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iVlajeßv’s p'eafure he
n. Petitions, I under
Hand, are preparing by the in
hahitant.% to he Forwarded to
his Majeftv ; so that we have
now every hope that w'hat the
poor man has alreadv fuffer
ed, and his apparent contrition,
wiil obtain for him his Majea
ty’s mud gracious pardon.
By Thomas Jefferson. 1
President of t/;e United Suites- oj
America.
A Proclamation.
I
During the wars w ich, for
foine time, have unhap} ily pre
vailed among the p<nvers of
Europe, the United States of
America, firm in their princi
ples of peace, have endeavour
ed by justice, by a regula d:f
charge of all their national &
social duties, and by every
friendly cilice their situation
has admitted, to maintain,
with all the belligerent', their
accuffomed relations of friend
Hi ip, hospitality and cominer
cial intcrcouric. Taking no
part in the qidliom which an
imate ihrfe powers againif
each oiler, not permitting j
themselves to entertain a wifli
but *oi the reftotatton of gen
ctal peace, they have observed
wnh good faith the neutrality
they a(f timet 4 , and hev believe ;
that no itilfanye of a depai tu'e i
f om its duties can i ejaiilv mu 1
pitted o them ! y at v nation. ;
A free use of then harbors and :
water s, the means of re filing !
and of reffi. IJuneot, of succor !
to their lick ands offering,have, J
at a>’l and on equal prin j
ciples, been extended to a I, I
and this too anitdfl a conffuru i
recurrence of aids of infubor- j
situation to the laws, of vio- i
Jence to the per lons, and of j
trefpafTes on the propeity <if i
our citizens, cofjgnitted by of- |
ftcers of one of the belligerent j
panics, received among us. Jn j
•tiuih, it eie abuies of the taws :
of fioipttrtlH}, have, with a few
exceptions, i ecome ahttual o j
t: e c n.rna: and rs of rhe liritrfh ‘
tanned v v fiefs. hoveling cm out
coafi , and fiecjm mmg our
h rbors. They has e been the ;
fuhjetl of repeated repieienta |
tioirs to their government. As- j
fn ranees have been given, that j
proper orders fhouid rdf ram j
tiu in within the Ittnu r.t the j
rights anti of the refpeef due to j
a fiientily nation : but thole \
orders cud aifiuance, Inr-e j
been without t-fi'ef; no jn- f
fiance of pumfh nent for pad
wrongs has place.
At length, a deed, iranfeend
jng all we have hitherto ieen or 1
fulleied, brings the public len
fibility id a ftiioua cidis, a< and |
out foi beat ance to a necwdia
ry pauis. A frigate of the j
United States, nulling to a J
Uate of peace, nnci Icav mg Iter j
harbor on a ciiU f ii;t lervice, h-s !
been imputed and attacked J
by a Britilh vtile! of fupeiiot I
force, one of a iquouiou then
lying in our uncis and cover
ing ti c iranfatdon, and It,.>
been dtiabied man ier vice,wit
the to Is of a ti umber ot u.cn
killed and wounded. liras e
normity was not only with
out piovoeauon or ju Inhabit
cause, but was committed With
the avowed purpoie of taking
by force, ftom a Ship of vvai
of tiic United btatew, a part ol
her crew, and that no citcurn
ft nee Uiigirt be waning to
mai k its character, it i;ad b en
p evioufly alcetiained ilsra |,
f. .men ciettiandcd were n-ur-e
citizens ol the United .Stun .
