The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-03
FROM THE SANE TO TIE SAME,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
-. M 20, 1907.
GENTLEMEN,

A1.' ~, IOOI-
GENTLEMEN, to
My letter of March Is acknow
lodged the receipt of your dispatches, and of tho
treaty signed on the 31st December, of which
Mr. Purviance was the bearer, and signified that
the sentiments and views Of the president form
ed on the actual posture OF our affairs with c.
Britain, would, without any useless DELAY be
communicated. The SUBJECTS accordingly re-
sumed in this dispatch, with which Mr. purvi
ance will be charged To render his passage the
more sure and convenient, he takes itin the sloop
OF war, Wasp, which will convey him to 4 Rri.
fish port, ON her way 20 The Mediterranean she
will touch also at 4 French port, probably I'O-
rcnt, with dispatches for Gen. armstrong and
Mr. Bowdon, and will afford good opportunity
for any communications you may have occasion
10 make to those gentlemen.
The president has seen, in your exertions. To
accomplish The great objects OF your Instructions
ample proofs of tIst zeal and Patriotism in which
x conilded and feels deep regret that YOUR
success has not corresponded with the reasona-
Jieness OF your. propositions, and The ability with
which they were supported He l2mcnts more
specially that the British government has not
yielded TO the just and cogcnt considerations
which forbid the practice of It's cruizers i'm VISIT
ms and impressing the crews of our vessels, CO..
vered by an independent flag, and guarded by the
laws of the high seas, which ought TO be sacred
with all nations
The President continues to regard this subject
IN the light in which it has been pressed on the
tustice and friendship 0f Great Britain He can
not reconcile it with his duty to our sea fiinc ci
tzens, or with the sessibity or sovereignty Of
the nation, to recognize even constructivelv, a
principle that would expose on the high seas their
liberty, their lives, evCiy thing i'll a word that is
dearest to The human heart, to the caprcious or
Interested sentences which may be pronounced a.
gainst their allegiance, by officers of z foreign
government, whom neither the lave nations,
nor even the laws OF that government will allow
TO. IL. IL,
minutest article Of property found i'll a like stu
alton
it has great and necessary weight also, with
the president, that the views of Congress- as ma
infested during the session which passed the non
importation act, az well as the primary rank held
by the object of securing american crews against
British impfessment, among the objects which
suggested the solemnlty OF an extraordinary mis-
sion, are opposed to any conventional arrange.
ment, which, without cfiectuay providing for
that object, would disam The United States of the
means deemed most eligible as eventual r.me-
dy,
is considered moreover, by the president. the
more reasonable that the necessary concession iu
this case, should be made by Great Britain rather
than BY the United States. on the double considc
ration, first, that concession on cur part, wouL
violate both moral and political duty ofthc 20
vernment to oar Cit zCus, which wcula not be- he
case on the other side secondly, that greater
number Of American citizens, thar Of Irtisl, sub
jects are, in fact, impressed rom or Vessels;
and that, consequently, more Of wrong is done 10
the United States, than ofiglt to Great Britain
taking even her own claim Tor the legal cr.teri-
on.
On these grounds, the president is constrained
to decline any arrangement, 70 NAL or informal,
which does not comprise provision against i'm
pressments from American vessels on tie ingI
seas, and which would, notwithstanding, BE- 4 bar
to legislative measures, such rs congress have
thought or may IN Tx proper 10 adopt tor con-
trolling that species Of aggression
Perseyerng at the same time in his earnest de-
sire to establish the harmony Of the two nations
on a proper foundation, AMI calculating on ne
motives which must be equally felt by G,eat BsI-
tain to secure that important object, II IS lis m
teatgu that you eflols should Le rene y; d., WITH