Newspaper Page Text
from the Richmond Enquirer.
The following argument is luminous
and irreliftible, if the /acts, which it
afliuincs, arc true. OF this, there
can fcarccly be any doubt at pve
'fentj but we fhail shortly afccrtain
fiom the documents which will be j
laid before congress. What is mo!l j
remarkable is, that this argynient is
from the pen of Mr. Coleman, the
“federal ‘"Field-Marshal ot N; /oik,
who forms in this instance an hon
orable exception, to the British fe
deral prints of Eodon.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
The'ftatement of the attack upon
the Ghefapeake, is very conciicindeed;
but it contains enough to characterize
the transaction, and perhaps, it is all
that could with propriety, be submit
ted at this-time. We are informed
that ~
44 By a formal order from a British
Admtrai, the frigate Chcfapeakc, leav
rng her port for a diffant service, was
attacked by one of these vessels which
bad been lying in our harbors under
the indulgence of hofpitalitv, was dis
abled from proceeding, had feverul of
her crew killed, and four taken away.”
1 hefe faffs being unquflionable, it
forms, as we conceive, a case of attack
oh national sovereignty, such as no
government can tamely submit to,
without an ignominious furvender of
its independence. As on this point
however, we have the misfortune to
differ from,fame, whose political fen
tirnents .we refpeSl, and whom perfott
aliy we highly esteem, we (half endea
vor once for all, arid in lieu cf any o
ther notice of the fubjecl, endeavor to
be very explicit; but our limits will
compel us to be very brief.
Among thpfe who differ from us,
are fume who leek to palliate, and
fome who go the length of juffifying
the British Admiral, on the ground
that our government were guilty of
the fir It wrong. We might frfcly ad
nit the pretnifes and dill deny the in
ference. But let us bellow a few mo
ments on the faffs.
They fay that we were guilty of the
f.rft wrong by encouraging and har
boring British deserters, and that the
Britilh had a right therefore, to take
them by force after demand and refu
’ iiil. We anlwer that if they will trace
the transaction back in this manner,!
they ought to go further; and then
it would appear that the wrong did
not originate with us. Three of the
deserters from the British had firll de- i
ferted from an American velfel, and
Were refufed to be delivered up when
demanded, and if the fame rule ought
to operate in the fame manner for and
against both nations, then we fay, they
-could have no light to inlift upon its
observance by us, after they thern-i
felv'es had relufed to observe it. But
so this, they anlwer, the desertion on
our fide wa only Irom a private ves
sel, and on theirs, froina public velfel.
and that there is a material diiference
between* private and a public vessel.
To which we reply, that as to the mat
ter in ilfue, there is none. We arc
enquiring v.ho did the lirft wrong.
Prefidciu Walhington in his pro
clamation ol neutrality, m 1793, ex
horted and cautioned the citizens oi
tli* United Statfes against aiding or a
betting iioftiliucs against any of the
powers at war. And by llatute ol the
United States, palled in June, 1794
in conformity with the public law oi
nations, it is among other things mad
ed— 44 That if any person fhail within
the territory or jurisdittion of the U
pited States, enter or eniift himfelf, 01
lure or retain another person to eniift
or enter himfelf; or to go beyond the
limits or jurisdiction of the U. States.
With intent to be enlisted or entered ii
the service of any foreign prince 01
ftate,.as a soldier, or as a Maiine or
feamau on board of any vefiel of war,
lotterof marque,ior privateer, every
perjoo-Tp offending fiftill be guilty o!
a high mifdcmean jr, and (hall be lin
ed) not exceeding one :hou&!j<j dol-
lar?, and be imprisoned not exceeding
three years.”* This llatute is surely
fulliciently explicit. It not only for
bids desertion and enlistment within
our jurisdiction, (and no laws can pun
ish what is done out of their jurisdic
tion) but it goes the utmoll extent that
j a law could go ; for it renders penal,
even the etilifling abroad, if the intent
was conceived at home : thus laying
hold of the flighted circumstance to
bring it within our jurisdiflion. Will
any one after this, tell me that our go
vernment looked with indifference on j
the conduct of its citizens, in enlisting
on one fide of either belligerent against
the other P —Such enlistment is m U
fedf a breach of neutrality, which no
jull government could be supposed to
countenance. It then, the desertion
of the American fearnen, and ehlilting
on board alhipof one ol the bellige
rents was, in ‘itfelf, inconlillent with
neutrality, and alio made a penal of
fence, by the laws of their own coun
try, whenever the act could by con
flru6tion be brought within our juris
diction, it could not possibly be other
wile than wrong in the British com
uianderto receive these men on hoarc;
his velfel, and his doing lo was, there
fore, the firll wrong. And as to iht
argument on which so much ftrels i
laid, that it can never be expended tha
a belligerent Ihould consent to a doc
trine that would thus render h-ifn liabft
to lole his crew in a neutral port, b
which his means of encountering tit
enemy would be weakened, the an
fwer is, neither can it be expected th ; >
he should complete compkmci
out cf neutral fearnen, by which hi
means of encountering the enemy
would be ft lengthened ; and if he wii
adopt the latter, he cannot tomplan
of the former.