HV.U„ dleCtcet his puipoit.
he returned to anchor with his
squadron within our jm ildiFii”
on. Ilofpitalitv under such
circumHanccs cases to be a du
ty : arid a continuance of it,
with such uncontroled abuses,
would tend onlv by multiply’
ing injuries and irritations, to
bring on a rupture between the
two nations, i his extreme re
sort is equally opposed to the
! imerefls of both, as it is to aft
; finances of the moft friendly
difpoGtions on the part of the
British govern ms tit,in rhenidft
I of which this out t age has been
| committed. In this light the
lubjett cannot hut prelent it
felfto that government, and
ff rengthen the motives to an
* honorable reparation of the
wrong which has been clone,
and to that effeti uai control of
its naval commanders, which
alone can jullify the govern
ment of the United States in
t’necxercife of ihoft holpitali
ties it is now conflrained to dis
coniinue.
In consideration of. these
circuinllances, and of the right
of every nation to regulate its
own police, to provide for its
peace and for the falety of its
citizens, and conlcqueutly to
rcftde the adtniflion of armed
j vt ffels into is harbors or wa
ters, either in such numbers or
| 7
of such deferiptions, as are in
confident win* these, or with
the maintenance of the au ho
my of ihe laws, 1 have thought
pr per in purluance of he au ’
thoi ties fpeciallv given by law,
to issue this my Pi oclamaiion,
I ereb\ requiring all armed ves
sels b; j a irig co nni'ffixns under
the government of GieatDrft
tain, now within the haibors or
waters of the L T . S. immediate
ly, and without any delay, to
depot from the fame, and in
terd fcting tire entrance of a I
tire, laid harbors and waters to
the fjiu aimed veffdt, and to
all others bearing commtffions
unde/- the authority of the Bri*
toil government
And if t! e fatd vcffels, or a
nv of them shall fail to dcpait
as aforclaid, or if they or any
other', (o interdicted, shall
hereafter enter the ha* hors oi
waters aforefaid, i do in that
case forbid ail intcrcourfe with
th. tn or any of them, their of r
fivers or crews, and do prohib
ii all iapplies and aid horn be*
ing fdrmlhed to titem, or any
oi them.
An and I c o dec la re an 1 1 make
known,that ilany perloti noni,
or within the j unid.rtionai li
mits of the United States, (hall
atf.) and any aic to any such ves
fe:, conn ary to the prohibition
contained ;n this Pioclamati
.n, cutter in repairing any
such- v diri, or in fumifhing
her, iter officers or crew, with
iupplies ol any kind, or tn any
manner whatloever, or if any
fi:t t fhail alb ft in navigating
I any, of die Did armed vcfleis,
; uiuefs it be for the purpose or
j csrtving them in the fnft m
ttance beyond the limits and
ju; ti diet ion .of the U. States,
or tirdei’s it be in the case of a
\eflef forced by .hlirefs, or
chat god with j üblic dispatches
as lieieinafter provided icr.
uch person or perfbiis fhall,on
vonviciiort. fuffer all the pains
nd penaAcs by the laws pto
/liie i for inch oifences.
And 1 do hereby enjoin a ci
equirea.il perf’ons hearing
,i e civil or military, with n
m-under the anthoiity of Me
I in ed States, and all other • r
z-. us or inhaouypts there if,
u uei’ wdinn the ia.ue, w. h
vigilance and promptitude to 1
exert their refpetlive amhori
ties, and to be aiding and aft
fillmg to ’be carrying ibis Pio
clamation and every part there
of, into full effett.
Provided nevertheless, tbit i;
any fucb velTel shall be forced
into the harbors or watersofthe
U. S. by Hiftrefs.by thedangers
of the sea, or by* the purfoit
of an enemy, or lba-1 enter
them charged with di patches
or bu fine Is from their govern
metit. or shall be a public pac
ket for the convey ance of let
terS& difpatches,the command
ing officer immediately report
ing h s vtlfel to the collector
of the diftiic*, slating the ob
ject or caules of entering the
l aid liar hors or waters, and
conforming him ft If to the re
gulations in that case prelcrth’
ed under the authority of the
laws, shall be allowed the bene
f,t of such regulations reipett—
ing repairs, fuppltes, flay, in
tercom le and departures, as
(hail be permitted under the
fame authority.
in testimony whereof. I have
cau(ed the leal of the U.
