Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-07-17


narrow seas" What, however, was the opinion OF the "A
merican minister the probability OF an arrangement aP
the public documents communicated 10 congress-
in the OF 1905 stated by Mr. Madison IN these
words at the the articles were expected to be
signed an exception Of the narrow seas was urged
and insisted on by Lord St Vincents, and being utterly
nadmssble on our part the negotiation abandoned
Mr. King seems o be of opinion, however that with
more time left him for the experiment. the OBJ
lection mil ht ave been overcome" What time was et
Mr. King for the experiment. whether was ever made
has not been disclosed the public Mr. King after
returned to America 1t is manifest from Nh Kings ex
preston that he limited in point oftme and 1T is equal
y clear that his opinion that ustment could take
place. That Mr. Madison also OF the same opinion is
Demonstrated by his letters to DIessrs Monroe and Pink
ney dated the Sd of February 1907 in which he uses these
expressions take it for granted that you have not ran
ed to make due use arrangement concerted by r
King with Lord Hawksbury in the year 1902 for setting
I" the question Of mpressment On Hat occa$'o" and IN
der that the British principle 1eds fair
In renowned in favor of the right Of tag Lord
Hdrksbry haUing agreed to prohibit smpresSnents on
the high seasn and Lord St Vncens requiring nothing
more than exception OF the narrow seas, an exception
resting obsolete claim of Great Britain TO some pc
culiar dominion them" Here then we have full
Acknowledgement that Great Britain willing to
the right mpressment the high IN favor OF our
flag that she anxious to arrange the subject
further appears that the British ministry called tor an
interview with Messrs Monroe and pnkney on this topic;
that they stated the of the claim the Kings prero
gave that they had consulted the officers and the
board of admiralty who all concurred IN sentiment that
under the circumstances of the nation, the REIMBURSEMENT
of the right measure which the government could
not adopt without taking itself responsibility which
ministry would be willing to meet however pressing the ex
gency might be They offered however, on the part of
Great Britain pass laws making it penal for British com
manders impress American citizens, board OF Ameri
can vessels on high seas if America would pass law,
making peHa for the officers of the United States to grant
certificates of citizenship British subjects This will be
found in the same documents in letter from Mesrs Mon
roe and Pinkney to Mr. Madison dated 18th November,
1906 Under their perempory instructions this proposition
part of Great Britain could not be acceded to by
ministers Such however, the temper and anxiety of
England and such the candor and good of minis
ters that honorable and ADJ atageous drran cement
did take place The authority of Mr. Monroe then Minis
of Great Britain Secretary of State and
of the administration, who have recommended
with England, and assigned impressment cause,
supports the undersigned IN asserting that was honorable
and advantageous for in letter from Richmond dated the
28th of February 1909, to MIR Madison the following
pressons used by Mr. Monroe have the contrary
ALWAYS believed and still believe that the ground
(which that Interest," (mpressment placed by the pa
"per Of the British Commissioners of 9Th November 1906
and the explanation which accompanied it. both ho
aorabe and advantageous to the United States that it
contained concession their favor the part OF Great
Britain the great principle in condensation, never be-
fore made by formal and obligatory act ct their govern
ment which highly favorable to their interest"
With the opinion of MIR King decidedly expressed with
the official admission of Mr. Madison with the explicit de-
caraon of MIR Monroe all concurrng that Great Britain
was ready abandon impressmen on the high and
with honorable aud advantageous arrangement actually
made by Mr. Monroe how be pretended that all hope
of settlement by treaty has failed how this subject
furnish proper cause OF war?
With respect to the subject of bockade the principle of
the of nations asserted by the u States is that
blockade only be justified when supported by adequate
force In theory this principle admitted by Great Britain
Its aedged however, that ia practice she disregardsthat
principle
The order of bocdade which has been made specific
ground of complaint by France is that of the 10th of May
1906 Yet strange as it may seem, this ORDER which is
now made ground of between the countries
the time of its first issuing viewed act of favor and
CANCELLATION On this subject is necessary to be explicit
The vague and indetermnae manner in which, the Anne
rcan and French governments their ohciapapers speak
of this order of blockade is calculated msead An i'm
portance attached it. of which, in the opinion of the
undersigned it not worthy Let the facts speak for them
selves
In Aug 1901 the British established blockade the
Of the French ports naming Them from Fecamp to
Ostend; and from their proximity the British coasts and
the absence of all complaint may be permitted to be-
eye that it legal blockade enforced according the
usace of nations On the 10th of May 1906, the English
Secretary of State, Mr. Fox, notified to Minister