Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-15
LETTERS

on the subject u imtressmenfs, Sc. III
so, extracts from, and enclosures in,
the letters of Mr. Monroe to the .Secre-
tary IF STATE, hrior TO me joint mission
OHM and Mr.. Pinkney hart 2, accom-
fdnying The message Of the President IF
thc United States, received on The 22d
Of March, 1908.
mr.. Madison to Mr.. Monroe.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
January 5, 1904.
Sir,-The inform tion and observations
which you have as yet received from me
since your arrival in Losdon, on the i'm
pressment OF our seamen and other VIOLATE
ons of our rights, have been in private let
tiers only. The delay i'm making these inju-
ries the subject of official communications,
proceeded, first, from an expectation that
the British government would have notified
formally to the u. $. as neutral power,
the state of war between Great Britain aud
France, which would have been an apt &C.
caslon, for combining with assurances OF the
fairness with which our neutral obligations
would be fulfilled, our just claims on a cor
respondent respect for our neutral rights,
and particularly of those which had been
least respected during the last war; second
ly, from the expected arrival of Mr. Mer..
ry, which, If he should not be charged with
such notihc alton, might be favorable OPP
portunlty for commencing the explanations
and discussions wnich mast prec EIDE a tho
rough correction of the wrongs which we
experience.
Since the arrival of Mr. Merry, accord
ingly, no time has been lost in calling his
attention to the subject; and in preparing
both it and him, for the ueg0c alton which
is now to be committed to YOU. If appear
aDees are TO be trusted, his impressions and
representations will be friendly to it IN
my conversations with him, which have
been free and full, he has expressed the
best dispositions, has listened with candor
to the appeals made, as well u the consid-
erstions ofjustice, as of the solid interest of
his nation and although he suggests seri-
nus difficulties on certain points, he Will, L
believe, sincerely cooperate in lessening
them, and in bringing about an arrange
ncnt which will be acceptable 10 this cOun-
try. The only topic on which any thing
has passed 10 writing between the depart
ment OF state and him, is that of the pre- ten
de1 blockade OF ST. Domingo Copies ofm
letter TO HIM, and OF his answer, are here
with inclosed; as also of the letter written
10 Mr. Thorntun, some time before, and re-
ferred TO in that of Mr.. Merry, in relation
to ike blockade Of Martinique and Qua
daiouDe.
4hithoANu liSIC are many Important 3D.
jects which may he thought to invite con-
ventional regulations between the u. States
and Great Britain, IT is evidently proper to
leave Tor subsequent consideration, such as
are less urgent in their nature, or more diff
hcult in their adjustment and thereby to
render the way palmer and shorter to an
agreement with respect to objects which
canno. be much longer DELAYED without dam
ger to the good understanding between the
two nations. With this view the plan OF
a convention contemplated by the Presi-
dent, is limited to the cases of impress
ments of our seamep, of blockades, of visi-
ting and searching our vessels, of contra
band ii war, and of the trade with hostile
colonies, with few other cases affecting
our maritime rights /; embracing however,
as inducements 10 Great Britain to do us
justice therein, a provision for the surren-
der of deserving seamen and soldiers, and
for the prevention Of contraband supplies t.
her enemies.
The plan dgested for your use is subjol-
ned. The first column contains the artl-
cles VIII CHI are to be proposed in ti,e first
instance, and which are considered as with
in our just expectations: the second mCdi-
fies The articles INTO the concessions which
the Brits government may possibly re-
qure, and which L may be eXpedient for
US ultimately 10 admit
ITO save room, instead of arranging the ar
ticies In two columns, al done IN the pro-
jet, we have put the contents Of the first
co;umn m Hahcs succeeding the contents
CT re second column.1