But one man, Ratford , was not ai
American; and to him none of thi
reasoning will apply. True. But wi
fay that we have'the evidence of Com
muuore Barron, firll, that the govern
merit ordered him to eniift no Biitiff
deserters; second, that fie was igno
rant he had such a matt on board, Rat
lord having entitled under snothei
name. Candour, and a regard to di
corum require us to take the fact to bt
as Hated, at leail till it is folemnlv dis
proved; and then Katfprd was, as t<
implicating the government, as much
an American as any one of the crew,
j Os courfc, his being on board could
1 afford no colour for the hostility on
the ground ot our knowingly and wil
, fully harboring Britilh deferters.-'—
■On the oilier hand, one ol the fearnen
J demanded by Lord Townshead and
for whom the attack on the Chesa
peake is declared to havtf been made,
named \\illiam Hill, was an Ameri
can by birth; a circumstance confes
sedly known to the British, for it is ad
mined that he enlisted at Antigua, b;
thenameof 44 William Hill) of Phi
ladelphia.'”
Thus then Hands the case : Taking
their own view of the fubjefct, that we
did wiong in refufmg to give up de
serters, when traced back, the first
wrong is leen to have been done by
the other party. 1 hey have attempt
ed to lay down one rule for thetrifelves,
by which they avail ihemfelves of the
aid and afijflance of deserters to their
vessels; hut they will not permit us to
avail ourlelves of delerters fiom their
vessels ; nay. they go further, and re
fule us the privilege of receiving our
own deserters back again to their alle
giance. They make the deck of a
britilh man of war an enchanted place,
°r> which, whoever once Heps his foot,
can never return, while the decks of
all other vessels are wood and timber,
which every lailor may leave at plea
iure.
V\ e cannot conclude, without tak
ing notice of an error of no finall mag
* I am sorry that the author of the pam
;hk*t, entitled “ Peace without dishonor, wir
-Uhottl hofc, Ihould have thought himlelf at
liberty to refer to this llatute without quoting
it j and ltiil more, than in so doing, he fliouldo
nut to notice the latter and molt important part
altogether; which completely rebuts his infer
ence.
nitude into which the of
Admiral Berkley have fallen. ihc
true queflicn, they fay, is, whether he
faffs that preceded the attack on tho
Ghefapeake amounted to such a pro
vocation, as would, if reported to the
government of Great Britain, ju 1 y
reprisal j. orauthorile a declaration ol
wtir.f This is not the true qudhon,
nor is at all the question. But it is,
whether a ship of war shall searoi ano
ther ship of war, when the re'peLivi
sovereigns are at peace ? We bold, we
i (hall ever hold, the negative, in terms
I unqualified.
The Prefidcnt, therefore, very pro
perly denominates the attack an out
rage. And be informs us, that 11 An
armed vessel of the United States was
difpitched, with inftruttions to our
ministers at London, to call on that
government for the fatisfatlion ana
lecurity required by this outrage.
This was perfectly fit and proper,
and meets with our lull approbation.
Mor do we hesitate to fay, that this
44 fatisfaflion and fecuritv,’ will be
readily and J cheerfully given, il not
prevented by any improper, injudici
ous terms, in which the demand may {
he made. We fay this with the ut
moll confidence on the following
‘rounds.
