The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-30
POLITICAL.
WASHINGTON. Lnly o5.


At a time when the Journals OF England are more
than striving to fix upon this country the charge
OF departing from just principles as respects both the
commencement and mode OF conducting the present
var, and when there persons in
who appear anxious to adopt and propagate their
sun,ens, il may be profitable task in the eyes of the
American people, 20 advert to the other side of the
picture, aud what righteousness stands disclosed by
fresh light shed upon single feature, forgetting for
momentthe glare i'll which VIC have long the de-
forinty others.
In late number Of the Boston Gazette have OBJ
served some crudition dspyc,lto prove the outrage
committed by the British squadron that attacked and
derroycd our Frig,tc Essex while un,ler neutral pro-
lection IN Spanish port But whence such erudi-
hon We agree, indeed, To its soundncss, rs well rs
to the sound motives which dirtated it But when have
tue British been in the habit OF showing any rca,
gard to the nuncons OF public law upon points of this
sort Those who have attended To the OF her
maritime history know, THAT, in most instances, she
makes mere mockery of them. We cannot now an
swer ior what cur government mean to do in this affair
II may complain ii il i'll may Spain but as to any
apology or abatement, any side, or in anv wav,
whoever looks for il must be far gone in crctluy-
As soon as the thing is known in England, commodore
HIlyar viii be pronounced fine, gallant fellow, Sc
eond to none but Broke The contsuity OF the Span
ash shore VIII be talked OF Incident not dis
paraging the eclat of the scene Perhaps indeed II
will he coyertly considered forming an additional
merit by the bolducss il eyncedSo characteristic of
noble daring IN war We complain, or if Spain
should complain, they will in the first place endeavot
% get rid OF the fact by denying it. They viii saw rs
m Pearce's case, that IT than three miles
from the shore, and thus challenge war of counter
afidavts ofno one knows what length Ii pressed BY
the cvdcucc, they may, to appearances, and to
Keep up the name of adheriug in whatever they do 10
public law of which Sir William Scott is so scrpulo,s
be brot into some nicey-phrased admission of the IT.
regularity of the act. This however is highly iinprob-
able But mind eniglien by the past must ever
Cream OF the restoration of the Essex, of any other
notice of Commodore Hilyar's conduct than to pr,,-
mote him to some command more advantageous
remember he Of he a.
Justice Of the United States in the fifth volume of his
book. Native Americans" says ne, "were frequent
q impressed, and compelled TO against the
French Republic. The British cabinet could not al
tempt excessive outrage the sovereignty of the
United States justification of this measure would
have been. right to mpressreal American citizens
was disavowed; and Willingness To discharge them,
OH the establishment Of their citizenship, officially
expressed But time necessary procure the re-
qui;te testimonials aud niOseocers zaIo had ,oto-
et4siy efentedtn Mts respect eris'ie7ced dlsop-
prooaon on Mep part NJ their government 1cich riplt
deter them from a repetition Of the ofence''
We also remember, that tits only a few years since
the British destroyed French ship OF the line upon
our coast in violation OF Jurisdiction, and still short
er time since the Cambian figate committed the out
rage upon the Pitt, not coast merely but in
the very harborof New-York Was any redress G.
Yer obtained for these insults public law Never
twas asked IN vain Other and deeper infringements
OF our sovereignty were superaddcd. On the other
hand, as was well remarked in the Boston Gazette,
when the Grange, British ship, captured BY the
French fiigate Ambuscade, in the Delaware bay, in
the year IDS, her restitution demanded by the
British government and dccreed accordingly by our
government although it strenuously contended Ivy
the Minister OF France that the waters in which the
capture took place constituted in fact open sea-
Thus has stoodin honorable the conduct
Of government which, in the view ofccrin orators is
unworthy to belong to the family OF nations.
But we commenced Our remarks for purpose far
more important thzn to refer facts and abusea that
have beenlong well known.
What would be said of government, ever as ready
to proclaim its superior good faith and civilization
ito charge others with the absence Of boths What
would be said the known finctionaries of such gov
eminent taking advantage Of state OF peace and sti-
wing shield themsevesfrom detection and even from
suspicion By the double security Of employing guarded
and resortng to previous denias should neverthe-
less be completely detected in aiding savages TO DESTROY
the lives of the citizens of neighborng countr. (!
Would it not be pronounced horrible perfidyi Gan
any thing be well imagined in the conduct of refined
NATION more un)usttlable, more iphuman! And yet,
such has been the conduct of present enemy. We
know how frequently this subject has been handled in
every way. We know how keen the American sens-
blty has been it. We know that statesmen STAN
ding high and opposed keenly opposed to the declara-
ton of war have said, only prove this charge and
is enough; we will thenjoin you in the war; Canada
IN such an event, becomes legitimate, indspens
Die object ofmvasion and conquest
Tie proof has come az last. 1t is worthy of remark
that the progress of this has, provdentiay as it
were served to corrobortc the truth of its causes
Our gallant seaInen have never yet in single instance
suhdued ship of the British navy in which there have
not been found some impressed Americans. In ike
manner NC have become possessed of the proofs of Brit
sh pery IN setting the savages to murder u.s. BY Tia.
vaor Of our land troops; and has further happen
ed, by the viruos vaor of our western citizens whose
wives, whose children, whose fathers whose brothers.
had so often bed under the merciless tomahawk, up
lifted at British nsgaon In the victory obtained last
year Gen Proctor at the head of Joint British &
savage force, the baggage and papers of the general
fell the hands Of our commander From amongst
a Touminous parcel of the latter, some letters have
bceu discovered which unvei the foul perfidy. We
have become possessed Of four of them, which are a
bundaItly sufficient fix the charge. We shall lay
them before the public tomorrow, documents of
high Importance. We invite the attention of the com.
Inunity to them, conscious of the impression they will
make upon all but wiIfu eyes.
{ National I1teltgencer.