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ipR $2 ISO tzsYs ix ADrAXcz , 'V ' v -.. . .... ., -'.'..' - ' ' ' .... .. '' 'in i ii ' "'ip" ' " '"V1 1 -" ' 1 1 1 . . .. "mi i v"-'y- . v'. ' ' FrimAV: ,!uii7l8i2.::i.o-lii5K . 1 i' . -. Vol. 17. I POLITICAL. Addrefs tp' the People 6fj'jthe:.lrnitcd' Statteg f BV. MEMBERS p COnGRSS, , WAR WITH QRAXBITAlSr. fhe undersigned tfaffytftye-'Jfme tffefirescntaiivcsyio- their 'TCthtctivc Cowtiiucnt. : . A Republic hasior its basis Uie capacity Vnd right of the people to govern themselves.-.i mam t-un-Hc via ticniv .-..v. ii the responsiibility 6lhe, representatives to their cans iiuent. Free i nhiiLhv of debsk ire essential to the preservation of tuth s citizens, by ggeUngm,putatioTiS agaipitl 6ribn f e S It has always been the opinion of , the Unt(etiRne that. a jys. tern ot peace was the poicy, wmpn most coropwtea witiime cnarfit; ten condtiion, aiid interest of the United State. That vhtir remote riess from the theatre of coniest?n Europe, was their peculiar fe, I . . a A i'i .1 ' k...' -J. .JlK. m1 ..1 .4-1 S .dhwi k . . 1 4 iicuy ana inai noiinng uui , ncwtsii, uovuiciy hmjjuiuuj mvutu induce, theri. to enter as parties Into w?r, 4n which eVerjr c6nidera. tion of virtue and policy seems'totje forgotten, under the overbear. inc swar of rapacity and ambition. There is' a new era in huipan affairs. The European world is co'n'vuUd. The" advantages of oir own situauon are.pecxaur. " v ftywqui trer own to stanu pppn lor elt?n sriund ? Whv. by interweavine 'oiirldetiny with that of any Dui't of Europe entanKl our peace and, prosperttv in the toils of European ait.bltionnfiValshi interest, nufroor, or cayrice In addition la th ,fon' mf Aend . aential; cdp&taQtpt which should deter thoughtful metvlrom hastening into tae peril forms of gomnmenu fcvery. arbitrary abridgment or tne rignt u :.. v.rUi!AnatIv. i a tlircct infihuremetlt 'of Vk lHitfty'of v?We4rV coceaitcot of their foceedmrbT such a war, there were some peculiar to the United States, re L'anbroximjition towards tnatmr " Whtfi, tf Systematic iulea, a"! suiting fiom. the texture of the government and the political relations of the people. . A fornt of government, in no small degree experi mental, composed" Of pot evful snd independent sovereignties asso tiatcd in relations, some ol which are critical, as well as novel, should not be hastily precipitated into situations, calculated to put to trial, the strength of the moral Bond, by which they are twited. Of all states, that of war, is most likely to call into activity the pas. sioiis, which are hostile aud dingerous to such a fevm. off govern ment. Time is yet important to our country to .settle and mature its recent institutions. Above all, it appeared to the undersigned from signs not to be mistaken, that if we entered up n this war, we nMiinWhfc the niaioritv to denv the urivileeev of soeech, ata-irlid it as a divided oeODle : not orily from asenseflotthe inadciaacv aysuge, tuidTunder oy circiimstauces of debate" Aud recently, lof our means to success, but from moral and poliUcal objections of or denvinK it' altogether When $ecret Rtssioua muHi'y i aiKl -ln proportion to he importance of questions, w the studioas conceal. mentof tkbateVa people may be assured, that, suCli prucuces con tinuin Mr fre,diin is but short iived. , f HefliiCtions. such as these, have been forced upon the attention of the undersigned, iVIemoers of the Muse otRepreseutatves, of the United States, by be events of ihi resent Scssiouof Congress. They have witnessed a principle, adopted as thVla of the House, hv which, under a novel application oflhe previous bCestion, a pow- by an unprecedented assumpiioni the right to give reasons for an original motion, has been made 'to liepend upoathe wiil of the ma jority. f rinciples more hostile than these, t the eidbttrcc of representa tive liberty, Cannot easily be caucciveU. it i? no;, ;iowe , tr on mese accounts,' weighty as they are, that the unXei siesta mve unUertaK. 