Iti the year 1795, the Baltimore
rloop of war, capt Philips, being met
it sea by an Enghfh 74, Commodore
.oring; the latter demanded 50 fea
nen, and after an examination, four
m five of them were taken and kept,
‘/hen the news reached London, the
vmerican rainfter, Mr. King, inttant
v addreffeda note to Lord Greenville
irotefting against the light of ash ip of j
av to search another ship of war, un-l
ier any possible pretext, the refpetftive
vereigns being at peace. The an
wer difclairned ail pretcnfifcns to
xercife such a right, and promised
ne moll ample fatisfafVion; and an
•rderwas immediately issued, recall-!
ng Commodore Loring. It appeared!
lowevcr, on examination, that capt.
Philips had voluntarily tent the men
>n board: of course the blame lefts j
• ith him. Bui captain Philips. W3S j
oroke by his own government, for!
uiscondufil, and an order was issued;
uy Mr. Adams to all commanders ofi
American thips of war, not to permit!
ihemfelves t* be searched under any;
pretext, or in any circuirtftartees.
Our governnren: are in poffeßlon
of the cofrcfpondence between Mr.
King and Lord Greeville, on this oc
casion ; and if they had only publilh
ed it a few months ago, it would not
only have saved much controversy,
but have had a material effect in quiet
ing the public mind,
f Another of the Pamphlet.
Foreign News.
LONDON GAZETTE, OSchr J 7.
BY THE KING-*-A PROCLAMATION,
For recalling and prohibiting Seamen from servin'?
Foreign Princes and Scales.
George r. j
Whereas it hath been represented unto us, that 1
great numbers cl mariners and feaiiairing men, I
our natural-born fubje&s, have b *. a entfeed tb j
enter into the service of Foreign States, and are
how actually leaving as well on board the fnipj)
of war belonging to the faid’ Foreign States, as
on board the merchant vessels belonging to their
fubje&s, rotwithftanding our former procla.ria
tion recalling them, contrary to the duty and ah
legiance which our said subjects owe unto us,
and to the great dis-service of their native coun
try ; we have, therefoA, thought it neeeffary, at
the prefect moment, when our kingdom is'me
naced and endangered, and when the maritime
rights, on which its power and greatness do
mainly depend, are disputed and.caileu in queition
to pubhih, by and with the advice of our Privy
Council, this our Royal Proclamation :
We do hereby flridLly- charge and command
all matters of (hips, pilots, mariners, Ihipwrights,
and other fcafaring men, being our natnral-born
iubiefts, who may have beer, enticed into the pay
or service of any Foreign State, or do serve in
.ny foreign (h : p or vessel, that, forthwith, they
and every one of them do ( according to their
boiinden duty-and allegiance, and in’ confidera
tioa that their native country bath of all
their fervice*,) withdraw themselves, and depart
■trom, and quit such Foreign Service, and do re.
turn home to ‘n ir native country ; or do entei
on board such of our (hips of war as they mav
f ’® r '“ l l ~ n t!; er on the high
fca 3 or in any rivers, waters, havens, roads, gsitt,
or places, whtfoewr or wheresoever.
Anc, for the better execution of the purpcCm
of this our Royal Proclamation, wo do authorifc
and command ell captains, tnaderr, and others,
commanding our (hipsand vessels of war, to Shop
and make (lay of all and every such person or
persons ( being our natural bom fi.feje&s) as (hai*
endeavor to transport or enter themfdues into
the service of any Foreign State, contrary to the
intent and command of this our Royal Proclarna.
tion, aud to seize upon, take, and bring aw^
all such persons as aforefuid, who (hall be fcaaj
to be employed or ferying in any foregn tjer.
chant (hip or vessel as aforefaid: but we da
ftriftly enjoin all such our captains, mailers, ad
others, that they do permit no man • to go on
board such snips and vessels belonging to date,
at amity with us, for the purpose of so feizing
upon, taking, and bringing away filch persons
3s aforefaid, for whose difereed and orderly do
meanor the Lid captains cannot answer ; and
that they do take especial care that no urmecef.
fary violence be done or offered to the vessel or
the remainder of the crew, from out of which
such persons fhail be taken..
