Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-05

- |'S "ea JAMES MADISON
GEORGE II. Rose. Esq. his B7itanic
Washington, March I'm. 1909.
Mr,-Being deeply impressed with the
sense OF ms maJesty's anxiety, that full e.
fect should be given to those views of inc.
tice and moderation, by which his condpct
has been regulated through the whole of
the unfortunate transaction whence tht.
present differences have arisen; and os
the disappointment with which he would
| learn the Illustration of his Just and eouitn-
Die purposes; have felt it incumbeht
upou me, on the receipt of the letter which
you did me the honor to addcss ~
me on the 5th instant, to apply anew
to this matter the most ample and ser;ma
consideration. 1t is with the most painfnI
sensations OF regret, that find myself
on the result OF 1t, under the necessity OF
oeciihing 20 enter into the terms of negoci-
a.ion, which by direction of the President
OF the United States, you therein offer.
90 not feel myself competent, in the present
instance, to depart from those instructions.
Which stated in my letter of the Goth Of
January last, and which preclude me from
acGeoingfto the condition thus proposed.
L should add, that am absolutely prohi.
bred from entering upon matters unconpec-
ted with the specific object j am authoris-
ed to discuss, mucn less can thus give A.
ny pledge concerning them. The condi-
ton suggested, moreover, leads to the direct
inference, tlat Inc proclamation of the
PRESIDENT o. the U, States of the End of IN.
y, 1907, IS maintained either as an eoui-
vaiept torreparation for the time being. or
as compulsion to make it.
IL IS with th-more profound regret, that
ieei nyseLI unde the necessity ofdelaring,
mat am unable to act upon the terms
mus proposed as IT becomes my duty TO
INFORM you' IN Conformity to my instruc-
lions, that on the rejection of the demand
stated in my former letter, on the part Of
his majesty, my mission is terminated. -
And as his majesty's government in nro.
ViulhS me with those Instructions. did NOT
CONCEIVE that after the declaration of his
sentiments respecting the affair of the Che
sapeake was made known to this governs
ment, the state ofany transactions nendinr,
or unterminated between the two natioos.
could justify the perseverance in the en-
forcement OF the Presidents proclamation.
can exercise no discretion On this point.
as on former occasion detailed, though
IDihutely, the motives for that demand. on
the part OF his majesty, which ! with go
much concern learn to be deemed mad.
misSibie by the government of the u. s.
should here abstain from an exposition Of
tnen, which visibly can have no further
enect upon the negotiation, if did noe
deen 1t essential that they should not he
LETT under any misspprehension which I
might be able 10 remove | Shall thercfore
take short review of the transaction
which has given rise to these discussions
IN order the more correctly to determine
the soundness of the principles upon which
that demand is made.
Eerta;D Io. ,..o....
Wy, many OF them his natural bord subiects
having entered into the service oftbe III G
were repeatedly and fruitlesslv demanded
by the British officers, of the recrnitins-
officers ct the U. States but were retain.
ed In their new service. As it was n mat.
ter OF notoriety that several oftbese deser-
ters we're on board the frigate Of the IT.
states, the Chesapeake, they were demand
ed ot that frig2te on the high seas. hv he
maJesty's ship Leopard, and all knowIedoe
OF their presence on board being denied.
she was attacked, and four of them, one
aVowedIy a native EDglishman, were Ia.
Ken olt OF her. Without being deferred
oy tne consideration ofhow far circumstan-
eeS nos'lie IN their nature, had provoked,
though they undoubtedly bv mn Tneane go
tiled, this act of the British ofFcer S;o
IN Jesty,s government directed that no.
sItive dlsavowal Of the RIGHT of search &C
serted in this case and of the az, Of the
British officer, as being unauthorized ard
promise OF PREPARATION, should be convened
20 tbe American minister in London, be-,
iore ne had made any representation bv
order Of the u. S. -
Ihis disavowal made on the second of
August last, was Transmitted bv him m he
government, before the 9th Of that month
but before Mr. Monroe had received hiS
orders to demand PREPARATION, his rnsiesfv
learnt, with what surprise It is needless ia
dwell upon, thas the president Of the II.
states had interdicted by proclamat;on.
bearing date the I'd Of July, 1907, the entry
OF all their PuTts TO the whole of hisuavv.
this surprise was certainly epcreascd, wbe5
~ the letter delivered BY that minister.
70 require redress for the wrong, although