'eo ftris address. A subject of higher and mre imwucjiate importance injpels them to the presetn duty. . x . V ; AThe momentous utition of Aar, with Great Britain, is decided. On this topic, S'j vital to your interests the righi of p.uUHc debate, iii theface ot the world and especial. oi tluir rons.tituc;rsi has been denied to your repieieotalives. 1 hey hav e ojcn cailed into se cret session, on this mosi interesting oi all your publicrelaiions, al iioughthe circumstances of the time and uf'ilie naiioa, atlbrded no one feasoa tor secrecy, Unless it. be found 10 the apprehension Q,f,ihe ifect vf public debate, ; on public opunon j or ot puDlig opiftiOn on the result of the vote. ; 1 - Except the messafre of the President of the United Slates, which h no,y before the public, nothing confidential was communicated. Thatniessage "'contained no 4aet, not pieviously Rnowi).- No one reason for war was intimated but such as was ot a nature public and r,otuVioVt The intention to wage war and invade Canada, hud been long since openly avowed. 1 he object of hostile menace had beeir oStuu&Uously announced. Ths inadequacy ot both our army and wvyr fcfr 3iiwj iav ti'ins for the seeufity of "our seaboard were, etery where, known Vet the doors of Congress were shut upon the people. They havft been carefully kept in ignorance of the focress of measures, until i . . i" the purposes oi aarnmisiraiion were consummaiea, ana tne late ot ttie Country sealed. In a situation so extraordinary, the undersign ed have deemed ittheir uluty by no rcf of theirs to sanction a pro deeding so hovel antlarburary. pa the contrary, they madeeveryl attempt, m their power, to attain publicity tor their prdceedmgs. All such attempts were vain. VVhtrt this momentous subject, was stated, as for debate ; they demanded that the doors should be open. '' ' ,r ;' . ::....JJL-JZ - - This being refused, they declined discussion ; "be iog perfectly con yinced, from indications, too plain to be misunderstood, that, in the housed all argnmeht, with closed doors, was hopeless ; and that a Jiy act giving implied' YaWity.' W so .flagrant -iti abuse of power, would bj little less than treidiery to the essential rights of a free TieopleIn iheituatiQrTr to which the undersigned ha e thus betn reduced, they are compelled, reluctantly to-resort to this publiode. tjacation ot suth views pi the state and relations of the. country, as iJeterminedlbeir judgnaent and yote upon the Question of war. A roea?ute ofthis kind has appeared to the utidersigned to be more imperiously demanded, by the circumstance of a mebsai'e and mani. -lesto being prepared, v and circulated at publtc expepce, in which the r . . i .. ... r , vauaes ior war were enumeraieii ano ine mwives ror n concentrated, p a manner suited to agitate jtind influence the public mind; In ex ecuting this taak, it will ba the study of the undersigned to reconcile tnf ,ZT'At du'y, they owe to the people, with that constitutional res. peCf, which is due to the administrators ot public concerns, .In commencing this view of ouraffairs, the undersigned would fail ift duty to themselves, did they refrain from reevnri. g to the course, 4M1-SJ--D0'1,; nie'asureo, which they adopted and have undevi atingly pursued from the commencement of this long--a'id eventful session ; in which they daliberately sacrificed every minor consider, aitontoi" what they dtemedr the best interests of the countryT ror a succession ot years, the undersigned have frcm principle aisupproved, a snie3 ot restrictions upon commerce, according tp wvetr estimion, inethuent as respected foreign naMons-and injuri us, cluerly, to oarselyes. haccesi, in the