States to be affixed to
these presents, and signed
the fame.
Given at the City of Wash
ington, the fccond day of
}u!v, in the y ear of out
Lord one thousand eight
(Sea!) hundred and (even, and
of the sovereignty and in
dependence of the United
States, the thiriv fbft.
T HOMAS JEFt ERSON
B/‘ the President.
JAMES MADISON,
Secretary if Slate.
NOR FOI K. 1 idv 3.
Mr For, Na *1 Confcmctor for the U.
States at W .fhlngton, ar i ed here yefter.
davwith twenty fljip.rei ightu and maft
niakers, to ercedile the iX'Stmcnt of the
CiieDpeake frigate.
From Baltimo e we tiftderftand that
I.ieut. Read, arrived at t! at city from
Waiiiingt in, v/iihordcrs t-- relit the UlK
ed States’ fehoner Revenge, the fate of
which had been previouSv ordered
It is eo jr.iSuri.cl that this vessel wit! pro
ceed without delay for London, with or
tiers to our Min-Iters to demand explanati
on and fatisfadtion for the late outrage,
and in case both are not given, to ieave
theCuurtof St. Tames’.
j uly 6.
Insolent Menace.
The agitation which our
town was thrown into bv the
recent outrage, had in fome
degree began to subside, and
our citizens waiting in calm
cxreftation for the meafure*
which our government might
adopt, when on Friday a
movement of the B;i'.ifh ihips
again excited it. On the after
noon of that day, the Bellona,
Triumph, Leopatd Sc Melam.
pus, came up from Lynhaven
Bay, ai.-d anchored, in such a
manner, as evidently proved
that they designed i'omething
ftrious. On Saturday a pilot
boat came un to town, the
inafter of which reported, that
he had been brought to by the
Beiiona, arid charged with the
following letter from Commo
dore Do ti gi a Is, to the Mayor
of this place :
//•> Majejiy's Ship Beltona,
liatnpion * n!y 3
1807.
Sir 1 beg leave to repre
rent to you, that having ohferv
ed inthenew{papers,a resolution
made by a cornu-:mee on the
29th tilt, prohibiting any com
munic.dion between his i’riian
nic majefly’s consul at Norfolk,
and his ihips lying at anchor in
Lynnhaven Bay ; and this be.
ing a measure extremely liuftift,
not only in depriving the British
c mml from d.ftha ging the du
t es o! his olficf, bin at the fame
tune preventing tnc from ob
raining that information so ab
(olutely ndeefiary for his ma.
jefty’s service. lam therefore
determined, if this infringement
i> not immediately annul'ed, to
prohibit every vdftl bound
either in or out of Norfolk, to
proceed to their defttnation,
until I know the plea Cure of my
government, oi the command*
er in chief on this Ration. You
mult be perleQ.ly aware that the
British flag never has nor will
be inlulted with impunity. You
mult also be aware mat it has
been, and is ftili in my power
to obflrud the whole trade of
the Chesapeake, (nice the late
ciicumftance, which 1 desisted
from, trufling that general hu
manity would be restored. Be*
fpecting the ciicumlUnce of the
deserters, lately apprehended
from the United States frigate
Chesapeake, m my opinion,
mu . be decided between the
two governments alone. It
therefore rtfts with the inhabi
tants of Norfolk, either to en
gage in a war or to remain on
te. ms of peace.
Agreeable to my intentions,
I have proceeded to Hampton
Roads with the (quadron under
my command, to await your
aufwcr, which I trull you will
favor me with, without delay.
J have the honor to be Sir,
Your obedient humble ser
vant,
J. E. DOUGLAS.
P. S. I er.cloie you two
letters, directed 10 the Britilh
Consul at Noriolk, which you
will be piealed to forward hint.
To Richard E. Lee , Esqr.
Mayor of Norfolk, Virginia.
