American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-09-03

by the light of blazing temples, and amid the groans
OF women and children perishng in the ruins of the
sanctuaries of domestic habtation at Copenhagen,
that we can expect our remonstrances against this
source of proceeding will be heard.
Let us to the third and last of the causes of
complaint which are represented so frivolous and
SO unfounded" the unfortunate affair Of the Chesa-
peake.' The orders Of admiral Berkeley, under
which this outrage was committed have been disa-
vowed by his government General professions of
willingness to make reparation for it, have been
lavished in profuson and we are now instructed to-
take these professions for endearors to believe
them sincere, because his Britannia majesty sent us
special envoy and to cast the odium upon our
own government.
have already told you, that am not one of those
who deem suspicion and distrus in the highest or
der OF political virtues. Baseless suspicion is in
my estimation vice, as pernicious in the manage
ment of public affairs is fatal to the happiness
of domestic life. When, therefore, the British
ministers have declared their disposition to make
ample reparaton for an injury of a most arocious
character, committed by an officer of high rank and,
as they say, utterly without authority, should most
readily believe them, their professions not posi-
lively conradicted by facts OF more powerful elo-
Iquence than words.
| Have such facts occurred? will not again al
Jude to the circumstances of Mr.. Roses departure
upon his mission at such precise point of time,
that his commission and the orders of council of h
November, might have been signed with the same
lpenful of ink. The subjects were not immediate
lily connected with each other, and his ma jesty did
mot choose to associate distinct topics Of negotiation
/ The attack upon the Chesapeake was dsavowed /;
and ample PREPARATION was withheld, only because
with the demand for satisfaction upon tina. injury,
lthe American government had coupled demand
Tor the cessation OF others; alike in kind, but of
minor aggraVaiion. But had PREPARATION really been
int. DIAL "a
vague and general terms, but in precise and specific
proposals Were any such made None But it
is said, Mr.. Monroe was restricted from negociat-
ling upon that subject apart and therefore Mr.. Rose
u was to be sent TO Washington, charged with this
single object; and without authority TO treat upon
! or even to discuss any other. MIR. Rose arrives
II The American government readily determine to
treat upon the Chesapeake affair, separately from
Ian others but before Mr.. Rose sets his foot on
/ shore, in pursuance of preeDson made before by
! Mr Gaming, he connects with the negotiation, a
subject far more distinct from the butchery of the
chesapeake, than the general impressment of our
seamen mean the proclamation, interdicting to
British ships of war; the entrance of our harbors.
II The great obstacle which has always interfered
Il with the adjustment OF differences with Britain
has been that she would not acquiesce in the only
principle upon which fair negotiation between indie
Y pendent nations can be conducted the principle OIL
RECIPROCITY -tha she refuses the application to
dlof the claim which she asserts for herself The
s iorcloe taking OF men from an American vessel
III was an essential part oil the outrage upon the Ches
Il Iapeake. 1t was the ostensibe purpose for which
> that act of war unprecedented, was committed. The
Il. presidents proclamation was subsequent act ano
was avowedly founded upon many similar aggres
sions, OF which that was only the most aggravated.
II If then Britain could, with any colour OF reason
- claim that the general question of impressmen
shoud be laid out OF the case altogether, she ough
upon the principle of reciprocity, to have laid equal
= lily out OF the case, the proclamation, measure Sc
=" easily separabe from it, and in its nature merely
i defensive. When therefore she made the repeal o
j., the proclamation an indispensable preliminary to al
discussions upon the nature and extent OF that repa
ration which she had offered, she refused TO trea
with US upon the footing of an independent power
e She insisted upon act of sefdegradaon on on
part before she would tell US what redress sh
would condescend to grant for great and acknowl
edged wrong. This was condition which she
~ could not but know to be inadmssble, and is o
itself proof nearly conclusive that her cabinet neve
intended to make, for that wrong any PREPARATION
8 all.
But this is not all--it cannot be forgotten, tina
n when that atrocous deed was committed, amids
e. the general burst of indignation which resoundet
b, from every part of the union, there were among
to a small number of persons, who upon the opinion
that Berkleys orders authorised by his govern
to ment undertook justify them in their fullest ex
in ltent-hese ideas, probably first propagated by Bri
fish official characters in this country, were persist
es ed 10 until the disavowa of the British eovernmen
II took away the necessity for persevering in them
I'd and gave notice where the next position was to b.
taken. This patriotic reasoning, however, had bee
$50 satisfactory at Halifax, that complimentary let
is tiers received from admiral Berkeley himself
re highly approving the spirit in which they were in
~ culcated and remarking how easily peace, between
he the United States and Britain might be preserved
De if that measure of national rights could be mad
~ 1.-The prevailing standard Of the country.