And in case their receiving informal ion of
any such person or persons oeing employed, or
serving on board of any (hip of war belonging
to such foreign ilate, being a state at amity
with us, we do authorife and command our cap
tains, mailers and others, commanding our
cf W3r, to rebuke of the captain or commander
of such foreign (hip of war, that he doth (ortli.
with release and difeharge fach person or per.
sons, being our natural born fubjecl or fuhjec) s ,
and if such release and difeharge ihall be relufed,
then to tranfrr.tt information of such relufal to
the commander in chief of the fqtiadron, under
whose orders such captain or commander Ihffl
he then serving ; which information the said
commander in chief is hereby ftriftly direffed
and enjoined to.tranfmit, with the lead poffiMe
delay, to our Miniffer reflding at the feat of gov
ernment of that state to which the said foreign
ship of war (hall belong, or to our Lord High
Admiral, or Lords Commiflfoners of the Adipi
ra’ty for the‘time being, in order that we, being
appnfed of such proceeding, may forthwith di
rect the neccffary flfeps to be taken for obtain
i;:g redress from the government to which such
■j foreign ftps of war ft all belong, for the injury
j done to us by the unwarranted detention o* our
natural born fubjefts in the service of a foreign
state.
And whereas it his further been represented
unto us, that divers mariners and featuring men,
our natural born fubjefls, have been induced to
accept letters hf naturalization or certificates!!,
citizen ft, ip, from foreign dates, and have been
taught to believe that by such letters or certiti.
1 4‘es, they are dife barged from that duty of alle
giance which, as our natuaai born fubjeds, they
ov;e to us ; row we do hereby warn ail such
mariners,, ic 3 firing men and others, our r.aturft
oorn fuhjeS.s, that no such letters of naturaliza
tion or certificates, c.f citizenship, do* or can, in
any marcer, divest Our natural born fubjefts cf
the allegiance, or in any degree alter the duty
which taey owe to us their lawful Sovereign.—
But, in confideratioti of the error into which
such mariners and feafaring men as aforefaid may
have been led, we do hereby publift and declare
our free pardon to all such our fubjeds, who,
repenting of the delufior. under which they have
aded, fhail immediately upon knowledge of tics
our Royal Proclamation, vvitiadrav; themselves
from foreign service, and return to their allegi
ance to us ; and wo dq oefellre,. that all lucia
our fubjeds, who (ball, cdctirnie in the fenicc
of fcitign dates, in <f.f:cgard and contempt of
this cur P-oyal Proclynation, will not only in
cur our just difpleafurc, but are liable to be pro
ceeded against for such contempt and (hall be
proceeded accordingly ; and do hereby declare,
that if any fufch mailers of (hips, pilots, , drillers,
teamen, fhip r wrights, or al’ier le# faring- ma
(i>eing our natural born fobjedts) Jball be tst.t-%
in any foreign service by thejAlgerines, or otlitr-
Barbary powers and carried into slavery.
fhail not be reclaimed by ua as subjects of Great-
Britain :
And we do farther nctifv, that ail iiicb onr,
fubjetts as SiOrd’aidj who have- voluntarily *
j tered, .or fhail enter, or voluntarily continue to
! terve on board cf any (hips of nr belonjioz W
I any foreign state at enmity with us, are aa
! will be guilty cf high treason ; And we do by
j this our Royal proclamation declare, t’hat
1 ftaii be puilift-d with thdutraoit severity ofu
; lav'.
Given at, our Com t at the Oueert’s palace,
the 16th day or (Jitober, 1307, and in U*
4.7 th year of our reirrn.
LOHDON, October 17-
Vvfo received this morning the hfonifoars cf
the Sfd and 3d in ft ant. They do not emit’"!
one article of importance. French funds, 3iL
1-4.
Hamburgh and Bordeaux nre in the gre-nrS’
did rest. The Spanish troops behave very ‘-U ;i -
Hamburgh.
The cahiaot council, which fat on Thurfa.'-V,
at 2 o’clock, did not break-up until half pad ,v—•
It was occupied with the conf,deration of the’ 1 '*
j (tru&ions to be given to Mr. George Itofe, ji-
I upon his fpccial mifilon to America, and M ’
John liorlafe Warren, upon hi- acctffmn to t.’- K
command of the British Iq.ulc.ro:’, on the Kona
Aiuerict.n ftatioi'.
October 19.. , ,
The thifundci (landing with Am erf., and, ■‘•'h
has proved a fourcc of so much at--.■ us faetr.ij *
tion, may bo uqw entfidfred C.tally ietlltd. _'*
a former paper we dated, that the weuuf.d dc-v
or of the United States was only to be h-w-i ■ i*
marking the c-oiidud of the X*cop.n:dvii •