‘Tie Aidy or convened the Recorder and Alter rxcn :
rvbfn ibt fill ♦ <vit.* waj agreed on, aud order”
ed U he Jent .
answer.
NORFOLK, July 4.
Sr.—l have received your menacing let
ter of yesierday. The uay on which thi
aufwcr U written, o i>ht ol i-.f-lf to prove
to the f jhiedts i.f your Sovc eign, that the
incri-au pe<-ple are not tone intimidated
bymear.ee, or induced to -dopt any me 1-
fures, except by a feule ot tlie-r perledt
propriety. Seduced by ihe falfe fliew of
lecurity, they may e fometimts furprized
and flaugtitcred, wmle unprepared 10 rclift
a supposed friend ; that demfive fccurity is
now however palled far e'er. The late
oceaneuee has taught ui to confide cur
f'afety no long rto any tiling but our own
force, We and > not feck hclhuty. nor fliall we
avoid it. Wc sre p enured for tie word
von mav attempt, and w.il do whatever
fhail be ju.'ge proper to repel force, when
ever your rtforib shall render any act of
ours necdl'ary. T s much for tiie threats
of your ieber, which can be conlidered in
no other light ii.au as addirssei to the lup
pc.fed fears of our citizen*.
In a Twer to that part of it which is par
ticularly addrclTeJ to me, as the firft judi
cial officer of this hour ugh, I have but to
fay, that you mud be aware, that the judi
c.ary of no country p iff. ff -sany otner p-nv
eis than these couterrcd upon it by the law.
The fame channel through which y- u
have derived the intelligence dated by
you:felf, must have also announced to you,
that the aefe of winch you c -mp-ain, is an
adbof individuals, and not of the g vern
m; t. If this adt be wrong aud illegal the
judiciary of this country whenever the
caul- is properly brought be ore it, will
take care to do its duty. At present it hath
no judicial information of am- outrage on
the laws, and therefore will not act.
If you ur, plcafc to confider this aeft of
individuals as a me if.ne “ titremely Imftile,”
and fliall c mtnencc hostility, without
waiting the decibon of our two govern
ment.-, (although you yourself acknowledge
that it properly I c-lonya to them alone lo
decide ) the inhabitants of Norfolk will con
form to your example, aud protect them
selves agaiuft any lawl is aggrclEon which
maybe made upon their polbns or pro
p rty — They therefore leave it with rou “
either to engage in a war, or to remain in
terms of peace,” until the p'eafurc ol cur
refpectivc governments fliad be known
Your letters directed to the Britilh Con
fal at this place, have been forwarded to
him.
1 have the honor so be, Sir,
Yuur in. ft obed.cm servant,
RICHARD Ji. Lt E, Mayor.
Ta JoUN ft D UOI./ISS, I'.ftjr Commanding
fir B,itanic JSiajcfy't Jhift in iiampin
Heads*
VYt- do not know liow to reconcile ti e
friendly declarations of commodore D- ■*-
Li, with a tact of which vve are welt .. fta:'-
ed. A boat from the commodore's lhiu
was employed a coiiiiuetahle time oil ba
lurtlay in founding the channel of Eliz,-
lKth river aimoft up to Cr.ny Iftaiid, abm t
four ini es below thi- place.
r-_r2
WASHING I ON, July ].
Tae following is 1! copy of the letter a-ldief- I
cd by theoCicetinx the w .H,.,
to the Secretary
Laie V. S.Jlip Cit'afiealc „
nn * 23, lbo;.
