Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-07
TIE SECRETARY o. srAry TO Nh.
RUSSELL.
Dated DehGrimsrt 81 STAT.
.dagGst 81, 1912

Ny last letter TO you vas Of the 9Th
JuIy. and was for~arded BY The Briu,b|
racket, the Althea, under tie speci,,
nro,ec,ion Of Mr. Baker. The oh,.c,
Of that letter, ard oi the rex, preceding
.n. .fthe Goth Of June, usy, to iuye.,
you with power TO suspend BY sn arms.
,;ce. On suchfai conditions as i, W.. pre-.
suued could not be rejected, the opsrs.
ton of the war, which lad been broueb,
on the United States by the injus,ic. and
violence ct the British government. Al,
the n,oment Of the declaration Of war
the President, regre,ting the nesessi,y
which produced it, looked to MS termins.
ton and provided Ger it, and happy will
il be fer both countries, if the dispcsi.,
ZION felt, and the advance thus Made o.
his part, are entertained and net ty tts
British government in a similar spirit.
You have been informed by Mr. Gn.
ham Of what passed in my late sbsenc:
from the city, in an interview between
Mr.. Baker and him, in consequence Of
dispatch from the British government
TO MIR. Foster, received at Halifax, just
before he sailed for England, and trans,
mitted by him to M. Baker, relating to
a proposed suspension or repeal OF the
BIRTHS orders in council: Yos will have
seen by the note forwarded to you BY
Mr.. Graham, of Mr.. Bakers eomnun.
cation to him, that Mr.. Foster had au.
thorised him TO state. that tie command.
ers Of the British forces a. Halifax wosId
agree to a suspension, after cay to ts
fixed, of the condemnation OF prizes 10
await the decision Of both governments,
without however preventing captures on
either side. 1t appears also, that Mr.
Foster had promised to communicate
with Sir George Provost. and to advise
him to propose to our government an ar
mistice.
Sir George Provost has since proPo''
ed to General Dearborn, al the susee"
tion of Mr.. Foster, a suspension OF Oh
fensirs operations BY land, In letter
which was tran.mittes by the General to
the Secretary at War. A provisional
sereep,en. was entered into between &C.
neral Dearborn and Colonel Bsynes, tho
British sdjutant general, bearer OF Gen
Preyost's letter, that neither party should
act extensively, before the decision OF cur
Government should be taken on the SUB.
ject.
Since nv return to Washington, the
document alluded to in MIR. Fosters
despatch, as finally decided on by the
British government, has been handed 10
me BY Mr.. Baker, with remark, THAI
its authenticity might be relied on. Mr.
Baker added. tha, ii was not improbsbs
that the admiral at Halifax might agree
likewise to a suspension of captures,
though he did nc, profess or appear to
be acquainted with bis sentiments On
that point.
On iull consideration of all the cir.
cumstances which merit attention, The
president regrets that it is not in his
powerto accede to the proposed arrange
ment. The following are among the
principal reasons which have produced
this decision.
LIST. The President has no power to
suspend judicial proceedings on prizes.
A capture, if lawful, vests a right, ever
which he has no control. Nor could lie
prevent captures otherwise than b. an
indiscViminate recall Of the commissions
granted to our privateer., which he
could net justify under existing circum'
stances.
Cd The proposition is not made BY
the British government, nor is there any
certainty that it would be approved BY
it. The proposed arrangement, il ac-
dcdcd to, might mol be observed BY the
British officers themselves, if their &c.
vernment, in consequence Of the VAL
should give them instructions Of a di!.
tcrent character, even if they were Civ.
en- without a knowledge Of the arrange.
Inent
Sd. No security is given, or proposed,
as to the Indians, nor could any be rell-
ed OIL. They have engaged in the war on
the side Of the British government, and
are now prosecuting it with ,isor, 10
their usual savage mode. They can CT
ly be restrained by force, when once let
loose, and that force has already been
ordered oct for the purpose.
4th. The proposition is not reciprooah
because it restraints the United States
from acting where their power is great.
est, and lcarcs Great Britain al liberty
and gives her time to ausment her for
ces in our neishborbood.
Sin. That as principal object OF The
war is TO obtain redress againstthe BIZ
ush practice Of impressment. an agree
ment to suspend hos,iii,ies, even before
the British government is heard
from on that subject, might be consider
ed relinquishn1ert Of lhat clam.
9Th. 1t is the more Objectionable, ara
of the less importance. in eonsidcra!ioH
Of the Instructions heretofore given y0u'
which, if met by the British Government