The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-25

M Of their desire to avoid an interruption
o, a. with the British nation.
Still it is to be understood, that whilst the
insult offered in the attack OH the American
frigate remains unexpiated, you are not to
pledge or commit your government to consi-
der recall of the orders as a ground on
which a removal of the existing restrictions,
on the commerce of the United States with
IGreat-Britain, may be justly expected"
.. The two letters to Gen. Armstrong of
22d May. 1907, and Feb. Sth, 1908, are
proofs of the sincerity and lmpartiality with
which the President has proceeded in rcla-
ton to the belliserent parties; and may, per-
haps, assist you in depressing unjust suspi-
cions imbibed by the British cabinet. 1t
would be happy for all parties. the belliger-
ent, as well as the United States, if truth
could in this case be made to prevail and if
the retaliating rivalship of the former a.
gainst the latter could be converted into an
emulation, as polite as it would be magma
nimous in both, to take the lead i'm a fair,
lawful and concilatory course tow ards ma
ton which has done no wrong to either.
Should the experiment be made on either
side, it would probably lie followed on the o.
thcr and it could never happen that the
side first doing justice would suffer OH that
account.
In the present state of our relations to g.
Britain, it would be premature to mark out
the course to be pursued with respect to fur
Their negotiations on other topics than those
above noticed. You are authorized. howe
yer, to continue your interpretations in behalf
of our impressed or detained seamen; and
in the event ola repeal of the British orders,
and of satisfactory pledges for repairing the
aggression on the Chesapeake. to enter into
informal arrangements for abolishng i'm
pressments altogether, and mutually discon-
tiDuing to receive the seamen of each other
into either military or merchant service, con-
formally to the instructions on this point
transmitted by Mr.. Purviance.
You will find by a passage in Mr.. Roses
| reply NiarCn II Jnat the British govern
ment does no. maintain the principle, that
the obligation of the United States extends
beyond the discharge of desertcrs from their
public service: and by an order of the Ma
wy Department here, already carried int
execution, of which copy is enclosed, tina,
it has lately been decided that no foreig1
seamen, whether deserters or not, shall serve
OH board our ships of war. The principles
respectively manifested by these documents
ought to facilitate such an adjustment as is
commended for by the United States"
Erfract Of a letter from, the same to TIE
| same.
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| April so, 1908.
MY last was of the 18th instant, anc
went by a British packet from New-York
l now forward a copy of it.
Congress ended their session on the nigh
of the 25th instant The series of news-pa
pers, herewith sent, affords view of thei,
proceedings subsequentto the communicate
ons last made to you. Some other prints ar,
included, which throw light on the working.
of public opinion, and the state of public af
fairs.
You will find that the critical posture o
our foreign relations has produced provisions
of different kinds for our greater security
and particularly that no pains have beer
spared to stop every leak by which the eifec
of the embargo laws might be diminished
refer you also to the report made to the Sc
nate, by committee, on the documents re
lating to the affair of the Chesapeake, ant
on the letters of Mr.. Champagny and Mr.
Erskine and indicating the spirit which
may be expected to influence the future pc
licy of this country, if kept under the excite
ment resulting from the system now pursued
against it.
You will observe, at the same time, tina
whilst determination is sufficiently evincet
against dishonorable acquiescence in the
despotic edicts enforced on the high seas, the
United States are ready to resume their ez
port trade. as soon as the aggressions OH i
shall cease & that in hope that this nigh
Fhappen during The recess of Congress, the
President is authorized, in such an event, t.
suspend, in whole or in part, the several EN-
barge laws.
The conditions on which the authority i
to be exercised, appeal equally to the justice
and policy of the two great bellgerent pow
ers, which are now emulating each other il
violation of both. The President count
on your endeavors to give TO this appeal, al
the effect possible with the British govern
mcnt. General Armstrong will be doing tn,
same with that of France. The relation il
which a revocation of it's unjust DEGREES b,
either will place the United States to the o
Their is obvious, and ought to be motive t.
the measure, proportional to the desir,
which has been manifested by each to pro
duce collision between the United States ant
its adversary, and which must be equal,
felt by each, to avoid one with itself.
Should the French government revoke 81
much of its DEGREES as violate our neutra
rights, or give explanations and assurance