, Sr -Jhe underlined, officers of .
late U. S. llup Chefapeak-, f ee !;,._ , ’
sensible of the difgtace which mufthf f'h
ed to the lute (in their opinion) ffH'”
lure lurrendcr of the U S. ft lip ‘ r ,,
pcike, of 4o guns, to the Uug’inf
war Leopard, of 50 guns, without ‘
previou • knowledge or consent, and /
rous of proving to their country * n ,i', t ,
vvr-rld, tliat it was the vvilh of a I t h?* f
derligned, to have rendered t! cn *'■ ‘v
worthy of the fa-g under which thry'h'T
the honor to serve, by a determine 1 - ‘ .
ance, to an.unjuft- demand, do request tj Z
honorable Ihe Secretary of the N vv ,
order a court of enquiry into ftcirco’
dudt At the fame time they are corap |”
led hy imperious duty, by the honor 0 f
their ft g. by the honor of their country,
men, and by all that ii dear to then fel--.
to request that an order mav he lTutd Lr
tl-.e ar*eft of Commodore H Jne .
the charges herewith exhibited, vvbi-b’the
ui.-derfignt-d pledge themfelvei to
true, v:z
Ift. On the probability of an cng?g-n r .
for negletfting to clear his i]„p f, r at ’„
9-idly For n't doing his utmost tota ! e
or destroy a veffiel which we conceive it!,,,
duty to have done.
With the highest refpeeb,
We ful.fcrihe ourl'c v- s,
Your moft obedient servants
Ben Smith, isv. Lt.
Wm. Crane, 2 ‘. ( *.
W. H. Allen, 3d. Lt.
S. Drift Creighton, 4ili.Lt,
Sidney Nnihl), siii, I t.
Sam!. Brook, S. JyJ
Itc Hotj. 8.l ‘rt Smithy Secretary cj ilz *
Navy, IVaJhington.
CHARLESTON, July M,
The Genet at Meeting of th? g(</.
zens of Charleston, held tv. the
Bth vist. having requeued tit
Governor, as Commander in
Chief, to direct the hhhne,
promptly ts arm £7 equip them,
selves, and to be prepared to 9.
bey the call of lie General Go
vei tmieti ; in pursuance of their
request, his excellency has tent
the following circular letter to
the M<yor-Gencruls and Bri
gadiers of the Mditia a-7,1
request to have the same am
mu nice ted to the Officer a. and
Privates of their refeetiet
Divisions and Brigades.
F f l Low- Citizens,
I IIAV E thr honor :o ecdore
you the proceedings an:! refo'u.
tions of a genti a! meeting of the
citizens ol Charleston, held oa
the 8:h iust. and to refer you to
the same, for the causes which
gave rise to it and the roes;-
quencts which may be expect
ed.
You will see by this statement,
that in a time of profound ,>.-v.ee,
while our harbor? vers f .!
with their vessels of com>'.; .-r:e,
and some of them of war; our
stores with their manufactures,
and our towns with their raci
chants and subjects ; while eve
ry act not only ol just arid hosor*
able neutrality, bu-‘ of hoqjiu!:-
ty and fr.endship, was exercised
towards them ; while special elu
sions of ministers pienipotcniiarf
Wcie resident at their court, for
the express purpose of removing
Every cause of dissentient, wd
drawing still more closely ii>c
botuU of ainity—(be Leopud, <*
snip of war belonging to toe go
vernment of Great ihitain,
of very superior force, has at*
tacked the Chesapeake , a li ig a:c
of the United States, in a amt
wanton unprovoked manner, an
ted and wounded a uuit'be l oi
her seamen, and grossly violated
iwry principle ol neutrality
-1 hat tbe indignation oi every
class of our citizen* is excited by
this even —• Mint they consider it
paramount to every considers
.loll 1 anu mat they have | A
most solemnly their lives a"d
.fortunes, to support the goicai
ment of their country, in rvtry
measure which its wisdom t.iw
adopt, 10 obtain complete a,l< *
1.0 <iri,ble reparation.
The great lespcctrn l attned
incut always due to a goVctU*
meat so remai kable for l.s J :|S *
ti c aud mederatu n, tor >ts de
sire of honorable peace, and ns
inainunai.ee of ou r pubiic rij-t
as oui own w.il, no do n>t, u) *
dace us all to confide implied/
in its decisions ; bat, as u is •**’ i