Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-22
liz ~ Cents 5s,4yue.I

IConCluueu, riat II .ny arraDgement YhRt~
ever should be practicable, il would be a
less advantageous one than that which VIZ
had sanctioned. Some disposition of IL was
therefore indispensibly necessary in any
course which might be taken. These con.
lsiderations had much weight in deciding
that winch was pursued, and frankly own.
mat sincere desire to Gfford to the adnni-
nistratlon an honorable opportunity for jtg
lrcpeal, since, under exis.iAgcircun's stances.
1T did not seem probable that ft could nes
longer useful, and might be injurious. was q
strong motive with ne 10 incur the resocn-
Is'oility which took on mysclfin that trans
sacsion. 40 the arrangement proposed wa
gave our sanction. We undertook te Suh--
NIT IL to the consideration of ON, onvr,T,
ment, taking care to inform the British com,
| Tnissloners, that we had no power 70 com
! ciude Il treaty that would be ohliorstorv,or,
the u States, which ard nor arrsno,z =,
| satisfactory manner tie interest of inn.
pressment. We agreed also 70 nrnce.S =,
discussion of the other objects of ia
negotiation, and eventually concluded =
treaty; Il being undcrstcod from what I've
had frequently stated, that il our govern.
nie"t should disapprove tl!e arrangement
relative TO impressment, The who'll ,yonIg
tall with with it. Thus the ". States e,'
iJoyed the advantage of being ut liberty -,
accept or reject the arrangements. ,:b;l..
on the British government i: was binding
With ohs party 1t was project, with thss
other treaty. There was in truth 80.
thing unreasonable in this circnmetapcs
as the British commissioners acted in ne,
sence OF the cabinet, Consulted and -
rs instruction on every point, while opr
oIs.ance frcm cur government rendered
Suo " recurrence to 1t impossible. This
advantage however proceeded frn,n 80.
nature of the transaction i ,v,s 80, 70 80
eltecr OF hnesse on cur pare. W. adya,ca5
IN the negotiation, and concluded trpatI-
| IN hT'I Deiief, that ai,ho' II f.l sbort rs
what we had expected 10 obtain. !, wee
nevertheless, IN the then state Of afr.;rs
such one as the u. States mic bt .dn,,S
| with credit & advantage 1 have m donbr
tnAt the British commissioners cnterta;n..5
| sun greater confidence in such a res,t
hc circumstance Of our finally agreeing
~ aa''c'soe inc arrangement rather than
break on the negotiation, at which ;ss,e
we had frequently stood. in the rroaras..
OF 1t, was caicula cd 70 make that iTnp,,s. 2,
SION. But It was much strengthened nv y
knowledge, that the whole arrapeement
would expose them TO very severe and nro-.
oaoil successful attacks from the oppositi.
on, while they had no expectation that IL
would be popular in the country.
by your Litter of Feb Sd, 1907, in renl,.
20 cursor Nov l1th, 1906, the course which,
ene government resolved to pursue was
iii""uHeee' 10y it we were Informed, that
thc president disapproved the inforu,aI az.
Tangement proposed by the British com.
mlssioners relative to impre,sm.nt. ara
was resolved to enter into no treatv ,g;tL
HIS pTit'sn government, which when linnit
gu to' OF snort OF strict right on everv otb-
or point, shoald include in it no article ~,
"ha' particular one; that in case such Al,
article coulG not be obtained. we shopid to-
INITIATE ehe negotiation without any formal
So'"Paot Whatever, but with Il mutual I'M.
,Ie erSSa',uihg' founded on friendly and Ii
ner". ulSc ussions and explanations, that in
Practce each party would entirely eopform
10 what should be .hus infornaiIv eattIe1
between them. Ard we were aTthnrieed
10 give assurances, in case such an or.
ranSsmenl should be satisfactory IN cub
stance that as long as it should ne res
FeC'eu lh practise, particularly on the CHI
jccts OF neutral trade and innressment.
nc president would earnestly, and nroba,
oIy successfully, recommend it to conSresa
u" !" permit 'he non-importation law to
3" INTO operation and in the mean time.
:n"' nc would exercise the power vested
III MIN by an &C; of congress, If no i'm erve.
ning intelligence forbade il, og susDendiD-
us operation till the meeting OF c6noress
"ho, being ~ session, would have an on.
Por'uhily 20 make due provision for the
case and finally, that if treaty. which
o." not provide for the interest of Impress
mens, should have been concluded before
'he receipt OF thai letter, We should cam
dld'y apr'i7e che British commissioners
.of ehc reasons why il would notbe ratified.
ava invite them to enter again on the bust
ness vain view to such result as was
desired. " was
B5y This letter the arrangement which w.
hsa sanctioned comprising ,he normal one
'e'aNvc 20 lmpressmebt, and that H., treo-
y o" me o'her topics, was rejected. and in
Ieu oi 1t We were instructed 20 enter iotoen
informal understanding or arrangement ce
Ihe whoie subject, and as was % he ,nfcr.
rec from the fair import Of the letter. on.
lhe same conditions. Il was The moe -
DC presumed that the government was vii
ing % accept, m the mode which II nro-
posed' 'he conditions which We mipat H..
apie 10 OBTAIN IN the other, from the cnnsi-
defauon, that the latter were under 81,
view az the time the Instructions were eiver-
~ me paper of the British commissionr|S
% november 9th, and our letter at tbeI1sb-
w" NC certainty with which il, "a well az
We must have been impressed, ,bst moe
favorable could not be expected.
In defending myself agains. ,bc ;r,r,t,-