The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-18
Ieishsh is an eff&. to wres, the subject from !

Eighth IS an effort to wrest the subject from
Is real sT0:;sd.
An this may appear circuitous to the rea-
der but il is necessary to the right under
standing Of the subject. The smtfressio
peri and the suggestio faisi, in which the
lpamphlcteers have so literally indulged. al
ways render the subject in dispute like q
jug without handle they compel you to
grasp it with both hands; and the recon-
pense for this additional trouble is that you
take a surer hold.
After wedding the topic of the darnels
planted around it, it begins to present itself
in a truer aspect. To pourtray the wrong
in its genuine color, / will now supper, it
by the actual circumstances that appertain
lit. In doing this will shew--
First That the preseat administration
have been always ready to restrain the
wight of flag to the protection of American
cifizens.
Second: That they have been willing at
all times to enter into a convention Tor de-
iiveriug up British desertcrs.
Third: That all hope Of reasonable &C :
cemmodation on the part of Great Britain
HAS failed.
Fourth That their efforts have been &
are now, solely directed to the encourage
msnt of american citizens.
Ga the 10th of September, 1895, Mr..
Pickering, Secretary ofState, wrote to Mr..
King, our minister in London. that the
subject of impressed seamen makes a part
| of your Instructions but the President now
renews his desire, that their relief may en-
gage your sf,eciak attention" Again, on the
Goth of October of the same year, he says
to Mr.. King. after speaking of the impro-
sells, =" the President is extremely anxious
TO have this business of impresses placed
ON a reasonable footing" This was under
the presidency of Gen. Washington.
| In the year 1900, the formal written OPT.
Mons of all the Secretaries of Departments
and of the Attorney General, were given to
President Adams, by his direction, in reia
tion to impressment. This was in Conse-
quence of communication from Mr.. Lis
ton. embracing project for the reciprocal
delivery of deserters.
20. 1900 ito be ufterly inadnissi6te u,sfess
!, rooutd hnf an end TO imhressmcnss." On
this occasion Mr.. Pickering wrote a letter
10 Mr.. Listos, enclosing a counter project
with respect to desertcIs. The 9TH and
essential article is in the following words !:
cit is, however. understood. that nothing
in these stipulations shall be construed to
empower the civil, military, and naval Off
ers of either of the contracting parties
forcibly to enter into the territory, forts,
posts, or pesseis, Of the other party, or tn
Use violence to the persons of the comman-
ders or other officers of the forts, posts, OF
prsseis, of the other party, with view to
compel delivery of such persons asshall de-
.ert as aforesaid"
| by this arrangement 1t was intended to
refer the subject of desertion to the friendly
interference of the proper authority in both
countries respectively. If Great Britain
had afterwards found the United States tar
dy in fulfilling their part of the convention
the means of redress were always in her
owp hands.
To the propriety and business Of this ar
ticle, every member of the cabinet, to whom
it was referred, acceded, in writing The
members were, besides Mr.. Pickering, Oil
yer Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury /;
James M'Henry, Secretary of War; Ben
jamin Stoddert, Secretary of the Navy
whose letter of appreciation contains this
remarkable passage" The Secretary (of
the Navy Is clearly of opinion, that it is
better 20 have no article, and to meet all
consequences, than not to enumerate mer-
chant ucssels, on the high seas, among the
things not to be forcibly entered in search
Of dcserters." To them may be added
Charles Lee, the Attorney General.
1t thus appears that Gen. Washington's
and MIR. Adams administrations, embracing
the present leaders of the federal party.
pushed G.. Britain as hard upon the subject
as Mr.. Jefferson CT Mr.. Madison have done
since. The lss article of the plan of con
vention sent from the Department of State
by Mr.. Madison to Mr.. Monroe, OH the 5th
of January, 1890. provides, THAT no sea-
man, sea -faring or other person, upon the
high seas, and without the jurisdiction of
either party, be demanded or taken out of
any ship or vessel belonging to the citizens
or subjects of one of the parties, by the pub
lie or private armed ships belonging to or in
the service of the other party, and strict &
effectual orders shall be given for the due
observance of this engagement"
BY the 9th article of the same convenei-
onal plan, " 1t is agreed, that no refuge or
protection shall be afforded by either party
to the mariners, sailors, or other persons,
nor found 20 be ia o7un citizens or subjects,
who shall desert from a vessel of the other
party, of the crew whereof the deserter
made part but, on the contrary, ali
dessrters shall be delivered up, OH demand,
TO commanders of the vessels from which
they shall have deserted, or to the comman-
ding officers of the ships of war of the re-
spective nations, or TO such other persons as
| may be duly authorised to make requsition,
in that behalf"
Such is the agreement that Mr.. jefferson
would have made. The present admins
tration coincide with, him. Mr. Pinkney
was expressly authorised in 1910, to renew
lnegociation at London on the plan of the
treaty communicated to MIR. Monroe.