Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-06-26
To the Senate md House of Representatives
Ofthe United Skqtes.

fore laid before them, on the subject of our
affairs vita Great. Britain.
Without going back beyond the renewal
in 1905 ofthe war in which u Britain is en-
gagged, and omIting unrepaired wrong of in
ferior magnitude, the conduct of her govssn
mem presents 2 series Of acts hostile to the
United States as an independent and neutral
nation.
British cruisers have been in the continued
practice of violating the American flag on the
great highway of nations, and of Selling and
carrying off persons sailing under it not in
the exercise Of a belligerent right founded on
the law of nations against an eaemy, but Ola
municipal prerogative over British subjects.
British jurisdiction is thus extended to neutral
vessels in 4 situation where no laws can ope-
rate but the law of nations of the country to
which the vessels belong and a selfredress
is assumed which, if British subjects wore
wrongfully detained and alone concerned, is
that substitution of force, for a resort to the
responsible sovereign, which falls within the
definition of war. Could the seizure of Bri
tish subjects in such cases be regarded as with
in the exercise of a b~eiiigerens right, the ac-
knowledged laws of war, wnich forbid an ar
ticle of captured property to be al judged
without a regular investigation before a com
peSent tribunal, would impefioIsiy demand
the fairest trial where the sacred rights of
persons were at issue. In place of SUCH a tri-
al, these rights are subjected to the will of
every petty commander.
The practice, hence, is so far from affect.
lng British subjects alone, that, under the
pretext OF searching for these, thousands Of
American citizens, under the safeguard of
public law, and of their national flag, have
been torn from their country and from every
thing dear to them have been dragged on
board SHIPS Of war OF a foreign nation and ex.
posed, under the seventies OF their discipline.
to be exiied to the most distant climes, to
risk their lives in the battles of their oppres-
sors, and to be the mechanically Instruments of
taking away those of their own brethren.
Against this crying enorrnity, which Great
Britain would be so prompt to avenge, ifcom-
mitted against herself, the U. States have in
vain exhausted remonstrances and expostula-
tons. And that no proof might be wanting
of their conciliatory dispositions, and no pre-
text lett for a continuance of the practice,
the British government was formally assured
OF the readiness ofthe U. S. to enter into ar
engagements, such as could not be rejected, if
the recovery of British subjects were the real
and the sole object. The communication
passed without effect.
British c~ruizers have been in the practice
also of violating the rights and the peace of
our coasts. They hover over and harrass our
entering and departing commerce, To the
most insulting detentions they have added the
most lawless proceedings in our very har-
bours; and have wantonly split American
blood within the sanctuary OF our territorial
jurisdiction. The principles and rules eutor
ced by that nation when a neutral nation, a.
gainst armed vessels of belligerents. lowering
near her coasts, and disturbing her commerce,
are we'll known. When called on, nevcrthe
less, by the U. States to punish the greater of
fences committed by her own vessels, her go
yernment has bestowed on their comman
ders additional marks of honor and coma
dence.
Under pretended blockades, without the
presence of an adequate force, and sometimes
without the practicability of applying one,
our commerce has been plundered in every
sea the great staples of our country have
been cut off from their legitimate markets
and a destructive blow aimed at our agricul-
tural and maritime interests. In aggrayation
( OF these predatory measures, they have been
considered as in force from the dates of their
notification ; a Retrospective effect being thus
added, as has been done in other important
cases, to the unlawfulness ofthe course pur-
sued. Andto render the outrage the more
signal, these mock blockades have been rel
terated and enforced in the face of official
communications from the British government,
declaring as the true definition of a legal
blockade " that particular ports must be ac-
tually invested, and previous warning given
to vessels bound to them, not to enter
Not content with these occasional expe-
dents for laying waste our neutral trade, the
| Cabinet of Great Britain resorted, at length,
to the sweeping system of blockades, under
| the name of Orders in Council, which has
been moulded and managed, as might best
suit its political view its commercial l%ealous-