The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-11-19

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would aGrccso asuspensicn, ailer cay to
be liked, OF The conde mnalion Of prizes,to a.
wait the decision.of both governments, with
out however preventing captures Oh either
side. II appears also, that MIR. Foster had
promised to communicate with Sir George
Provost, and to advise him TO propose 10 our
government an armistice.
Sir George Provost had since proposed TO
General Dearborn, at the suggc cs,ion Of MIR.
Foster, suspension of offensive operations
by land, in letter which was transmitted by
the General TO the Secretary at War A
provisional agreement was entered into be-
tween General Dearborn and Colonel Bayacs,
the British Adjutant General, bearer OF Gen.
Provos.'s letter, that neither party should act
Extensively, before the, decision OF our goy1
e,nmenl should be taken on the subject.
Since my return 10 Washington, the docu.
mcnt alluded to in Mr. Fosters despatch, as
snally decided on by the British government,
has been hanccd TO Slr Bsker, with re.
mark, that its authenticity might be relied
OF. MI nahcr added, that Y was no, impro-
bablc, that the Admiral a. Halifax might a.
gree likewise to suspension OF Captures
though he did not profess or appear 10 be at-
quainted with his sentiments on that Eoint.f
3 On full considerations OF all the circum-
stances which merit attention, the President
regrets that il is not in lis power to accede TO
the proposed arrangement. The following
arc among the principal reasons which have
produced this decision
flst. The President has no power 10 sus.
pend judicial proceedings on captures. a
capture, if lawful, vests a right, over which
he has no control. Nor could Ire prevent
captures Otherwise than by an indiscriminate
recall of The commissions granted TO our pri-
vatecrs, which lie could not Justify under ex
isling circumstances.
Cd. The proposition is no, made by the
British government, nor is there any certain.
.ty tha, it would be approved BY H. The pro-
posed arrangement, if acceded TO, may not
be obserycdby the British officers themselves,
if their government, in consequence Of the
war, should give them Instructions Of di!.
fcrcpt character, even if they were given
without knowledge of the Arrangement.
= Sd. No security is given, or proposed, as
10 the Indians, nor could any be relied on.
They have engaged in the war on the side of
the British government, aud are now pruse-
cutting ii with vigor, in their usual savage
mode They Can only be restrained by force,
when once let loose, and that force has alfca-
dy been ordered out for that purpose.
4th. The proposition is not reciprocal, be-
cause it rcs,rains the United States from act.
ing here their power is greatest, and leaves
Great britain at liberty, and gives her Zine
10 augment her forces in our neisbbcgaood.
5lh. Tha: as principal object of the war
is to obtain redress against the B,gSish prac-
tice Of imprcssment, an agrceme'at 10 suspend
hostlilie,, even before the Yriish govern
mcnt is heard from on th,tsubjec,, might be
considered q reiinquishgen, of that claim.
9th. Il is the more> Objectionable, aud Of
the less impor,anec, in consideration Of the
instructions heretofore given you, which, if
met by the British government, may have al
ready produced the same result in great
exteat and more satisfactory form.
| might add, that the declaration itself is
Objectionable in many respects, particularly
the following
iss. Because II asserts right in the Brit
ish/ Government 10 restore the Orders in
Council, or any part thereof, to their full ef-
feet on a principle Of retaliation OF France,
under circumstances Of which she alone is to
JNNSO , 'hbHt Wuita ttliS 0obCTufnent Cans
not admit, especially in the extent heretofore
claimed, and acted oil by the British Govern
ment.
( Cd. That the repea! is founded exclusively
on the French Decree Of 23th of April 1911,
by which the repeal of the decrecs of Bcrli.,
and Milan, announced on the 9Th of August,
1910, to take effect on The first Of November,
in that year, at which time their operation
actually ceased, is disregarded, as are claims
Of the Unilcd States arising from the repeal
on that day, even according to the British
pledge.
Sd. That even if the United States had no
right to claim the repeal Of the British or
dars in council prior TO the French Decree
of the 23th April 1911, nor before the no,i6-
cation Of that Decree to the British govern
mcnt on the goth of May, of the present
year, the British repeal ought to have borne
date, from that day, and been subject TO none
Of the limitations attached to it,
n