Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-07

.eamen can be made secure, you were
authorised to ..ipulsts prohibition =!
law, to be reciprocal, OF the empisy
ment of British seamen IN the Paoiis
or commercial service OF the on!ea
S,.res. As such an arrangement, WEIGH
might be made completely efieetoai anu
satisfactory By suitable regulations ana
n.,z,;ies. would operate almost exeiu-
sIyely in favor of e. Britain, Tor Is ie"
of our seamen ever enter voluntarily
into the British service, the reciprocity
would be nominal its advantage to ".
Britain weuid be more than an equiva-
len, for any she derives from impress
rneo,. which alone ought to induce her
TO abandon tie practice, if she had 10
other motive for il. A stipulation to
prohibit bY law the employment, OF bri-
fish ,esmen in the service Of tho Unit
ed States, is to be understood IN the
sense and spirit Of our constitution
The passage of such law must depend
Of course on congress, who, it might
reasonably be presumed, might give Ell
feet to it
By an.ho-is;ng you to secure these
objects as tie grounds Of an armlstce:
it was ne, intended to restrict you TO any
precise form in which it should Se done.
II is not particularly necessary that tns
several points should be specially proyid
ed for in the convention supuiating the
armis,ice. A clear and distinct under
standing with the British government on
the subject of impressment, comprising
in it the discharge of men already I'M
pressed, and on future blockades, If the
orders in council are revoked. is all that
is indispensable. The orders in council
being revoked, ard The proposes under
standing on the other points, that is, en-
blockades and impressnent, beng hrst
obtained, in a manner, though informal,
to admit Of ne mistake or disagreement
hereafter, she instrument providing tor
the armistiee nay assume general
form. especially if more agreeable to the
British government. Il may, tor eSam-
PIE. be said in general terms, that both
powers being sincerely desirous TO ter
inmate The differences which unhappiy
.ubsi,t between them, and equally so,
that full time should be given for the
adjustment thereof, agree, lst, that an
arnis,ice shall take place for that pur-
pose TO commence on the day OF
-. That they will forthwith appoint
On each side commissioners with full
power to form treaty which shall pro-
vide by reciprocal arrangements, tor the
security Of their seamen from b"ing
taken or employed in the service OF the
other power, for the regulation OF their
commerce, and all other Interesting
questions now depending between them.
IS The armlstice Shall lot cease
without previous notice b. one to the
other party Of days, and shall not be
understood as having other effect than
merely 70 suspend military operations by
land and by sea.
By this YOU will perceive that the
President is dssirous OF removing every
obstacle to Oh accommodation which
consists merely eff form, securing III
safe and satisfactory manner the rights
and interests Of the United States in
these two great and essential circum-
stances, as it is presumed may be accom-
p.isaed by the proposed understanding:
he is willing that It be done in q manner
the most satisfactory and honorable to
Great itain, as well as TO the United
STATES.
] have the honor to be, &c.