The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-01

majesty has been pleased Ia profess, scott
msi,ts which he vii. readily :, appreciate, and
which lac was eager and sincere in advanc-
ing but he will at the same time receive
with surprize as well as with peculiar Con-
Germ, the ucCiaraticn with which these pre-
'. ssions are accompanied, refusing rep;s-
ration for the wrongs which he has COM
planned OF, wrongs which, unredressed, cai.-
n'> but be considered AS being but little i'll
accord with such sentiments. These, his
impressions, must he rendered still more
iorclbe by the rccollection that a suitable
redress for similar wrongs has never been
aiteyether withheld by any of the bciiigc-
rent powers, with which the Uuited States
have occasionally found themselves in ccl-
lision but OH the contrary, that each Of the
CHIEF belligerents. has heretofore furnished
signal example, wherein the firm and
temperate voice Of justice has prevailed over
AN erroneous policy each has attended to
aud respected tue remonstrances Of the u.
States, satisfied with their demands, and
amply compensated the losses which the
temporary adoption OF false principles, or
the misccnslrueticn, or ina!appliCation of
acknowledged principles had brought upon
their citizens; thus recognizing the sover-
eighty OF Just laws and indefe c,ibiity Of the
neutral rights which spring from them |:
nor can the President be now reconcilcd to
regulations of Denmark in those points
which may offend them. or to the decisions
OF any tribunals, in as far as they may have
the same tendency, by the only apology
which his majesty has authorised the minis
ter of state to offer for the wrongs COM
planned of, viz. that these decisions are
founded upon the same principles which di-
rect the conduct of Denmark towards neu-
eral European powers, and that in cases
wherein these powers have been hereby
affected, no revision or retrospect has taken
place for, without entering into the enqui-
ry, whether there does or does not exist an
European power neutral with regard to
denmark, and with which she can posi-
bly, come into collision on such subjects,
without pointing out the difference between
The neutral position of the United States,
and that OF any European power, or exa-
mining in any degree the conduct of Dem
mark towards the European powers, neu-
trail or otherwise ; il is sufficient to observe
that the United States have not made com-
mon cause with any other neutral power :;
they have not bound up their fate with, nor
do they mean to submit their rights to the ar
duration of. Or to pare them down 81 as to suit
the convenience Of any power whatever
these rights are clear, pronounced and I'M
equivocai, they are found in the great code
OF pubhc law II other powers have not the
same interest IN defending, If they find it
convenient to rclinquish, or, for any rea-
sons Whatever, cease to assert such rights,
no obligation to abandon them is hereby
imposed on America but to the contrary,
standing alone amidst the great struggle Of
nations, her obligation to protect that sacred
deposit is strengthened, and she becomes
doubiy responsible to posterity for this
Great inheritance, since she is not deficient
IN the power and means ef preserving it,
his exceilency the Minister of state seems
to suppose that the principal object of the
undersigned is to obtain the reziSio,,"i of
the sentences of the tribunal specified In his
note OF November fourth. 1t is proper,
therefore, to consider this part of the sub
Ject, though he must premise by observing,
and he begs his excellency to understand,
that the object ct that note, which embrac-
"a various subjects of complaint, was to.ob,
tain satisfaction and compensation. leaving
the mode" and the " means" to be adj
Justed by mutual accord, for he is entirely
unwilling to rest the claims Of the United
otates, OF TO make them in any wise Deepen
dent on an abstract discussion as to the.
course which may be taken to produce the
satisfaction required
The undersigned in his note Of November
18th, has shown, as he trusts, most clearly
and lndisputably tn At the rights OF the II.
JUICE as d HSutfal nation, nave been VIO-
lated by the decisions therein referred to
1t not, he has invited the minister of state
to discuss the prinCi pies on which his recla-
nation is founded: can it be deemed to be
a satisfactory answer to such reclaim alton.
that other nations have submitted to siui-
lar decisions! Can it be imagined that the
term g defnitive" as applied to such dec
slons is conclusive against the ". States p
Can 1T be expected that they will acquiesce
IN decision as lust, because it is termed
dchnitive (" The constitution, the facul-
ties, and the police of admiralty tribunals in
TINS rs IN every other country, are formed
by and depend on the will of the sovereign,
and Is strictly responsible TO foreign natl
ons in all cases affecting their rights Cor 2
Correct administration of Justice on the
principles of public law which form the basis
or those rights. No foreign nation submits
It's cause to the arbitrary or capricious deci-
SONS of such tribunals, or respects their de.
cisions in any degree, further than as these
may pe found to conform to it's own sense Of
its own rights. The tribunal is the mere
instrument OF The sovereign, with which he
o. crates, & It Is his duty so to direct the use
OF It, that 1t mag not do injury 10 the rights
OF others the foreign nation therefore, looks
with reason to the tribunal only as indica.
I'VE OF the temper of the sovereign by whom
t IS appointed, and under whose authorize
1t acts, and not as the arbitrator of its own
destiny; when foreign government COM
plans or the conduct Of such tribunals. il
calls upon the good faith of the SOVEREIGN
to repair the wrong which he ought to have
restrained shall IN be roo,nefars e. e., -