system, lrr.d become iden. uaeu witxi thepnae. the characten and the Jiope'of our cabinet. As Is natural with roenrwho I, a vc a great stake- depending. On the sue tr35Jt a la pi itetlieory, peiunacity seemed to increase as its hope i icssness became appai-pnt. As the inefficiency of this stem coidd fiot be admitfedj by its advocates, without ensming i:s abandonment HI Success was carefully attributed to the influence of opposition. ' To tiiis Cfttiie!' the people were taughtHo chargjts siKcessive hil tPes and rj4 to its intrinsic imbecility. In this state of thini the urider&ighed deemed it-proper, to take aw7 all apology for adher. fcnce to this oppresivesysiem They were .'desirous, at a period so CUtlca! in,. public atTairs, as f..r aVwus consistent with the inGlepen-dtncetfoniaibn,-to contribute to the restoration of harmony in the iPubhc o6unclw-and concord among 'tje people. And if atly,advan. a?c c2yL4eJbus obtain Dcin?. engaged in no purpose of personal or party advaMementJ VouU rejoice in such an occurrence. ' . , Ifte course of public measures also, at the opening of the session, jj've hope that'an enlarged and enlightened system of defence, with Jav.!H J0O:lSI to be c"1Iniencfed. A purpose,- which,,, wherever- founff, they deemed it ereat weight and very general influence. It appears to the undersigned, that the wrongs, of which the'U. States have to complain,- although in some aspe'cts, very grievous to bur interests,' and, in many, humilitating to our pride, were yet of a nature, which, in the present state of the world, cither would not justify war, or hich war would not remedy. Thus, for instance, the hovering oi iintii.ii vessels upon our coasis, anq me occasional insults to our ports, imperioMsly demanded such a systematic arrpji cation of harbor and sea coust defence, as would repel such aggres. stons, but, Ui no" light, can tbey be considered as making a restwt to war, at the present Vime, on the part of the United States, either necessary, orjexpedient. So also, with respect to the Indian war, of the origin of which, but very imperfect information has as yet been given to the public. Wi'-hout any express act of Congress, an expedition was, last year,' set pii foot and prosecuted into Indian ter ritory, which had been relinquished by .treaty, on the part of the United States. And now we are told about the agency of British tradeis, as to Indian hostilities. It deserves consideration, whether ihere hasbeen such provident attention as wOujd have been' proper to remove any cause ot complaint, either real or imaginary, which the Indians intght uliege, andtose.curs their friendsliip. With all the sympathy and anxiety excited by the state of that frontier ; impor characteiVji-Whejt Brham t$ at War anl th United State neurralt ihp roerfclinr $ftrvitt ,(he United States, hold qttt to "Biilifi sea. J men, : tejnp.UVons, aIost;-iftfesiatable ;high aes and . pieaCeful em'pKp; hstea,o twiej :d.lwar.4ervW.8ft(etyy to Heftt of t haai;deutirUDdepeneiycei That Englaoil whqae.iitaatron insular, who is engagedin' a -, apparently for existence whose eeamca jare her Wwark' cliould lookupotitthe Affect ottiuf 'pfibcTple ypon hep safe'iy! Wfthjealoysy, - is inevitable j land that ste Vlli.'ihteiea)Wteiiente3 of k8 migMlated;xerdset:ii"rrtflyi'.; Tffe i6ue?t!oti, 'therefore, VI preuvcu, uicc. .vol ; uttii .uc maugnuu ano,iriuou-. mind,' ih this cooutyy, Uwtieiherar, foriuch an ab'sfrlct right v be justifiable, before arpting tquayd i'gainst ito .mjdribtil tea-' v dcricy by-' legislativfei(tthtioj t" rejottre?