Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-23


Adjustment, BIS ior,iShn must, on an atten
ton to tli: 7oi2ie cgrrc8aonGee,ce at IN.
tims, aciu', him from the imputasioa Of ans
excessive want augmentation
As to the supposed ignorance in America
OF the revocation OF the orders ia council, at
tue time my distractions were dated, ob
served, that II this ignorance did in fact exist,
yet, iron certain expressions in those instruc
mons, an expectation Of such n measure
seems 10 have been confidently entertained,
| and the orders in couNci! appeared no longer
| TO foHm an obstacle to a Cancellation How
| ever this might he. it ought not TO be suppos-
ed that the American government would be
| ready 10 abandon one main point for which i
contendcd merely because ithad obtained an
Other, which was generally considered 60 be
OF minor importance, and to submit to the
continuance ofimpressment ON account the
dlscontinuance of the Orders in Council. At
any rate, having authorized me to propose
terms of accommodation here. i, would pro-
badly wait for information concerning the
manner III which they had been received, be-
tore It would consent To more unfavorable
conditions. hithe mean time, tile war would
be prosecuted, and might produce new Oh
stacics 20 pacific arrangement. I was hap
py 70 learn that Tie failure of a former rcgo-
cation concerning impressment could not be
ascri5ed tosa want of sincerity and moderate
on IN the American government; and | ncp-
ed the mode now suggested for securing to O.
britain her own seancn, might remove the
di'hcu.tiesl which had hitherto embarrassed
TINS question II he people of England were
SO jealous and sensitive with REGARD to tine
exercise OF this harsh practice, what ought
to De the feelings Of the people of America
VINO were the victims of il? In the u. ). this
practice ,ot imprcssmcnt was considered as
wearing u strong resemblance to the slave
trade, aggravated indeed in some of it fea-
tures, as the Negro was purchased already
beresS OF his liberts and his slavery and exile
were at lcast mi;igated by his exemption
from danger, by the interested forbcarance Of
iiis task master, and the Consciousness that
II he could no longer associate with those who
were dear to him, he was not compelled to
do them injury--whilc the American citizen
is torn, without price, at once from all tie
blessings OF freedom and all the charities Of
! social lie, subjected to military law, exposed
| to incessant perils, and forced at times to
| hazard ms life in despoiling or destroying his
kindred and country men. 1t was ~ after os
| astonisbment that while G.. Britain discover
ed such zeal Tor the abolition .. the cratic in
| the barbarous and unbelieving native of AZ
RIGA, as 20 cndeavor 20 force it ~ her reluct-
ant allies, that she should so obstinately adj
here To the practice of impressing American
| citizens, whose civilization, religion, and
| blood, SO obviously demanded Il more favor
| able distinction.
next pointed out to his I.crdship the diff
ference between the propositions which
now submitted and those contained in my
note Of the 24;h of August. That although
| the object of both was essentially the same
there was great diversity in The manner of
ob,ainingit. The discontinuance Of the prac-
tice of impressment, which was before re-
| CURED To be immediate and to constitute
formal prellrnina to ain armisticc, was
| now deferred TO commence Cotemporaneous-
| ly with the operation OF the law Of the u. s.
prohibiting the employment Of British Sea
men, and was consigned, with the other con
ditions. To a separate and informal arrange
ment. In this way it was no doubt intended,
| by respecting the>ieeiings of the British go,
vernment, to obviate any objection which
might have been the mere suggestion Of its
pride.
| finally offered, in order to answer at
once al the observations and enquiries of
Lord Castlereagh, thai the proposed under
standing should be expressed in the most
general terms-thai the laws. To take effect
on the discontinuance ofshe practice of i'm
pressment, should prohibit the employment
Of the natiUe subjects or citizens of the one
been naturalized, on board the private ard
public ships of the other-thus removing any
objection that might have been raised with
regard 10 the future effect OF naturalization
! or the formal remuneration Of any preten-
| ded right. With regard to bloCkades,
proposed to follow the same course, and OH
| " to agree that none should be instituted bv
either party which were not conforInable to
the acknowledged laws of Misunderstanding
the definition of such blockades, and all o.
Their details, to be settled by the Commission
ers in the dehnitivc treaty.
was disappointed and grieved to find that
these propositions, moderate and liberal as
| they were, should be treated in a manner
| which forbid me TO expect their acceptance
| was even asked, by MG. Hamilton, if the u.
! $ would Geiivcy a6 the native British se1men
who might be naturazed in America Ai;ho
shocked at this demand | mildly replied that
such procedure would b. dissrscefl TO A.
! merica without being useful to G.. i}ritaiR--that
the habits OF seamen so peculiarly unac
| commodatinG that no one would patiently go
! through the long probation, required by law,
10 become the citizen Of country where lie
could not pursue his professional occupations
-snd that not to employ him in this way
would be virtually to surrender him to Great
| Britain.
was disposed to believe, however, that
| reciprocal arrangement might b. made for Civ
! ing up deserters from public vessels.
Here, perhaps, owe an apology 10 my gov
eminent, tor having, wthOay It's precise com
mands. hazarded tine overture above-mention-
ed, relative to British subjects who may bore
after become citizens Of the u. s. In taking
this step, however, persuaded myself that !
did not tresspss5 against the spirit OF the in
struc;ons which had received and had Tie
proposition been accepted, I should not have
been without all hope that it would have been
|