1223. CHESAPEAKE, Demand for reparation.—[continued].
You will have seen by
the proclamation the measures adopted. We
act on these principles, I. That the usage of
nations requires that we shall give the offender
an opportunity of making reparation
and avoiding war. [72]
2. That we should give
time to our merchants to get in their property
and vessels and our seamen now afloat. And,
3. That the power of declaring war being
with the Legislature, the Executive should do
nothing, necessarily committing them to decide
for war in preference to non-intercourse,
which will be preferred by a great many.—
To Vice-President Clinton. Washington ed. v, 116.
Ford ed., ix, 100.
(W.
July. 1807)
