The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-06-23

tis Sai1isons, "hercwith they were enabled TO COM
mence that system Of Savage warfare our from
tiers, which has been AL times iud,scrimuate in
its effect, on all ages, sexes and conditions, aud
revolving to humanity.
Your committee would be much gratified il they
could close here the detail OF British wrongs but il
rs their duty to recite another a. sti greater
ma.gnity, than any ot those which have been airea-
dy brought to your view. The attempt to dismen-
beer our Union and overthrow our excellent consti-
tuition, by secret mission, the object OF which
to ioment discontents and insurrect,n against
the constituted authorities and laws OF the nation as
lately disclosed by the agent employed in ii, affords
full proof that there is nj bound to the hostility OF
the British government towards the u. StMes-no
act, however unjustihabe, which IT would not con,-
init to accomplish their ruin This attempt exeites
the greater horror from the consideration that it
made while the u States and e.. Britain were
at peace, and anicablc negotiation was depend
ing between them for the accommodation OF their
differences through public IN inisters regularly auth
orIsed for the purpose. F-'- = esq.
The U. States have beheld, with unexampled for
bearancc, this continued series OF hostile eneroacl-
ments their rights and interests the hope tina.
yielding to the tovee of idly renonsrances, oft
repeated, the British government might ADOPT a
more just policy towards them :; but that hope no
longer exists. They have also weighed impar,ially
the reasons whic! have beer urged by the British
government in Y-ndieaon ct these encroachinents,
ant! found m them neither justification apology
The British government has al.edged in yindica-
ton oil the orders in council that they were resored
10 AS retaliation on France, for similar aggressions
British dominions. But how has this plea been sup
ported The dates of British and French agrees
ions ARE well known to the world. $50 90
Ahe,r origin and progress have been marked with
too VIDE and destructive OF the property Of
our teilow-ctzens, to have been forgotten. The de-
cree of Berlin of Nov. 2ist, 1906, was the first ag-
! erosion OF France in the present war Eighteen
months had then elapsed, after the attack made by
Vi eat-rtun on our neutral trade, with the colonies
OF France and her allies, aud six months from the
date oil the proclamation of May, 1906. Even on
the 7th Jan 1907, the date of the first British order
IN council, SO short term had elapsed, after the
Berlin decree, that 1t hardly possible that the
INTEL gence OF should have reached the U, States
retaliation which is to produce its effect by oIe-
rating on neutral power, ought not to resorted
] TO, till the neutral had justified It by a cupablc ac-
quiescence in the unlawful act of the other b,iye4
rent Ii ought to be delayed until after sufficient
time had been allowed to the nsutrai to demonstrate
against thc measure complained q, to receive
swer, anu TO act on 1t, which had been done in
The present instancei aud when the order OF No
| vember llth was issued ,tis well kuownttat minis.
ter OF FRANCE had declared the minister plemipo-
tentdiy OF the u States Paris that it was not ill.,
tended that the decree of Berlin should apply to the
| u States. Ii is equally well Known that no Ameri-
| an vessel had then been condemned under it, or
| SEIZURE been made, with which the Ertsh govern
| Inent was acquainted The facts prove Inconte sti-
bly, that the measures Of Franc, however unjustif-
abie IN themselves, nothing more than a pre-
text for those Of England. And OF the nsuiicieney
OF that pretext, ample proof has already been at
al,
most impressive form. Although it was declared
that the orders in council rctaliatory OH France
i9r her decrees II was also declared and in the
GERS themselves that owing to the superiority of the
briush navy, by which the fleets of France and her
aies were confined within their own ports, the
frenei' DEGREES were considered only as empty
threats.
1t is no justification of the wrongs of one power
tnat the lke were committed by another; nor ought
the tact, true to have been urged by either, as il
eou.u aoru no proof OF its love OF justice OF its mag
nah'ni'y' or even OF its courage. 1t worthy
the government of great nation to relieve than to
assaIl the injured. Nor can a repetition of the
wrongs by another power repair the violated rights
or Wounded honor, of the injured party. An utter
'aety alone to resist, would justify quiet surren
DER OF our rights, and degrading submission To the
VIII ct others To that condition the U. S. are
not reduced nor do they fear il That they ever
consented to discuss with either power the miscon
duct oil the ether is proof of their love of peace,
their moderation, and CT the hope which they still
inauged that friendly appeals Just aud generou:
sentiments would not be made TO them in vain. But
the mouVe was mistaken. il their forbear,nce was
imputeds either to the want of a Just sensibiy ia
thelr wrongs or of determination, If suitable re-
Dress was lot obtained, to resent them. The time
mas now arrived when this system of reasoning must
cease II would be insulting to repeat il. 1t would
ne degrading 10 hear it, The u. States must act as
An independents nation, and assert their rights and
| aNehse .heir wrongs, according to their own esti-
mate OF then, with the party who commits them
holding 1t responsible Tor its own msdeeds unmitiea.
ted BY those OF another. 30 -.
FOR the .d,iterence made between Great Britain
ana France by the application Of the non-importati
Oh aet against England only, the motive has been al
eao$ 100 OFTEN explained, and is too well known to
require further illustrations In the commercial re-
t!1ctions to which the United States resored AS an
evidence OF their sensibitys and mild retaliation Of
their wrongs, they invariably placed both powers Oh
the same footing, holding out TO each i'll respect to
itseIi, the same accommodation, in case it accepted
le CONDITION offered, and in respect to the other
the same restraint, it refused Had the British 90
VernRent confirmed the arrangement, which wa,
entered into With the British Minister in 1909, and
? france maintained her decrees with France wou,
J. ule Chtcd states have had resist, with the firm
ness oeiOS nS to their character, the continued VIC
i 'aion Oh TIER tights . The committee do not hest
tate to declare, that France has greatly injured the
United otates, and that satisfactory PREPARATION ha,
not yet been made for many Of those injuries. But
uat - concern which the United States will looL
TO and settle for themselves The high character oil
world, t'lat they viii not fail to settle it, on condti
] ons which they have a right 10 claim. i,.., 20
More recently, the true policy Of the British go
Verhnent towards the United States has been com
pleteiy uni0lded 1t has been publicly declared b,
tose Ia power that the orders in council should MOI
DC repeated until the French government had re
Voked all ITS internal restraints on the British com
EmerceI anh that the trade OF the United States Will
france and her allies, should be prohibited unit
breat BrItaih was also allowed to trade with ihem
ny Ihs declaration, 1t appears, that TO sat sly tn,
pretepsons OF tue British government, the UniteC
States must join Great-Rr in the war will
France, and prosecute She var, until France SHOULD
be subdued, for WITHOUT her subiusation il were il
vain 10 presume On such sson. The hostilit,
ct the britsh government 70 these sstes hs. beer
stu further disclosed. Ut has been made NANTES