-HV A dabibus rieht ihd4?W,?8Cd wUh'beVtUtiDrwl 'JT'tx'":?: Uftme r.ght tfhou'ld "ittsrAHt &c&&Hti' tkHtllt liStf tes.'V''1': quires, mat ajiauon, newre it pieais iq aim, nou:d tiaveTWen not only true to itsj our tthfe UfiSald.ft CuIedtin-i)o.4oty,u-.'' .others: If the : exercise of -f riglit ; W an .tmrBglated MannerT be H in effect, a standing invitation to tmblfA'foMk wwio' become deserters and traitors, is it nb Iiijury to that pdwi tr': ' i 3 G e r t airily , m oral obligation , demanas that the Ijit.of flag, like n all other human, rights should 1)e -so tsed, as that,.wViI h protects , .y what is our own, U should bot-injute; what la nortKffsi ';ln a prac ' tical ytew, and so long as tiKeyigKt'tff flg )s rU-aii)eid bf no re t; gai to the u ndeniable interest of others, a war on akcount of ira- - t preasmerus, is dnjy a-war Tor' theVnght of employing British octy . ' men, "on board American ,merritanf Vesiejaf, ; v' ' .-f-r-:'" y "'r The claim of Great Briia. pretends to no' further etent t'art ;; ; to take British seamen from private Merchant Vesseli. tbeeii ; V erciae of this Claim, her ofllcers take American seamen, and foreigrt if ; seamen, in the American service j and although she disclaims such 1 abuses, and proffers redress, when known, yet undoubtedly grlev ; ous injuries have resulted to the seamen of the Uited'$tatts. vBut i the ji estion is, can war be proper for sitch cause, before all hope ; of reasonable accomodation" has failed ? Even ifter the extinguish-f v'. ment of such hope, can at be proper, untij otrr bwn practice be sd - . regulated as to remove, in auch foreign jjiation, any reasonable ap j prehension of injury '? . ' , ' i iK? ' The undersigned are clearly of opinion that the employmer b p British seamen, in the merchants service i of the, United Shtei, jf y as little reconcilable with the permanent, as the presetit interest the United States. The encouragement of foreign seamen, is then discouragement of the native Amt;iicjBn. - " ; f- "TJie duty of government towards this valuable class of men is not ordy to protect, but to patronite them- And this cannot be done more effectually than by securing, to American citiiens the privu V leges of American navigation. B The question of impressment, like every other question relative iv iavi uai u. vii v v,nv7 uuvu u iai-1 ) iimi.uupi.n possessed, is lost without obtaining what was sought. ' Pretsioi.Sj rij?ht in theory, and important in interest, urgoU, without due ct-d sidcration of our relative power, have eventuated, in a practical abaV taut as it may be, to apply adequate means of protection, agarnstrthejdti Indians, how is its safety ensured by a d-rUratisn Of-lrar, which adds the EiUish to the number of enemies : As " a'deoent respect '.othe opinions of 'mankind' has not induced the two houses of Congress lo concur in declaring the reasons, or motives, for their enacting a declaration of war, the undersigned and the public are left to search, elsewhere, for causes either real. or ostensible- If we are to consider the President of the United States," and the committee of the house of Representatives,, on for eign relations, as speaking on this solemn of.sasion, for Cohgress, the United States have three principal topics of complaint against Great Britain. Impressments blockades and orders ift council. Concerning the subject ot impressment, the undersigned sympa thize withourjunforthnate Lseameiiijthe victims of this abuse .jif.po.wi. er, and participate in the national sensibility, on' their' account. They do not conceal from themselves, both it importance end its difficulty and they are ft'ell aware how stubborn is the will and ho'w blind the ViSiun of powerfal nations, when grtat interests grow into controversy. . . , - :.. But, Leibre a resort to war for such interests, a moral nation will Hrvofv havwe hoped and wrfiat we eryyed. In atteffftt-- Merehensire, ai'unobstruQted a course as was Consistent wjth consider what iFjust, and a wise rmtion what is expedient. If the exercise of any right to the full extent of its abstract nature, be in consistent Villi the safety- of