Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-09

l Without further discussing question:
ofrlght, the President is deslrous t
| provide remedy for the evils complain
ed of on both sides. The claim OF the
British government is to take from the
merch;at vessels of other countries Brl
fish subjects. In the practice, the com
mandcrs oil British ships OF war often
take from the merchant vessels OF the
United States American citizens. II
the United States prohibit the employ
msnt OF British subjects in their service
and inforce the prohibition by suitable
regulations and penalties, the motive for
the practice is taken away. 1t is IN this
mode that the President is willing to &C
commndate this important controversy
with the British government, and 1t cam
not be conceived on whist ground the ar
rangement can be refused.
A suspension of the practice OF I'M
pressment, pending the armlstlce, seems
to be necessary consequence. 1t Cam
not be presumed, while the parties are
engaged in a negotiation to adjust ami
cably this important difference, that the
United States would admit the right or
acqniesce in the practice OF the opposite
party or that Great Britain would be
unwilling to restrain her cruizers from
practice which would have the strong
est tendency to defeat The negoclatlon.-
1t is presumable that both parties would
enter into the negotiation with sincere
desire to give it effect. For this pur-
poselt is necessary that clear and dis
tinct understanding be first obtained be-
tween them, of the accommodation which
each is prepared TO make. Ii the BTi-
fish government is wiling to suspend
the practice of impressment tromsAme-
rican vessels, on consideration that the
United States will exclude British sea-
mcD from their service, the regulations
by which this compromise should be
carried into effect would be solely the
9h;ect Of negotiation. The armistice
w,uid be Of short duration. If the par
ties agreed, peace would be the result
Ii the negotiation failed, each would be
restored to its former state, and 10 all
its prctcnsions, by recurring to war.
Lord Castlcreagh in his note to Mr..
Russell, seems to have supposed, that,
had the British government accepted
the propositions made to it, Great Bril-
tain would have suspended Immediately
tie exercise o! rjght, Oh the mere as
surance Of this government that law
would be afterwards passed to prohibit
the employ ,nent of B it,sh seamen In
the service of The u. States, and that G.
britain would have no agency IN the re-
gulation to give effect to that PROPOSE
ton. Such an IDEA was not IN the Con-
temptation of this government, nor is to
be reasonably inferred from Mr.. Rus
sells note; lest, however, by possibility
such an inference might be drawn
from the instructions to Mr.. Il. and AJAX.
iouS that there should be no 'mlsundcr-
SHADING lin the case, subsequent instruc-
tons were given to Mr.. r. with view
to obriate every objection OF the kind
alluded to, AS they bear date on the
.'7;h of Jaly and were forwarded by the
British packet Althca, it is more than
probable that they may have been re-
csived and acted on.
I am happy to explain to you thus
fully the views Of my government -
this important subject. The President
desires that the war which exists BE-
tween our countries should be terminal
ed on such conditions as may secure
solid ard durable psace To accom-
phsh this great object it is necessary
tbat the interests of .impTessmc7t be sa-
t;sEactori!y ranged. He is v ling that
&. Britain should DC secured against the
evils o. which she complains. II: seeks
an tire other hand thar the citizens OF
the United States should be protected
against practice which, while it de-
grades fhe nation. deprivcs them OF thcl:
rights IS Erecmen, takes them by force
f0m their Families ard their country IN
TO foreign service, to fight the battles
of foreign power, perhaps against their
own kindred and country.
] abstain .rom entering, in this com
munication, into other grounds OF dit
ference. TIE orders il cosncii having
been repealed, (wiih a reservation not
inpsiring CORES spending right CD the
pat of the Unitcd States, and no lilcsa!
blockades revived or instituted in their
STEADY AVID an understanding being OBJ
tancd or the subject OF imprcssment,
in the mode herein proposed, the presl-
dent is wiling to agree to cessation oil
hosiilities, with q view 10 arrange by
treaty, in a more distinct aud ample man.
ner, aud 10 the satisfaction of both par.
Ties, every other subject of controversy
will only add that if there be ne OBJ
ieCticn 10 an accommodation of the dit.
ference relating to impressment in the
mode proposed, other than the suspen
sion of the British claim to imprC ssmen