10 obey) can humane aud gene.
rous heart, determined not tospiil drop
of blood unnecessarily" to return sho,
which uaight spill the blood of more than
one man, when declaration of his neutral
character, which it was his duty to have
made, would have prevented the spilisne
OF single drop, and all the serious conse-
Qucnces which eusued. and the still more
serious 80 prospect? Why did the commo-
dcse think the firing Of the 6rst gun d" an
unprovoked outrsges Was il possible for
captain Bingham to imagine the Commo-
dore's ship to be a neutral After having
been hard chased by her for more than six
hours and alter seeing her, when within
mile and half, taking the precaution to
get the ,Oeatser gage, the position to wind
ward the most advantageous for action
which 1.-THE commodore says) the comman
der of the chase Captain Biagham) from
his manGuvers, during half an hour, ap'
peaeed anxious TO prevent: IN word. at
ter observing the commodore's movements
aud conduct, during six hours and half
TO be precisely those of an enemy; afte'
hailiug " what ship is that o. to ascertain
whether she was friend or foe, and tht
commodore had refused to anwer (; what o
Their possible conclusion could capsais
Bingham form, than that the commodore
frigate was an cnenys And by what ruit
of war, or of common sense, can the flrint
of a shot at an enemy be pronounced :" al
unprovoked outraged" And why because
under such circumstances. the h.ing wa
repeated. should the commodore " believ
the insult was premedstated - And VIII
should the commodore imagine that cap
tain Bingham began the attack under tn
idea that ii was a favorable opportunit
of acquiring promotion by violating GU
neutrality and insulting our flag" whe