Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-22

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their flag from violation, is all that ,hey h.,s
sought,
This lawless waste of Our trade and equal,
unlawful impressment Of our seanep, ha,5
been much aggravated by the insults and ~.
dignities attending them. Under the pfeiext
Oh blockadibg the haFbors OF France ard nQs
allies, British squadroHs have been stationed
on our own coast, to watch and annoy GU
own trade. To give effect % the blockade
of European. ports, the ports ard harbors Ct
the u. States have been bIockaded, In exc
cutting these orders Of the British government
or in obeying the spirit which was known to
animate ii, the commanders OF these squatrsns
have encroached OH our jurisdiction, seized
our vessels, and carried into effect impress.
ments within OUR limits, and done other actsof
great injustice, violence and oppression. The
i. States have seen, with mingled indignation
and surprise, that these acts, instead of pro-
curing to the perpetrators the punishment due
to unauthorized crimes, have not failed to re.
commend them to the favor of their govern.
ment.
Whether the British government has con.
tributed by active measures to excite against
US the hostility of the Savage tribes on our
frontiers, your committee are not disposedto
occupy much time in investigating. Certain
indications of general notorlcty may supply
the place Of authentic documents; though
these have not been wanting to ESTABLISH the
fact in some instances. It is known that symp.
toms of British hostility towards the y. States
have never failed to produce corresponding
symptoms among those tribes. It is also vel!
known that on all such occasions, abundant
suDples Of the ordinary munitions of war
have been afforded by the agents of British
commercial companies, and even from British
garrisons, wherewith they were enabled TO
commence that system OF Savage warfare on
| our frontiers, which has been at all timeS in.
discriminate in its effect, on all ages, sexes &
| conditions, and so revolving to humanity.
Your committee would be much grati6ed
| If thew could close here the detail OF British
! wrongs: but it is their duty to recite another
act of still greater malignty, than any of those
which have been already brought to your view.
| The attempt 10 dismember our Union and
| overthrow our excellent constitution, by Sc.
cret mission, the obl ect of which was 70 toment
| discoytents end excite instruction against
| the constituted authorities and laws OF the ma
| ton, as lately disclosed by the agent EN-.
| DIoyed in it. affords full proof that there Is no
bound to the hostility of the British govern
meBt towards the United States-no act, how.
ever uniustfabe, which itwould not commit
to accomplish their ruin. This attempt ex-
CITES the greater horror from the consideration
that it was made while the u. S. and G. Brl.
ain were at peace, and an amlcab'e negocla'
! ton was depending between them tor the ac'
commodation oftheir differences through pub
! lie ministers regularly authorised for the puF'
pose.
The United States have bcheld, with unex.
amplcd forbearance, this continued series oil
hostile encroachments on their rights and III
erests, in the hope, that, yielding to the force
| of friendly remonstrances, often repeated, the
! British government might adopts more Just
! policy towards them; but that hope no longer
exists. They have also weighed impac-laly
the reasons which have been urged by the BIZ
| fish government In yindication Of these en-
| croachments, and found in them neither ustI'
| 6cation or apology.
The British government has alledgcd IN
| vindication of the orders in council that they
we're resorted to as retaliation on France
! for similar aggressons committed by her Oh
our neutral trade with the B itish domInlons'
But how has this plea been supported Inv
! dates of British and French aggresslons arc
! well known to the world. Their origin anu
progress have been marked with too wide a00
destructiVea waste of the property OF ou'
fellow citizens, to have been forgotten. lN
decree OF Berlin of November 2lst, 1906, v"
the first aggression of France in the preseGg
war Eighteen months had then elapsed az
ter the attack made by Great Britain on ouI |.
neutral trade, with the colonies of France aD1 &
her allies, and six months from the date Of Ip'
proclamation of May, 1906. Even on the ~
January, 1907, the date of the first British Or s.
/. der in council, SO short term had elapssSp
after the Berlin decree, that it was harO
possible that the intelligence of it should nav