The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-29

SHAH be d,iy respected IA practice Ia tie other
party, more particularly ON sie subject of nertr.J
trade and impressments, it viii be earncs,ly. anil
probably, successfully recommended 10 eaneres,
oy The president, not to permit the non nro,ta-
ton act To go into operation You aye also autbo-
1scd to inform the Britisi, government, thar the
president, adhering to the sentiments which led
ann to recommend 10 congress 1T tie cofuncacc-
meft OF the session, suspension OF that ACT rr,d
trusting to the influence ofnu,u.l dispositions ano
interests IN giving aJscable issue 10 the nes-
Citations. viii, tito intervening Intelligence forbid
exercise tile authority vested IN him by the act OF,
continuing its suspension from The hrs, ,av
oi July, to the time limited by the act, and
winch will afford 20 congress, who will tl,yn be in
sess, on The opportunity Of making due provision
Tor the case.
You will perceive that this explu,a.ion Of The
viewsof the president, requires that If previous
10 the receipt oflt, treaty nor Including an art;
Gle relating to ihipressinents, should have been
concluded and be ON the way, the British CON-
missloners should be cantii,y anp,izcd of the re,
son Tor not expecting its ratification; and tina, Oh
th's ground they be invited to enter ancw on the
business, with am eye to such ress..t as .,as iuss
been explained and authorised
Having thus communicated the outline assign
eo 'ne president as your guide nthe mporsns
and delicate task on yol.i. hands proceed tn
make few observations which are suggested nv
the contents of your last dispatches, and which
may be OF use IN your further discussions and your
final arrangements.
IMPREssMESrs
The British government is under an epl.oio,x
mistake IN supposing that Sc no rcce at causes of
complaint have occurred" ON this subject How
Tar the language OF Mr. L ym:,s books int, co,in-
tehance tins error, Cannot say, but think il
probable that even there, the means of correct
night may be found. -.
In the American seas incltl;no the V5es+r,
dies. the mpressments have perhaps at no time
been more numerous vexatious 1t is eu,,aIv
mistake therefore to suppose " that no probabi,.
inconvenience can result from the pos.ponem ent
OF an article, !" for this case
The remedy proposed in the note from The. Bril-
tish commissioners, however eliimtcndcd, does
not inspire the confidence here which r:ye it SO
much value iii their Judgment They see the. "a.
vorable side only, of the character OF their navel
commanders. The spirit which vexes neutr,js
III their maritime rights, is fully understood by
neutras only. The habits generated by naval eon.
mand, and The interest which is felt in TIM. shis.,
OF 1t, both as respects captures and impressments
renders inadequate every provision which does
moi put an end 10 Eli discretionary power in the,
commanders. As long the British navy has so
complete al asccndancy the high seas lis COM
manders have not only interest in violating Ills,
rights OF neutras within the limits of neutral "a
tience, especially of those whose commerce md
mariners are ungu;,rCed by fleets; they feel more
overt the strongest temptation, rs 1t is well known
from the occasional language of scmc of thcn
TO covetthe fun range fer spohation opened by "a
state OF war. The rich harvest promised nv The,
| commerce of the United States gives to this en-.
pidity all its force Whatever general injuries.
might accrue 20 their nation, or whatever surplus
| OF reprisais might result ga American eTuizers
Tue fortunes of British cru zers wo,ll,fnut be the
iess 'er.uh III the eVent0t hostiiites between the
| two nations
| Whilst ail these Considerations require in our
behalf the most precise and pre,uptopy security
against me PiopensIties of British naval cemman-
ders, and on the tender subject OF impressment
more uian any'other, 1T is impossible TO End eq-
vaent or even important motives on the British.
side tor declining such a security. Tic PROPOSE
ton which you have made, aided bythe internal
regulations which the British government is al
| ways tree 70 make, closes all the considerable
avenues through which its seamen can find their
way INTO our service The only loss CONSEQUENT
| ~ which could remain, would be In the number
a.; at present in this service, with deduction OF
,,hoSe, who might from time to time, voluntarily
leave 1T, or be found within the limits of Great
brItaIn, or OF her possessions and in the pro-
portion OF this reduced number, who might o.
enerwise be gained by iTnpressment. The small
! ness OF this loss appears from the annual amount
OF impressmcnts, which has not exceeded a few
hundred British seamen the great mass consist
| ing OF real Americans, and of subjects of other
neutral powers.--Aric even from the few British
seamen, ought to be deducted those impressed
within neutral ports where it is agreed that the.
proceeding is clearly Unlawful
| Under this view of the subject, the sacrifca
! winch Creat.Britain would make, dwndies &c,
I the merest trifc ) rather there is just rea,on
to believe, that instead of loss, she would find
an actual gain, in the excess ofthc descrters who
! would be surrendered by the United States, over
the enthusiastically recoverable by impressment
! Ia practice therefore, Great d ritain would
make no sacrifice by acceding to our terms; and
her principle, ifnot expressly saved by a rcctal,
as It easily might be, would in effect Dc so By the
tenor OF the arrangement ; nnsmuch as she
would obtain for her forbearancc to exercise
what she deems right-a right to measures on
ourPart, which we have right to refnse; she
would, consequently, merely exchange one right
tor another she would also by such a forbeat-
ance, violate no personal right Of individualsun.
! der her protection. The United States on the o.
| ther hand, in yielding to TIE claims OF Greet
! Britain, on this subject, would necessarily sur
| render, what they deem essential right of
their flag, and Of their sovereignty, without c.
ven acquiring any new right; would violate the
rights on the individuals under the protection OF
both and expose their native citizeustp al the.
caiamltoHs mistakes, voluntary and involuntary.
| take for granted that you have not failed to-
make due use of the arrangement ed by
| Mr.. King with Lord Hawkesbury, in the year
1902, for settling the question of impgt ssments.
On that occasion, and under that administration,
the British principle was fairly renowned in ia
| vor of the right OF dag lord Hawkcsbliry
having agreed to prohibit impresSments atogc-
ther on the high seas and lord ST. V:ncFnt reUii-