The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-29

innovations, in the established system of ma
ritime law, his majesty would not consider
himself bound by the present signature Of his
commissioners. to ratiiy the treaty, or pre-
Guided from adopting such measures as might
seem necessary for counteracting the designs
OF the enemy. (n)
The reservation of power, to iavalidate
solemn treaty, at the pleasure OF one ofthe
parties, and the menace of iniiicting punish
ment upon the United States, for The often
ces OF another nation, proved, in the e.
vent, aprelude TO the scenes Of violence,
which Great Britain was then about to dis
play, and which it would have been impro-
per tor the American negociators to antici
pate For, If a commentary were wanting to
explain the real design OF suoa conduct, it
would b. found in the fact, tLss Nithin eight
days IRON the date of the treaty, aud before
IL was possible for the British government to
nave known the effect of the Berlin decree on
tIS american government nay, even before
the American government had Itself heard of
that decree, the destruction of American
commerce was commenced by the order in
Council of the 9TH of January, 1907, which
announced, " that 10 vessel should be per-
united to trade from one port TO another,
Doth which ports should belong to, or be
IN possession of France, or her allies or
should be so far under their control, as
that British vessels might not trade freely
thereat." M
During the whole period of this negocia-
ton, which did not finally close until the Bri-
tish government declared, in the month of
october, 1907. that negotiation was no longer
admissible, the course pursued by the British
squadron, stationed more immediately on the
American coast, was in the extreme, vexa-
.'o;s, predatory, and hostile i ne territorial
jurisdiction OF the United Sta.es, depending
upon the principles of the law of nations, at
Ieast league over the adjacent ocean, was
totally disregarded and condemned. Vessels
employed IN the coastinS trade, or in the bu-
siness OF the pilot and the fisherman, were
objects o. incessant violence their petty
cNgoes were plrmdered; and some of their
sCanty crews were often, either iinpre sed or
wounded, or killed, by the force 81 British fri
gates. British ships of war lowered in war
ike display upon the Coast ; block AIDED ths
ports ofthe United States, so that no vessel
couid enter, or depart in safety penetrated
tle pays and rivers, and even anchored in
the harbors OF the United STATES to exercise
jurisdiction OF impressment threatened the
towns and villages with conflagration and
wantoniy discharged musketry, as well as
cannon, upon the inhabitants of an open and
unprotected, corntry. The neutrality of the
American territory vas violated on every oc-
Casion ard, at last, the American govern
nifty which could Dc o6sred to a SOVEREIGN
ana independent nation, in the ever mernora-
Die attack OF British 50 gun ship, under the
Countenance OF the British squadron, anchor
ca WitniDfhe waters of the u. States, upon
ehe -ngnte Chesapeake peacpably prosecu
tlns distant voyage. The British govern
meht Affected, from time to time, 70 disap-
prove and condemn these outrages but the
0hicers who perpetrated them were general.
nnI 49,.
II removed from the American station, il was
only to be promoted in another station and
II atonement were offered, as in the fragrant
instance OF the frigate Chesapeake, the atone
ihent was SO unSraCiOus in the manner, so
tardy III the result, as to betray the want of
tnat concilIatorp spirit which ought TO have
characterized it. (o)
But the American government. sonthjng
the exasperated spirit of the people, by
PROCLAMATION, which interdicted the entrance
Oh al british armed vessels, into the harbCrs
ana waters CT the United States (h) neither
commenced hostilities against Great Britain
nor sought defensive alliance with France
nor relaxed III it, firm, but conciliatoiy, eff
forts, to enforce the claims OF justice, upon
the honor of both nations.
L he rivat ambition of Great Britain and
France, now, however, approached the con-
I summation, which, involving the destruction
OF all neutral rights, upon an avowed princi-
pie OF action, could not fail to render an ac-
tuai state OF war, comparatively mo1e ssEe,
ann more prosperous, than the imaginary
state OF peace, to which neutrals were re-
duced. The just and impartial conduct of a
neutral nation, ceased to lie its shield, and its
safeguard, when the conduct of tire belliger.
ent powers towards each other, became the
only Criterion of the law of war. The wrong
committed by one belligerent powers. was
thus made the signal. FOR the perpetration of
greater wrong by the other and if the A.
merican government complained 10 both pow
ers, their answer, although it never denied
the causes Of complaint, invariably retortcd
an idle and offensive inquiry, into the priority
oil their respective aggreSsions (; or each de-
manded a course CT resistance, against its an
tagonist, which was calculated 70 PROSTATE
the American right Of self-government, and
TO co-erce the United States, agai st their in
terest and their policy, into ecJmiug an asso
clate IN the war. But The American govern
ment never did, and never can. admit that
belligerent power. in taking steps 20 restrain
the violence of its enemy, and to rctort upon
them the evils Of their own Injustice (q] is
entitled 70 disturb and to destroy, the rights of
q neutral power, az recognized and establish
ed, by the law Of nations. It was impossible
indeed, chat the real features Of the miscslled
retaliatoTy hystem should be long masked
from the world when Great Britain, even
IN her crfs r. s,,oc.,oeJ ,,to =