The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-12-03

10
the time" Here Lord Castlereagh read a
letter, contained in the records before him, in
which Lord ST. Vincent states 10 Sir WiIlisin
Scott, the zeal with which MIR. King had as
sailed him on the subject Of imp,essmcnt,
conlesses his own perpexiiy and total iDcom-
potency to discover any practical project Tor
tho safe disron,inuance of that practice, and
asks for council and advice. Thus you sees
proceeded Lord Castlereagh, that the conii-
dcncc Of Mr.. King on this point was cntifcIy
uRfounded.'
The extreme difficulty. if not total imprac-
,icabiliiy Of anv satisfactory Arrangement for
the discon,inuance Of impre ssment, is most
clearly manifested by The result Of the ncgo-
cialion carried ON between Messrs. Monroe
and Pinkney and Lords Auckland and Hol-
land. The doctrines Of which these noble
men had been the advocates, when in opposi-
lion, bound them by all the force OF consis-
tency to do every thing under their commits
sion for the satisfaction Of America, relative
10 impressment, which the nature OF the sub
jcct would possibly admit. There were many
circumstances, on that occasion, peculiarly
propitious TO an ainicable arrangement on this
point, had such an arrangement been, at all,
attainab!e. Both parties accordingly appear
|
ing 10 devise cxpedients satisfactorily 10 per-
form the Office OF imprcssment and nothing
can more conclusiyeiy demonstrate the inher-
ent difficulty of the mater, and The utter inn
,.9ssblity Of finding the expecient which
they sought, than that all their labors, pursu-
ed on that occasion with unexampled Gill
gsnce, cordially and good faith, should have
been in vain."
His Lordship now turned 10 letter in a
volume before him, addressed at the close Of
the negotiation by these commissioners to The
American ministers, conceived in the kindest
spirit Of Cancellation, IN which they profess
the most earnest desire 10 remove all cause
OF complaint on the part Of America, concern
ing imprcssment regret that their endeavors
had hitherto been Intellectual lament the ne
cessity of continuing the practice, and prom
isc to provide as far as possible against the a
buse Of il.
If" rescmed hit ].ordship, {" such was
the rcsul, Of negotiation entertained under
circumstances so highly favorable, where the
powers and the disposition of the parties
we're limited only by the difficulties OF the
subject, what reasonable expectation can be
encouraged that, in the actual state of things,
with your circumscribcd and imperfect au-
thori,y, we can come 10 a more successful Is
sue shall have to proceed in so weighly
a concern with the utmost deliberalion and
cireumspcction and il will bc necessary Tor
me 20 consult the great law officers OF The
crown. You are not aware oil the great SEN
sibility ahd jealousy Of the people OF Engi"nd
on this subject and no administration could
expect TO remain in power that should con-
sent TO renouncc the right of imps-ssnent,or
to suspend the practice, without the certainty
of an Arrangement which should ol v.ousiy be
calculated most unequivocally to secure It's
object. Whether such IN Arrangement, can
be devised is extremely doubtful, but il is
very certain that you have no sufficient pow
ers for its omp!ishmcnts.
Such was the Substance, and, in many
parts, the language Of his Lordship's dis.
course. 70 which replied, that the main
object OF my powers being to effec, suspen-
sion Of hos,lilies, their form could not be
matcrial--lt was sufficient that they emanat.
ed from competent authority, and were dis,
tinctly and clearly conferred. That In req0ir-
ing as condition to an armisticc clear 0n-
derstanding relative to impressment and 9TH
CIR points Of controversy between the two
countries, it was intended merely 10 lay the
basis OF an amicable adjustment, and thereby
TO diminish the probability OF renewal OF
hos,ii,ies. 20 come to such an understand
Ing TO be in itself informal, and which ex-
pressly left The details Of the points which it
embraced to be discussed and adjusted by
commissioners 10 be hereafter appointed, was
certainly within the instructions which had
received, and could ct course thus far
pledge my government For Its observance. l
did not acknowledge The force OF his objec-
,ion, predica,ed OH the inequality OF our re-
spectivc powers, nor perceive how the Brit
ish faith would be particularly committed.
The faith Of both governments woold be C.
qually committed for whatever was done un-
der their respective authority--and although
his hardship might have power TO 90 beyond
the armis,icc and understanding for which
was instructed, yet there was no necessity for