Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-09
ALEXANDRIA,.
MONDAY, Nooem6er 9.
"To sHEw
THE VERY ACE & BODY OF THE TIME
HIS FORM AND PRESSURE"

l ne dbO
portant Documents accompanying it, are
now before the public. The first, as the
official communication of the Chief Ma:
gistrate Of the nation, will be read with
respectful attention. while the latter, as
affording distinct view ofthe points in
controversy between the governments
of c. b and the U. S, and the grounds
upon which alone the progress Of sam
culinary war can be arrested, cannot tail
to excite lively interest in the breast
of every man who feels an interest in the
prosperity of his country, and in the
cause of humanity.
During the tendency of Sir John 3.
Warren's propositions to our govern
ment, we ventured to express The OPT
Mon, that something good might come
out OF Nazareth" We see nothing il the
important documents now before US, to
invalidate the opinion we then expressed.
FROM an examination of the correspon
dence between the two governments
through Mr. Russell, it will be seen that
the only obstacle which prevented a ccs-
sa,ion of hostilities, as proposed through
him, and of course the incipient mea.
sures for full and final pacification is
now removed. The terms upon which
| our government instructed Mr.. Russell
TO conclude an armistice were these
Firstf That the orders in council so
far as they affected the U. States, should
be repealed, and that no illegal blockades
should be substituted in their stead.
Secondly. That a stop should be put
by the British government to the prac-
tee Of impressment from cur merchant
vessels, end
Lastly. That restoration should, be
made of those of our citizens who were
then impressed.
AT the same time Mr.. Russell was au-
,horised to assure the British govern
mept, that law would be enacted on
our part 10 prohibit tie employment Of
British seancn, either in tho public or
commercial service oftie u. States.
The first .requsi,ion on the part o.
our government has been complied with;
the orders i'm COUNSEL have been repealed
so far as they affected our commerce,
and assurances given by the British So
vernment thar TO blockades of the enc
rny's ports, founded upon the ordinary
principles of maritime law, which were
in force previous to the order in council
should be reselted t., without new no.
ticc to neutral powers in the usual form.
AS to the restoration Of our scamep
impressed on board British ships, no
difficulty was likely to occur-becau'e
the propriety Of such demand had ne
yer been dchicd-an1 in fact prompt
disc barge of every American seaman,
whose citizenship had been satisfactorily
proved. has been uniformly given, upon
application to the proper authority.
An unfortunate clause, however, was
connected with the second and most I'M
psrtant condition, which efectually frus-
tra,ed the good intentions of our &C.
vcrnment, at the very threshold ct the
negotiation. The right of coercing the
services of her own subjects wherever
found, particularly in times of public
exigencies, Great Britain had unifo, un-
| " maintained. 1t was right vitality
important TO her political welfare, AID
rendered doubly dear to her by long
usage, and as the means of maintaining
proud superiority over every ether Ma
ton. The exercise OF this right was
always attended with Inconvenience to
US, and often marked with oppression
The abuses to which it was liable, had
been the subject of uniform complaint
on our part, and of proiessed regret Oh
theirs. AT all events it was question
Of the highest importance to both na
tons, and could only be adjusted in teli
berate council. it YVES therefore truly
unfortunate, that as a preliminary to ne