Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-14

10 our ministers STATING
That Instructions had been given
and should be repeated and enforced, Tor
the observance Of the greatest caution
in the impressing British ssame", sno
tina, the strictest care shall be taken 10
preserve the citizens of tine Cnited-
States from any molestation OF INJURY I;
and that immediate and PROMPT redress
shall be afforded upon any representa-
ton of injury sustained by them
Such is the famous note presented oF
the Fox ministry as their utffmatum, ana
which was 50 satisfactory TO both our
nerociators as 10 induce them to sign the
treaty
II in addition to these liberal 'nstruc,
tons the other proposal or preJect has
been accepted, of awarding heavy pc
na!ty against an, British officer who
should impress an American, the great
cause Of complaint, so favorable 10 the
views of an administrator that seeks to
pro,ong the irritation between the two
countries, might have been long since
removed.
We now pr,ceed to shew, thirdly, that
these last terms were satisfactory 10 oar
ozyn ne sosiators--and that they contain
cd gre.t deal more than meets me eye
because although Great Britain DC
clin,d rcli,,quish"snt OF The ciai'"'
vet the - seas" were parposely o.
mi,,ed in the proposal, and 1t was uh-
dcrstood that the right wonld Only DC
exercised in the British terrtsrles.
Our ministers, speaking Of this oifer,
say, -.
" That it was sent TO US as ; pubic
paper, and it was intended we should 50
consider it, and with The knowledge and
app baton OF The B itish cabinet. II
ooght tlerelore to b. held as obligatory
as If i, had oeen stipulated IN a.treaty'
It's Just also t. give tia liherai eonstruc-
ton. il consideration that II is the act Of
the British government In that view
itmer;ts attention, that every thing Is
expressed II il that eouid be d'srcd, ex'
cep, Tie rchpguistmens of the principle
90 that in speaking Of impressments
the exercise Of that act on the high seas
is emitted. an omission zvc kyoH, TO nave
been inientioEa!
Two wears after this fair proposal,
cal. it fair, because our tresent attor'
new general, Pinckney, ard our present
Secretary of State called it se--Mr
Monroe addressed letter to the Presl-
dent, Mr.. Madison On the sane subjsct
III which he Says,
THAT the subject of impressment'
WAS placed by that note Of the British
commissioners, CD around both honors
| bic anr advantageous to the = States.
That the term nigh seas" were
| omntcs Intentionally and with the view
that irrressments should bs confined
| 10 fhr iond"-,hst is TO the British ter.
'ri,ory He said :" he did not mean to
SLY lhat Great Britain would eband0n The
| Practice en the high seas a!'eScthfr, but
tia, she would abandon her former prsc
tee, anG only exercise ii in an extreme
case, such es tie dssertien Of 9 crew IN
a lorctgn and neulIal country"
.No~ sye ak most significantly for whal
we ore at war Fol principle which
Great Britain has declared .ne nevcr
! sYM uislS absolutely, but which she hes
! offered TO modify and check and saerti
o. orr present cati~et appeared perfect
~ honorable aad advantageous to US .
We are then fighting for principle,
| an abstract >Cisin1, which has been ~
er.ry " honorable and atvant. geeus''
iishl Welded br cur crrmy.
| As .soG rs or cabi ell found that G..
B. never would yicid the hrt7cHie, bat
! that he uouid make such .n arrange.
ment as would b. "honorc6ie and a9-
/ ra,tGefous they detcr,jned tc sshers
/ to ,nd insist on ihe abstract frncTle,
AID to yield the honor and Advantage j"
Perish lhs searr en-prrish conmerc.!
bul let us adhere to barren oad aScieaS
,ights-IMs vas what | as TO sh, "
lassty. Accordingly, on the Sd Of Fe
Druary, 1857, when eur cabinet found
G;eat Britain va, ready to yic.d every
thing but the prnclpie-tbat all jusl
cause cf COMPLIANT would be renewed,
they determined to defeat The arrange
nent, and ordered our ministers to in.
sist on the mere rIght and to propose, as
Mr.. Russell has lately proposed "that
the B;lu>h snserumeHt should relln-
Qu!sh her right On eur STIMULATING that
We would not employ any British sea.
man. not being a citizen, That is, not ma
turaEzed, or unless he has been in our
employ tsuo years"
Here ended Ill hopes Of accoa,moda
ton and our government we'll know
that they may safely cffer the exclusion
OF British seameD, SO long as they claim
the right to protect all who are now III
cur country, and demand Of her the ad.
mission that her native born subjects
shall be protected under our flag in me.
Giant vessels on a common Jurisdiction.
he ,0b IT,. I