Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-20
FOR RENT.
John 9. .Adan,s' letter TO Harrison G.. OTIS.
TConcluded1

that when that atrocious deed was committed
amidst the general burst of Indignation which
resounded from every part of the union, there
were among us small number ofpersons, Who up
on the opinion that Berkley'sorders were author
ised by his government, undertook to Justify them
in their fullestextent-thcse IDEAS probably first
propagated by British official characters IN his
country, were persisted in until the disavowal
of the British government took away the neces-
sity for persevering in them, and gave notice
where the next position was to be taken. This
patriotic reasoning, however, had been so salts
factory at Halifax, that complimentary letters
were received from admiral Berkeley himself,
highly approving the spirit in which they were
incucated, and remarlSing how easily Deace
between the United States and Britain might be
preserved, if that measure of our national rights
could be made the prevailing standard of the
country.
When the news arrived in England, although
the general sentiment of the nation was not pre-
pared for the formal avowal and justification of
this unparalleled aggression, yet there were
not wanting persons there, ready to claim and
maintain the right of searching national ships
for deserters. 1t was said at the time, but for
this we must of course rest upon the credit of in
official authority, to have been made serious
question in the cabinet council; nor was its de-
termination there ascribed to the eloquence of
the gentleman who became the official organ of
its communcation-add to this, circumstance,
which without claiming the irrefragable Gre
dence of diplomatic note; has yet its weight
upon the common sense of mankind; that in all
the daily newspapers known to be in the minis
terial interest," Berkeley was justified and APP
plauded in every variety of form that publca-
ton could assume, excepting only that of Off
cal proclamation. The only part of his orders
there dsapproyed was the reciprocal oferwhich
he made of submitting his own ship to be
searched in return-that was very uneguvo-
caly disclamed-the ruffian right of superior
force, was the solid base upon which the claim
was asserted, and so familiar was this argument
grown to the casuists of British national juris-
prudence, that the right of British man of war
to search an American frigate, was to them a
self evident proof against the right of the Ame-
rican frigate to search the British man of war.
The same tone has been constantly kept up,
until our accounts of latest date; and have been
recently further invigorated by a very explicit
call for war with the United States, which they
contend could be of no possible injury to Bri-
tain, and which they urge upon the ministry as
affording them an excellent opportunity to ac-
complish adism,emberment Of this union. These
sentiments have even been avowed in par
lament, where the noblemsn who moved the
address Of the house of lords in answer to the
kings speech, declared that the right of search
ing nationalships, ought to be maintained against
the Americans, and disclaimed only with res
In the mean time, admiral Berkeley, by a
court martial of his own subordinate officers,
hung one of the men taken from the Chesapeake,
and called his name Jenken Saiford. There
vas, according to the answer frequently given
by the lords of the admiralty. upon applications
for the discharge of Impressed Americans, no
such man on board the ship. The man thus
executed had been taken from the Chesapeake
by the name of Wilson. 1t is said that on his
trial he was identified by one or two witnesses
who knew him, and that before he was turned
| off he confessed his name was Ratford, and that
! he was born i'll England-but it has also been
sad that Ratford is now living i'm Pennsylva-
nia-and after the character which the disa-
| yowal of admiral Berkley's own government has
given to his conduct, what confidence can be
claimed due to the proceedings of court
| martial of his associates, held to sanction his
proceedings. The three other men had not
even been demanded in his orders; they were
taken by the sole authority of the British
searching Lieutenant, after the surrender OF
the Chesapeake. There was not the sha-
dow of 4 pretence before the court martial
that they were British Subjects or born in
any ofthe British dominions. Yet, by this court
martial, they were sentenced to suffer deatt.
They were repreved from execution, only up
on condition of renouncing their rights as Anne
ricans, by voluntary service in the kings ships
they never have been restored. To com
plete the catastrophe with which this bloody
tragedy was concluded, admiral Berkeley him
self sauctoning the doom of these men
thus obtained-thus tried-and thus sentenced
read them a grave moral lecture on the
enormty of their crime, in its tenden cy tc
provoke war between the United States anc
Great Britain.
Yet amidst all this parade of disavowal by his
goveTnncnt--arnidst all these professions o.
readiness to make PREPARATION, not single mari,
of the slightest disapprobation, appears ever to
| have been manifested to that officer. His in
structious were executed upon the Chesapeake
| in Junc--Rumours Of his recall have been cir
culated here-But on leaving the station al
| Halifax in December, he received compli-
| mentary address from the colonial assembly, and
assured them in answer that he bad no official
! information of his recall. From thence he went
| to- the West Indies; and on leaving Bermuda for
! England, in February, was addressed again by
| that colonial government, in terms of high pana-
| gyric upon his energy, with manifest illusions
| TO his achievement upon the Chesapeake.
Under all these circumstances, without APP
| plying any Of the maxims OF suspicious policy
TO the British professions, may still be permit
ted to believe that their ministry never serious
| ly intended to make us honorable reparation,
or indeed any reparation at all for that "uufor-
| tunate AFFAIR."
| 1t is impossible for any man to form acCu-
rate idea of the British policy towards the Uni