The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-25

~
merica, or any other nation and, then, to
Judge OF the effect that those complaints
would make on the people of England, recol-
iecting that the Americans are not base and
cowardly more than we are.
Here follow several. dispositions, copied
IRON the newspapers, Of impressed Ameri-
can seamen.
Now, my Lord, do not say that these
statements are t,rte. In spite of all the par
1icular detail OF names, dates and places in
spite OF oaths and certificates, they mav be
false but as it is to such statements that we
owe tins unfortunate war, we surely ought to
endeavor to flroUe, that some, at least, of
these statements are false. The republican
newspapers TEEN, and teemed long before
the war, with Publications of this sort. The
blood OF America was set boiling with such
publications. The vote of Congress for the
war was the most popular vote ever given
by that body. 1t is, therefore, of vast i'm
portance that these publications should be
counteracted if possible. They are either
true or false--if the latter, as would fain
hope, they can be easily refuted-if true,
which it would be shocking to believe, GER
tainly we.ought to be very ready and for
ward to make atGaement to the Americans
for what they have suffered.
These statements have, too, produced n
nother most serious effect. They have filed
the crews Of the American ships with i'm
placable revenge. To the usual motives of
patriotism and glory, they hNe added the
still more powerful motive of veneeance-
Against crews, thus animated, men under
the influence of the mere ordinary motive TO
bravery, really Cannot be expected to sue
ceed without great superiority of force.
leave your Lordship to suppose what would
be the eff CT of statements Ike these, If the
case were OURS five were at peace with
all the worid, and were carving on our COM
merce, agreeaoly to the laws of neutrahty
while the Americans were at war with some
other power and If the Americans were to
impress EneHshmen from on board English
ships, bringing up Goals from Newcastle 70
London. were to force them INTO their ships
of war, compel them to fight flr America
and, in short, to occasion, in the English pa
pers, statements such as / have above QUO
Nd IF this were the case, does your Lori
shin think, that we should he very quiet
An If such statements would be likely toset
us il f1Ame, are we 20 suppose that they
have had no effect on the Americans
Here, M Lord, as you well know, we
have the real cause Of that war, which, it is
said, is nov tn engaged hundred thousand
men, fqoo hundred ShiYia If rvaT, and which
cannot cost less than twenty millions year.
1t has been asserted, that the Congress de-
clared war against us to assist Napoleon on
she Continent. This is so foolish that the
writer's must think-that they are addressing it
&c men little superior to brutes. 1t was i'm
possible that the Americans could know
where Napoleon was, when they declared
war. ii was Impossible til their war should
really aid him in mis- designs against Russia. 1t
was against their interest that Russia should
be crushed by any power and especially by
France. The other charge, that America,
81 ike an assassin attacked US in the DARK %
is equally false and foolish. How could an
open declaration of war bv Legislative
Assembly, after reheafed discussion, be an
act deserving such description How could
cha. be called All attack in the dark, especi-
ally when it had been threatened for years. &
when it was followed Immediately by an offer
for truce, in order agan to negotiate for
peace
Here we have the real origin of the war.
Terminate as il VIII, this was its origin
This origin>must not be forgotten, whatever
efforts are made to put it out Of osr heads
When the war should have ended, and we
shall sit down to count the cost, this origin
must be kept steadily before u.s.
The TINS and Courier are still labour-
ing 20 persuade US, that there will be Sc
narration of the American States that the
-Four New England States will declare them
selves ndehendent Of the General GoUern-
4 HicfL, anu WIZ fOIVt an QtLHLnec TUf[H OLI
Ergiard. Now, my Lord, mind, pledge
myself, that, if any such proposition be seri-
oasly made by the friends OF the famous
Captain HENRY, by the would-be Noblesse
of NJ ssachusetts, they will very quickly be
decorated, not with coats ofarr0s, but with
coats Of tar and fcathers. The people Of
Naw-England are essentially Republicans. .
They have been, or, at least, a part Of them
stimulated by very cunning men, to violent
opposition against Mr.. MADISON and the
WAR. But only let them see the real OBJ
jects Of the Pickerings, the Otises, The Quin-
cys, &c. and the fall If these men is as GER
tain as the return of Spring after Winter. 1t
is not by large majority that even the
New England States oppose the war 1t is
barely q" touch-and- 20" with the Opposition
evcn there. What man in his senses, then,
can place moments reliance on il ? And,
indeed, the only purpose that it is likely to
answer, is, that of deceiving rs, and Inducing
us to leave the New England seaports saf
fiaces FIR the bnitdbig Of dh1ts q zOar, and
The fitting our Of f'riVateevs.
The leaving of that part Of the Union I'M
mclested, while we attack the Southern States,
is Just what suits America. She has in n.
England, unmolested ports and harbors, out
OF which to send forth ships Of war to annoy
our trade & eng &c our navy. and into which
20 carry her rich prizes. The Pickerings,
the Otises, &c. really believe
=
.