another .nation', mbrality seems to re quire that, in practice, its exercise should, iitbis repectT be nodi lied. II it be propoSed- to vindicate any right by war, wisdom de mands that it should be of a nature, by war to be obtained. The interests Connected with the subject of impressment are enquestion ably great to both nations ; end !n the full extent of abstract right as asserted by each, peihaps irreconcilable. . The government of the United States asserts the broad pnnriple that the flag of their merchant vessels shall protect the mariners. This privilege is claimed, although every person on board, except the Captain, may be an alien The British government averts that the alleftiarice-of their Sub jects is inalienable, in timeolwafj and that their seamen, found o the sea, the common highway of nations,, shall not be protected b; the flag ct private merchant ves3els. , The undersigned deem it unneceeiarv here to discuss the quea tion of the Arrterica.n claim, for the immunity of their flag. ..But they cannot refrain from viewing it a a pt'inciple, of a nature e;ry broad and comprehensive-; to the abuse of Avhichthe temptations are strong and numerous. And they do maintarahat, before, the calamities of war, 'in vindication of sUch a pripcip,!e be incurred, all he means of negodation should le. exhausted, and that also everyJ practicable a'.te'mpt should be made to regulate the exercise of the rjjrht ; 'So that the acknowledged -injury, resulting to other nations, should, bertheckeci, if not prevented. They are clearly of opinion that the peace of this happy and rising community should not be a bandoned, for the sake ot affording faciliiies to cover 1'rench proper, ty ; or to employ British seamen - C'l - -, -; . - . The claim of Great Britain1 to the services of her teamen is nei; ther novel, 4aor peculiar. The doctrine of allegiance) for which sfte contends is tomnfon to all the governments of Europe. : France,as well as Englandjhas maintained it for centuries. Both nations claim, r.i time ot war, the services of their.ubjects. Both by decreesjor bid them ehtering into foreign employ. Both 'recall i them by procTa mation. ' - . ' v .. No man can doubt that, in the present state of the French mar ine, if American merchant vesseU weretnet at.sea, hsving Frenlh seamen on board that ,r ranee would take them, v Will any man be lieve that Ihe United Statei would o to war againsTFrahce oA this account? , "' ' , r -" ' For very bbvfous, reasons, this, principle occasions little tollision (Rg to spread ow nag over ioreigners ua onuacuve cnaracter uu s been lost to our own citirens. , ;'1 ' 'v';.; -: The American seaman, whose "interest it Is tb have no coYrilpetil - tors, in liis employment, is sacrificed that British seamen may . have tqual privileges with hi msdif. .. . . ; v.-.;v Pvpr (inr. thi ITriiterf Elates hnv hpn a nfltinn. thi nM.rt n4 ' been a matter of complaint and negotiation ; and every, former adl' I ministration have treated it according to its pbnoais nature, as a sub ject rathet for arrangement than tor, war. It existed in the time of Washington, yet this lather Ot his country. recommended no such , resort. It existed in the time oi Adams.-yetj notwithstanding tht 'v teal, in sujort o our maritime rights, which distingoished hi ad i ministTatioii, warjwas never suggested by him,tas thrmed. During the, eight years Mr. Jeftersoiritoodarthrtemt,dfaff still .continued a svibjedt of cositroyersy and negotiattotri but it wai -hever made a cause for war. It was reserved for the present ad: ministra'ion to press tbis topic to the ext retire a)d mpSt dreadful , resort ofjiations : although England has officially disavowed th? right of tmpresament,as"itespecfs Thative citizen? and Aft arrange- " ment might we!) be made, consistent with the. fair pretensions of ! such as are naturalized. . . ' That the real :state of this queStion tnay be understood, rjhe ' tin, f dersigned recur to the following lacts"as supported by ofBclal docti-i i ments. Mr. King, when minister in England, obtained disavowal i of -the British government of the right to impress " American sev"' mm.' nntJtrnli.rrf as well aa Tnative. on the hih seat. An arrantx..'