The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-10


he instrument providing for, it. or at the
end ct nifty or Sky days, or other tho shor-
test term that the British government will |
assent to. Dehn,tive arrangements will be |
made on these and every other difIercnce |
by treaty, to be concluded either here or |
at London. though il is much desired that |
the subject should be entered on in this city. |
AS an induceinent to the British govern
mcnt to discontinue the practice of i'm
pressment from our vessels, you may give
assurance that a law will be passed to be
reciprocal) to prohibit the employment. Of
British seamen inthe public or commercial
service OF the u. S. There can be no
doubt that such an arrangement would
prove much more eficacious in securing to
Great Britain her seamcn, than the prac-
t'ce to which it is proposed to be a substi-
tute, independent of all the other objections
to it.
Indemnity for injuries received under the
orders in council, and other edicts violating
our rights, seems to be- incident to their
| repeal but the President is willing that
the consideration or that claim should
| not be pressed at this time, SO as to inter
tere with the preliminary arrangement al
iuded to. 1t will he proper to bring it into
| view merely to shew that it is expected
that provision will be made for it in the
treaty which is to follow. Every other in
terest may also be provided for at the same
time.
| 1t is hoped that the British government
VIII hnd 1t consistent withits interest and
honor, to terminate the war by AN arms.
tice in the manner and on the conditions
proposed. In so doing it will abandon
no right, it will sacrifice /, no interest :;
it will abstain only from violating our
rights, and in returns, it will restore
peace with the power from whom. in
friendly commercial intercourse, SO many
advantages will be derived, not to mention
the injuries which cannot fail to result from
a prosecution of the war;
MR.. MONROE TO MR.. RUSSELL.
dated DEPARTMENT Of STATE,
July 81, 1912.
SfR-I wrote you on the Goth # June, by
Mr. Foster, letter which he promised To
deliver to you in person or hv safe hand.
In that letter ym were informed, that the
orders in council and other illegal blockaues
and the impressifient of our seamen by G.
Britain, as you well knew before, were the
principal causes OF the war, and that if they
were removed. you might stipulate an ar
mistice. leaving them and all other grounds
OF difference, for final ana more precise adj
Justment by treaty. As an inducement to
the British government to discontinue the
practice of impressment from our Vessels,
Il py eiiOiiS Oul SSatnen Can De maze Sc
i cure, you we're authorised to stipulate a
prohibition by law, to be reciprocal, of the
employment of British seamen in the public
or commercial service of the United States.
AS such an arrangement, which might be
made completely effectual and satisfactory
by suitable regulations and penalties, would
i operate almost exclusively in favor of Great
Britain, for as few of our seamen ever en-
ter voluntarily into the British service, the
reciprocity would be nominal it's advan-
I tage to Great Britain would be more than
an equivalent for any she derives from i'm
pressment, which alone ought to induce
her to abandon the practice, if she had no
other motive for it. A stipulation to prohib-
ltby law the employment of British seamen
in the service of the United States, is to be
understood in the sense and spirit of our
constitution. The passage of such law
must depend of course on Congress, who, it
might reasonably be presumed, might give
effect to it.
BY authorship you to secure these objects
| as the grounds OF an armistice. il was not in
tended TO restrict you to any precise form in
| which 1t should be done. 1t is not partic-
| uiariy necessary that the several points
should be specially provided for in the con-
vention STIMULATING the armistice. A clear
and distinct understanding with the British
government on the subject of impressment,
& m pf1sing In 1t the discharge of men arca-
] dy impressed, and on future blockades, if
the orders in council are revoked is all that
is indispensable. The orders in council be-
| ing revoked, and the proposed understand
ing on the other points, that is, on blockades
and impressment, being first obtained, in a
manner, though informal. to admit of no
mistake or disagreement hereafter, the in
strument providing for the armixice may
assume general form, especially if more
agreeable to the British government. 1t
may Tor example be said i'm general terms
that both powers being sincerely DESTROYS
to terminate the differences which unhap
PLY subsist between them, and equally so,
that full time should be given for the adjust
ment thereof. $gree, LIST, that an armistice
shall take place for that purpose to com
meDce on the dav of
2. That they will forthwith appoint on
each side commissioners with full power
to FORM treaty, which shall provide by
reciprocal arrangements, for the security of
heir seamen from beng taken or employed
In the service of the other power, for tho
regulation of their commerce, and all other
interesting questions now depending between
them.
60. The armistice shall not cease without
previous notice by one to the other party
or days, and shall not be understood
AS having other effect than merely TO sus
pend military operations by land & by sea-"
BY this you will perceive that the Presi-
dent is DESTROYS of removing every obstacle
TO an accommodation which consists mere
~ OF form, securing in safe and satisfacto-
ny manner the rights and inter ests of the u,
otates In these two great and essential Cir
cumstanCes, as 1t is presumed may be ac-
compllshed by the proposed understanding