The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-24

;he resnt of neg citation entertained under
circumstances SO hishly favorable, where
the powers and the disposition IF the parties
were limited only by the difficulties of the
subject. what reasonable expectation can
be encouraged that in the actual state oi
things, with your ci:cumscribed and imper-
iect authority, we can come To more sue
cess!nl Issue shall have to proceed in so
weiyhty Concern with The utmost delihe-
ration and circumspecton /; and it will be
necessary tor me to Consult the great law
officers of the Crown. You are not aware
OF the great sensibility and jealousy of the
people of England on this subject, and no
administration could cxpccr to remain in
power that should consent to renounce the
rlgnt oil impressment, OF TO suspend the
practice, without the certainty of an ar
rangement which should obviously be cal.
culated most unequivocally to secure its OBJ
Ject. Whether such an arrangement can
be devised is extremely doubtful, but it is
very Certain that you have TO sufficient pow
ers fer its accomplishment"
Such was the substance, and in many
parts, the language of his Lordship's dis
course. TO which replied that the main
object OF my powers being to effect sus-
pension of hostilities, their form could not
be material. 1t was sufficient that they
emanated From competent authority and
were distinctly and clearly conferred. That
In requiring IS condition to an armistice
aclear understanding relative to Impress.
ment and other points of controversy be-
tween the two countries, it was intended
merely;to lay the basis of an amicable adj
Justment snd thereby to diminish the pro-
liability OF = renewal of hostilities. To
come to such an understanding, tobe in it.
self informal, and which expressly lett the
details OF the points which it embraced to
he discussed and adjusted by commission
srs to be hereafter appoInted, was scrtain-
~ within the instructions rhich had re-
ceived, and ! could, of couiss,, thus far
pledge my government for its observance.
did not acknowledge the force Of his OBJ.
lection, prcdicated OH the inequality of our
respective powers, nor perceive, how the
British faith would be particularly commit
ted. The faith of both governmen ts would
be equally committed, for whatever was
done under their respective authority and
although his lordship might have power to
60 beyond the armistice and understanding
tor "hich was INSTRUCTED, yet there was
no necessity for doing SO, and while we ac-
ted within those limits we stood on equal
ground. And were it otherwise, vet as the
Pronise OF the ono party would be the sole
consideration for the promise of the other,
should either fail IN the performance of its
engagements, the other would necessarily
be discharged and thef impueation of bad
faith Could alone attach to the first delin-
qneDt. Nor was / dismayed at the very
formidable difficulties with which he had
thought proper to array the subject of i'm
Pressment, and altho' willing to acknow-
ledge my inferiority to the Anne rican negoci-
ators who had preceded Inc in the matter,
yet ! was not disposed on account of
their faIlsre to SHRINK from the discharge of
az DUTY imposed OH me by my government.
% me indeed the whole question appeared
much less alarming than his IsrGship had
described it to be. And that if Mr.. King
mad really been mistaken with regard to
inc near completion Of an adjustme mt, his
lordsbip must on an attention to the zvhoke
coTresfonde7see at the. time, acuuA him
from the imputation OF any excessive want
OF penetration.
AS to the supposed ignorance in Ameri-
ca or the revocation of the orders in coun-
Gil, at the time my instructions were dated.
observed, that if this ignorance did in fact
exist, yet, from certain expressions in those
instructions, an expectation of such mea-
sure seems to have been confidently enter.
tanned G the orders in council appeared no
longer to form an obstacle to a Cancellation.
N"~'St 'uiS hiiShI oc, IL ought not TO be
supposed that. the American government
would be ready to abandon one main point
tor whichit commended merely because it
had eotsined another, which was generally
considered to be of minor Importance, and
to submit 20 the continuance of impress.
ment ON account OF the discont;nuance of
the Orders in Council. At any rate having
authorized me 10 propose terms Of accom-
modatlon here, II would probably wait for
information concerning the manner in
winch they had been received, before il
would consent 10 more unfavorable condi-
IONS. IN the mean time, the war would be
prosecuted. & might produce new obstacles
10 PACING arrangement. / was happy to
learn that the failure of = former uegoeia-
ton concerning impressmcnt could not be
ascrlbcd 10 want of sincerity s. moderation
IN the American government; and / ho-
pea the mode now suggested for securing
TO q. b. her own seamen might remove the
dIihGulties which had hitherto embarrassed
this question .l.
IT the people of England were so jealous
aht' sensitive with regard to the exercise of
this harsh practice, what. ought to be the
FEELINGS OF the people of America who were
the victims of it! In the u. S. this practice
CT impressment was considered as bearing
strong resemblance to the slave trade, ag-
SraVed indeed in some of its features, as the
negro was purchased already bereit of his
liberty, and his slavery and exile we're at
least mitiGated by his exemption from dan
ger, by the interested forbearanCe of his
task master, and the consciousness that if
ne could no longer associate with those who
Pm i'm . IL