-' ) WrieneraTenef pubiitrdutyAfterTi ctniVsefoticTlhhnsfwhhFrancebT with anyO'ther nation, except England. With" the liberal and conciliatory, it was cause of regret 'that a 'communication 6l)oi3tld hatfebeep purchased by an unprecedented expenditure of se cret service mftney rand used, by the chief magistrate, to dissemi nate suspicion jeai(,usy j and ub xcite reifeutmentj imong. the EneUsh rationt the, people ofthe United States fcre closely assimil ated, In blood, language, intercourse, habits, 'dress; manners and ment had advanced, nearly to a conclusion, upon this basis, and - j' because Great Britain insisted to detain the ft ' What, however," was the opinion ct I! . I t iT -.! was 'UrwKcn wi um, tignt on tne narrow seaa. vvnai, nowever, was me opnrtoo c . a .1 . i t.t!.i. C i . . - , .. me American minister, ou ine iJiu3auuiiyr.oLan nrrangcmenr, ap pears frdtn the public d6C,uments, communicated to. Congress, inl the session of 1303, as stated by Mr. Madison, in these wbrds ' u at the rooJasnt the ;articles were-expected to be sigtrtd, an ex-- " cepiion of ' 'tlie narrow seas ' was tirged and insisted on by Lord ' St. Vincents, and being utterly inadmissible n cur prirt, the'ne- " eociauon was abandoned.' ; -:;. Mr King seems to be of opinion, hbwever, ".'th&t, with moH ( " time than was left him for (he experimentf the objeCnon ; mighcjJ"t iat rifpn otyprrnirifv. ' vv nat time was icir Mr.xms m fh periment, or whether any was ever made has not heen isclosedtd ' the public. Mr.-King, sCon after returned tb & WehCa s It is mani ftst.from Mr Kiftg'sexpression that herwas linnitjeiipo and 'it isitqually .cle4F that his opinion was that jin adjustment Cjt)d!: take ntace. That Mr. Madi3on was also of tile same Opinion1! demonstrated, by his letters to Messrs. Monroe and Pmkney,da!c"d the 3d of February," 1 807 x in which he, useS these expressions; ' fr " take it for pranted.that voti have tiot taileu. to meke -mte usp rif t " the arrangement concerted by Mr. Kir.g with lohl Ilawksl jiiy ; " m .uie year i'u, ior sewng wic.. 4UB?viynoi. iiiirjrcmeni.-' jn n ihutl'c&asion arid undershot administration the' firitish firihcftte wet fairly rjrnouncfd in jfat'or of Oie right of twr f(ig LttdifavJlc9 ' fury, Jtaving agrehl to prohibit imfirest&ehti.pn the high &,! an " Lord St. Vincent requiring nothing more than an exception 'fifta narrow seas, an excebtion resting on tiie'-obso'ete claim of Oi " liiitalri to some peculiar ' dominion! overthTrn. ' ireretheji w6 i have a full acknowledgment that G. Britain was willing to rtr.ofince' the ri'ghLof impressment, on the high seas, in favor of cur Atfg j-A ' that she-was anxious to arrange the subject,. - : . : . ' ' It further appears thjit the. Britifth ministry ealftid for intf'rV.l view with Messrs.-Mrfnroe and Pinkney, on this topic "Mhat f ' stated thfe nature cf the claims the King's prerogative') that tht y; had consulted jhecjjm9ceaPdLlhe-board of admii ralty w htr all concurred in semlmettty-that uwler the ciKtTWsfltes.of the na tion, the relinquishment of the rht;WSr. me'a'strre,-wh)ch the go vcrnmeht could not adopt, without taking on iistlf a responsibili! which no ministry would bf willing to fneet however pressing ti: t exigency might be. Tlfcy. cftered, hewcytt.-wtbefa?; of fireat I V-'- - - .
The Raleigh Minerva (Raleigh, N.C.)
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July 17, 1812, edition 1
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