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

hupIrldiCc III thc eyes OF the BrlliSn govern
ment, were in short time finally evacuated,
and Port Egmont remains with every other part
of them III the hands of Spain.
Could stronger pledges have been given, |
than are here found, that an honorable and /
instant repatriation would be made in a case,
no otherwise from those recited,
than as it furnished to the same monarch
of great nation, an opportunity TO prove,
that adhering always to the same immuta-
BILE principle, he was as ready to do right
TO others, as to require it for himself.
Returning to the instructions given to the
minister pleaipotentiary of the United
States at London, am to observe, that the
President thought it just and expedient to
insert, as necessary ingredient in the adj
justment Of the outrage committed on the
American frigate, a security against the
future practice of British nav al command
ers, in impressing from merchant vessels
of the U. S on the high seas, such of their
crews as they might undertake TO denomi-
nate British subjects.
10 this association of the two subjects,
the President was determined, 1st, by his
regarding both as resting on kindred prin-
ciples, the immunity of private ships, with
the known exceptions made by the law of
nations, being as well established as that of
public ships; and there being no pretext
for including in these exceptions the i'm
pressment Gift could be freed from its en-
ormous and notorious abuses) OF the subjects
OF beliigerent, by the officers of that belli-
gerent. The rights of belligerent, against
the ships of a neutral nation, accrue merely
from the relation of the neutral to the other
bclligerent, as in conveying to him contra
band of war, or in supplying blockaded
port.
The claim of a belligerent to search for
and seize on board neutral vessels on the
hlgh seas, persons under his allegiance,
does not therefore rest on any bellIgerent
right under the law of nations, button a pre-
rogative derived from municipal law and
involves the eXtravagant superstition, that
one nation has right to execute at all times
and in all cases, its municipal laws and re-
gulatlons, on board the ships of another ma
ton, not being within its territorial limits
The President was led to the same de-
termination, 2dly, by his desire of convert
ing particular incident, into an occasion
for removing another and more extensive
source cf danger to the harmony of the two
countries (: And 3dly, by his persuasion
that the liberality of the propositions autbo.
rised with this view, would not fail to in
duce the ready concurrence of his Britain
mic majesty; and that the more extensive
source ofirritation and perplexity being re-
moved, a satisfactory adjustment of the par
tcular incident would be the less difficult.
The President still thinks that such would
have been the tendency of the mode for
which he had provided; and he cannot
therefore but regret that the door was shut
against the experiment, by the peremptory
refusal OF Mr.. Canning to admit it into dis
cussion even in the most informal manner,
as was suggested by Mr. Monroe.
81. al
the step he had taken towards more en-
larSed and lasting accommodation became
thus bar to the adjustment of the particu-
lar and recent aggression which had been
committed against the US. He found how
ever an alienation, m the signihed purpose
OF his Britannlc majesty, to charge with
TINS adjustment special mission to the u.
> which, restricted as it was, seemed to in
dictate disposition from which liberal
and concIiiatory arrangement of one great
object at least might be confidently eSpec.
ted.
In this confidence, your arrival was A.
waited with every friendly solicitude and
our first interview having opened the way,
by an acquescence IN the separation of the
two cases insisted on by his Britannia ma.
Jesty, Notwithstanding the strong ground on
which they had been un ted by the Presi-
w NY u W aS lSi ~ OS (iOuo(cu Indt tender
OF the satisfaction claimed by the u. S. for
distinguished and an acknowledged Insult.
by one OF his officers, would immediately
follow
Ii was not, Therefore, without very pain
ful surprise, that tne error Of this exnec-
tation Was q scovered. Instead of the sa-
usFaction cue from the original aggression,
1t was announced that the first step towards
the adjustment must proceed from the par
ty injured and your letter now before me.
formally repeats, that as long as the pro-
c'amation of the President, which issued on
the I'd July, 1907, shall be in force, it will
be all insuPerable obstacle to a negociation,
even on the subject of the aggression which
preceded II; in other words, that the pro-
clamauon must be put out OF force, before
an adjustment of the aggression can be ta-
ken into discussion.
IN explaining the grounds of this extra
ordinary demand, it is alledgcd to be SUP.
ported by the consideration that the procee.
ding and pretension of the offending officer
has been disayowed that general assuran-
ces are given Of disposition and intention
IN his Britannia majesty to make satisfacti-
on that a speciai minister was dispatched
with promptitude for the purpose Of carry-
ing into effect this disposition and that YOU
have personal conviction that the part.
eular terms, which you are not at liberty
previously to disclose, will be deemed by
the U. 5. satisfactory.
With respect to the disavowal, II would
be unjust not to regard it as a proof of can
dor and anitv towards the r. = and &C