Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-26

lprtship intinsees. Is diScefuahle in the ne
crssltv OF discussing the several topics of
| Mr. Russell's prohibition before the under
standing desired could take place.
Now, for our part, it does not appear to
u.s. that there is any thing of disguised cha
racter in this; for if one mode of proceed
ing involved discussion by the terms of it,
and another mode involved discussion in
effect, 1t is very certain thar the discussion in
either case did not nullify the broad dis
tinctiep or courtesy which is manifest be-
tween Mr.. Rrssell's two propositions. Of
these two propositions the discussion of the
| point they involved was not an essential
part Ikey simply presented the question
OF an arnistice, the principal condition to
which was the abandonment cf the practice
ut impress'nent, leaving il optional with
| Great Britain to abandon it either before or
effer the armistice The alternative was
offered to .aUe: her ftride, and obviatc her
scruples. There was, in truth. no discus
sion necessary: The propositions admitted
| OF none and, therefore, all lord Castle
rearh's cavils as to Mr.. Russell's powers
and Instructions To negotiate, were frivolous
/ Because, If Great Britain refused to relin-
qnish impressment upon the reciprocal plan
proposed, it was proof that she did not
mean To abandon it all. In one respect the
postponcment of the accomplishment Of i'm
pressment was we'll calculated to test her
| since ritv. inasmuch as by deferrng it till the
United States passed their law preventing
the employment of British seamen, she ac--
CURED that safety for the procuration of
her mariners, which her ministers have al
ways aledged rs the only reason for resort
ing the practice.
| 1t is not, then, to matters of form only,
that lord Castlereagh was really opposed.
He vas hostile to Mr.. Russell's propositions
in any shape. This plainly appears by his
shutting, and by his relying on the PROPOSE
ton through admiral Warren, which con-
tanned no remedy for impressment In one
! sentence, the British will MT abandon the
practice of impressment, because they want
the liberty of manning their fleets from the
merchant vessels of all nations, and parti-
cularly from those of America The reme-
dy, however, is in our own hands. 1t will be
easier to sshih the enemy into the observe
ance of justice, than to Persuade him to it.
We cannot take leave of the part of the
Presidents message which adverts to this
subject, without offering few structures up
on the Castiereagh farce, so we'll pourtray-
ed by Mr.. Russell in his letter Gin last Mon
days Argus) to the Secretary of State of
the 18th of September last. This farce was
got up by his lordship, with the assistance OF
his uuder-secretary. Mr. Hamilton, on the
, 10th If September, preparatory to his wri-
) ting his reply of the 18th of that month to
, Mr.. Russelps letter of the 18th.
At nine O'clock at night, sitting near ia
: be loaded with the records Of American
correspondence, lord Castlereagh and Mr.
: Hamilton received Mr.. Russell. who arriv
: ed by previous appointment. This scene
was obviously pre-concerte6 in all its for
,na'itics, and shews his lordship to have con
: nected with his diplomatic studies nice at
: tention to the maxims of the cardinal dc
+ Retz. The saying things which we fore
: see viii not be pleasing. (says the cardinal
can only be softened by the greatest appear.
ance of sincerity" Lord Castereagh hat
L formed his resolution to reject Mr., Russell,
: overtures, and he was DESTROYS to smooth
: over the rejection as pleasantly as possible
: but, like almost all those who act, not frou
{ themselves but from the maxims OF others
= ne made a bungling business of it. The ia
BILE, and the records, and the solemn sittin,
!, Of the two ministerial actors, in a posture q
It mock investigation, however designed to dis
a play an aspect of real sincerity and deep at
: tention, was too much like sergeant Kite
i preparations for conjuring match, to i'm
It pose on any body, much less on a man @
J. dent of the scene wa. an objective common
n tary on Mr.. Monree's letter to our charge
t DIES affairs as power for the latter to con
u clude an armistice upon prescribed terms
l. not to discuss the merits of the points apo
= which it was proposed: Then he proceede
n to remark on the inadequacy of Mr.. Rus
&c sells powers: Next preached the hope q
: accommodation through admiral Warren
e and finally brought up the question of i'm
s. pressment. In all this, lord CastIereag
e proceeded still by the rules of the card
p nal, who advises, as the best way of compel
L ing men TO abandon their opinions, to nlagn
fy the difficulties of carrying them into et
/ feet. But de Retz had reference to zueak
D minded feohte," which, unfortunately fo
n his lordship's farce, does not apply to NJ
in Russell. In fact, we are quite charme
n with the superiority displayed by the Inre
9 rfcan in this interview, who palpably h
re of the British lord in every direction. w
E. perfectly accord with Mr.. Russell with re
lie gard TO the afectafion Of sen@6liity whic
81 lord CastIereagh put on for the popular ser
to timent concerning impressment Il is tn
n first time that we ever heard that the pee
no pie of England entertained prejudces in fa
De vor OF this conscriptive power in the crown
I'd and it is contrary to historical fact and leg
al record, that the public in Great Britain HAY
n the least senRibtiity and jeaLousy'' favor
c able TO this abominable practice. 1t is
&C practice, IN reality, great deal more q
r rannical than the system of French col
vs. scrIption; for, in France, the arbitral
h draft of recruits for the army operates upc
I'd all classes ofthe community alike. There
fl is h7v of the land ; and the peer as well
no the peasant must obey it. But in England
OF is partial; il takes the poor man and leav