The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-21

towards an arrangement, for an arrange
ment itself. There was no final arrange
neat; but there was "a concession, as
Mr.. Monroe states. This concession was,
that in paper bearing date November Sth,
1906. drawn up by the British Commission
ers, "the rights of the United States were
expressly to be reserved, and not abandon
ed (; the negotiation on the subject OF inn
pressment was to be postponed for a limited
time, and for a special object only, and to
be revived as soon as that object was &C.
complished and in the interim, that the
practice of impressment was to correspond
essentially with the views and interests OF
the United States" And why was this
concession Because it was agreeing to
something; it was an agreement to consi-
der the subject in future, and was promise,
as far as it went, to refrain from the abuse.
Above all, it was a concession, because it
fortified the American cleim, put Great
Britain in the wrong by her own Confession,
and IN any further condensation furnished us
with an additional argument. Hut all this
was very far from satisfactory arrange
fslent, and it was, (as Mr.. Monroe meant)
cniy honor able and advantageous, as it
showed that we had made some impression
o., the British ministry, and had laid foon-
dstion for advancing to something better.
The reader is referred to Mr. Monroe's let
ter itself, which very amply explains his I'M
derstanding of the case. It will be found in
the public documents of the fret session of
the tenth Congress.
ought not, however, TO refrain from sta
ting here. Gas every one may not have the
documents at command that Mr.. Monroe
relied much, in that transaction, on the sin
CRY of the British Government in their
~ omises to adhere to the Informal hart of
zane understanding in relation to the paper
concerning impressments. In this particu-
lar ne must since have beennndcceiyed. A
bqut the time he left England, complete
Change of temper took place in the minis
try, and that paper. most especially, and
every thing respecting it, was disayowed in
practice. And subsequently, in public
proclamation, the right of impressinent from
merchant vessels has been formally claim
&c by Great Britain. alllde to the proc
lamation of the 10Th Of October, 1907, ro-
calling British seamen, which contains this
clause
Is And for the better execution of the
purposes of this our royal proclamation, we
do authorize and command all captains,
masters and others, commanding our ships
anc vessels of war, to stop and make stay
OF al and every such person and persons
(beirS our natural born subects) as shall
endeaXor to transport or enter themselves
into the service of any foreign state, contra
ry to the intent and command of this our
royal proclamation, and 10 seize ufion, take,
and bring dEvay, all such tersous as afore-
said, ayho shat be found 10 be en,tiOyeG OF
serUing in Qny foreign s1erchanf shit or rec
sci as d/oreSGid."
Here the claim of Great Britain Is fully
asserted, liable to all its abuses, after MIR.
Monroe's understanding had taken place.
The letter OF the present Secretary of State,
goes only to expouud the views and impress
sions under which he received the paper re.
lative to impressreents, and not to pledge
himself that the provisions of it would be
strietlyful6lled. As man Of honor, he
doubtless thought that the British govern
ment would conform TO the letter & spirit of
what was acceded TO by their own agents.
aa P6ilSy h Of Che a6heP 81 ST. James, that
has since grown up.
> I might here close my review of this to-
pic OF the address, conceiying, as do, that
every proposition advanced by me has been
proved for by this time it must be evident
that all hope of reasonable accommodate ton
respecting impressment has failed. and that
this failure has taken place after negoci-
alton of twenty years 1t failed under
Washington, who could procure no arrange
ment in Jays treaty, at which time, howe
yer, the wrong was more tolerable: it fail
ed under Adams: it failed under Jefferson.
Madison makes it cause of war. Is he
not right Our patience was exhausted
hope was at an end. From every step ia =
ken in the negotiation, it is clear that secu-
rity to American seamen alone, and the
consequent promotion of their peculiar in
terests, was the grand object in view. The
present Administration will not harbor Bri-
fish subjects-they will deliver them up on
demand--they will do every thing but sur
render the rights of American citizens
Proposition after proposition has been made
to Great Britain to that effect. She accents
nothing she agrees to nothing-or, if She
agrees to any thing, she does not adhere to
lit. How, then, dare the addressers an
nounce, that one cause of the war is claim
to employ British seamen?
That this principle for which we wage
war is correct one. we have the opinion
OF all the men whom the federalists have
elevated i'll Office in the general government,
and whom they most affect to reverence =
We have the opinions of Washington, A.
dams, Jay, King, Thomas Pinckney, VOL
colt, Pickering, M'Henry, and Stoddert.-
The republicans are united Jefferson, Ma
Olson, Monroe, Galiatin, John Quincy A.
da-rs, aii concur.
have scope enough to excite the passi-
ons : But / DO not address myself to the
BLOOD OF my fellow-citizens | leave that
to orators, to the eloquent men Of the natl
on, and for suitable occasions. appeal to
the REASON of the community: and conf
dent iii the truth of what have advanced
= viii only add, in reference to the allega-
ton OF the addressers, Cat page 81 that e. -.