The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-07

Ter It's passage you will find, by attending I,
me correspondence just ead, every diSpo
sltion was manifested by the British commits
sio'iers to accelerate the negotiations ant
every pledge of sincerity ON their part tt
that effect was given TO induce our govern.
.:"::. .c:, - ssisi,v inc law merely To give
ume Tor completing the negotiations. cannot
place my hand OH the note OF the British
commissioners requesting the American
ministers to furnish them with COPY q,
the act but III that note, to the best of my
recoitection, may be seen the real cause OF
the anxiety OF the British commissioners, for
the further suspension of that act 1t was the
| injurious effect the measure was calculated
10 nave on the commerce of G. Britain, if
IL once should gointo operation and it was
TINS they were anxious 70 prevent This act
appears to have been viewed by the British
commissioners, precisely in the light in
| which twas seen here by the favorers of the
| measure. Its character and operation an
swcred every expectation. 1t produced
treaty and i reg ct. sir, that the provi-
SONS OF the treaty were not such as to justl-
fy Its ratification. l am aware the gentle
man told us, that he paid but little respect
to the representations 81 our ministers but,
Sir, they ought certainly to be respected !; or
we ought to abandon the policy of having mi
n'sters al foreign courts. IL this Case, how
ever, there was the less reason for disres-
pecting their communications, because they
nave been some time published and nei-
ther disrespectcd nor contradicted by the
British commissioners In this case too; sir,
1t is not necessary TO resort to this evidence
exclusively IN proof of this fact. 1t is proved
by e note Of the British commissioners,
read by the gentleman himself Let us re
view that note, and see what IN ormation it
gives.
Se1tten6er4 4, 1906.
" On full consideration of that act, we
think 1t our duty to express orr earnest hope
& cxpectati' thar sou.e means MAJ be found
TO suspend the execution oil a measure so op-
posite, in its temper and tendency, to the
disposition and views with which our pend
ing negotiation has been commenced and is
carrying on
Here, sir, is a request merely 10 sushend
the execution u this act, C'c which Is the
only rod that gentlemen complain so much
OF here, but WHICH was no further complained
O. by the British Commi ssioners. The true
reason OF their anxiety for this suspension /
have before stated. Now, sir, how does this
fact stand Why, that The BRUSH COM
missioners did treat with this ROD suspend.
ed over their heads and so far from lis ha.
wing had any injurious influence Oh the nego-
Citations 1t probably had beneficial one The
gentlemen then, are utterly mistaken IN this
tact For, sir, whether it touched the
pride or affected the sensibiiity of Great.
britain or not. she uEquestionably did treat
WIN this Same rod suspended over her
head
The next subject shall mention is, the
attempt to reproach the President ior his
Instructions respecting the impressment OF
American seaaen. Inns Is an attempt, sir,
which really excited my astonishmen. Let
US critically examine the circumstances, I'M
DIR which these Instructions were given
L ne basis OF our late negotiations at London,
was laid in the senate. What did the Sc
nate say to the President upon the subject
or the impressnient of American seameD
Let nae read part of their resolution upon
that subject: " and to enter into such ar
rangement with the British government, on
this C all other differences subsisting be
tween the two nations, (and particularly res
pecting the imprcssment of American sea
men as may be consistent with the honor
and Interests of the United States, and ma
nitests their earnest desire to obtain for them
selves and their citizens by amicable nego
citation, that jnstce to which they are enti
ted"
Here, sir, we find the senate, not content
with Interminghng the safety OF our seamen
with the other objects of the resolution,
manifesto laudable solicitude upon this sub
lec:, by calling The presidents attention to
1t IN special manner, . and harttcukary
restricting the imhrcS8ment Of AMERICAN
sedmen, say tie senate, both these gentle
men voting in favor Of the resolution: & now
when instructions are given in strict contor-
NIFTY with this special injunction, the gentle
men come forward with the most indignant re-
proaches for this conduct. The ground of
objection is stated TO be, that the President
instructed our minis ers to insist, that the
American flag should protect all persons
sailing in fact under It's hrotecHon when
the gentleman from Massachusetts mir.
Pickering) with an Feasibility of temper
the most wonderful, tells us that the Presi-
dent knew tina, the British government would
rot acccde to the proposition and then as
crlbes to the President the unwor by motive
Of intending thereby to defeat the objects OF
the negotiation. is necessary to restrain
the feelings in replying to this groundlesS <
unworthy insinuatlon. But, sir, ] will tell
the gentleman, that the President knczv no
such thing; that the gentleman himself
knezu no such thing, until the experiment
was made. Indeed, there was one time,
during the negotiation, when there was a
great probability thatit would succeed. But,
sir, whether the proposition would succeed
or not, the president, acting under the re
commentator Of the senate, and particu-
| iarly OF this very gentleman, was bound to