Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-14

and conc domination Oh our vessels tinueTs ACi
orders Of 1898: and she has made repara-
ton for these wrongs pursuant 70 treaty
negotiated on practical principles, by a
statesman, who, with liberal vienvs and
Ycal caldor, sought adjustment and repara-
ton.
subsequent periods she has committed
other wrongs, and if reparation had been de-
manded in the same spirit Of eandor and
hrrnness, which were manifested in 1904,
that distinguished precedent authorizes the
opinion that like equitable adjustment
and reparation might have bsen obtained.
But after four years negociatlon, in which
volumes of letters and ESSAYS have been
written it has, like the seven years negocla
ton with Spain, been brought Gin the
language of the President) 6 to an issue OF
some sort !" that is, every subject of dis
pute remains as far, probably farther, from
adjustment, than when the negotiations
were begun.
It is this disastrous issue which now en-
tiers into our deliberations. According to
the statements of the administration, we are
not advance without war, nor retreat with
out dishonor. Their negotiations with
France have likewise terminated in NORTH
cation and defeat.
On the two questions of the impressment
of seamen on board our merchant vessels,
and trade with the enemies Of Great Bri-
tain, prohibited in time of peace, the gen
tleman from Maryland (NIr. Smith) WAS
pleased to read some parts of letter writ-
ten bv me last winter to the governor OF
Massachusetts, to be laid before the legis-
lature and on the latter (neutral trade he
also read the journal of the senate, which
exhibited a unanimous vote declaratory OF
our right to that trade; and then the names
of the senators (nine being one) who voted
to request the President to demand & insist
on reparation for the injuries done Us in vio-
lation OF thatriaht, Sfor this purpose to enter
into amlcabie arrangements with the Bri-
fish government.
On these two questions should add no.
thing TO the observations made Yesterday by
the gentleman from Connecticut, but for the
apparent intention of the gentleman from
MARYLAND to exhibit an inconsistency be-
tween my votes in the senate, and the OBJ
servasions OF my letter ON the same SUBJ
.ject.
1t is sufficient for me to remark, that in
tie passages recited by the gentleman from
my letter, my object was to show, by ex-
hibiting in few words, to the view OF my
immediate constituents, and through them
to the people Of Massachusetts some Of
the reasons which might have influenced O..
Britain not to relinqush her ancient usage
of impressing her ozO1 seainen nor to con-
sent that neutral vessels should carry On Gas
we and other neutrals were carry ing on the
whole trade between the countries Of her
enemies in Europe and her colonies, to
show | say that as much was TO be said ON
both sides, those rights, as claimed by the
United States, were not to be considered SO
clear and indisputable, as to justify war
with Great Britain into which the pro-
cecdngs of the executive, in variety of
WAYS, seemed calculated to plunge US.
Before quit this subject will make one
more observation. 1t appears to be gene
rally supposed that the rule respecting the
colonial trade adoptedby Great Britain, and
usually called the RUE of 1856, which it
seems she has considered as the ancient
and established principle of maritime laws
was peculiar to Great Britain, and MIR.
Madison SAYS, C it is well known that @.
Britain is the only nation that has acted
upon, or otherwise given sanction to II. ii
He also mentions this rule us having been
III operation only few years in the war =
and not afterwards acted upon until 1885,
Let US examine the subject.
In Valin's celebrated work on maritime