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

time, acQuit HIM from the lmpu,ation oi any
excessive want of penetration.
AS 10 the supposed ignorance in America
Of the revocation Of The orders in council, al
the time my Instructions were dated, obser-
we'd, that il this ignorance did in fact exist,
yet, from Certain expressions In those nstruc-
lions, an expectation Of such d measure seems
10 have been confidently entertained, and the
orders in council appeared no longer TO form
an obstacle 10 reconciliation. However this
might be, IL ought not 10 be supposed that the
American government would be ready to "a
Jandon one main point for which il contended,
merely because il had obtained another which
was generally considered TO be Of minor i'm
portance, and to submit TO the continuance of
imprcssment on account of the diseoniicuance
of the orders II, council. AT any rate having
authorized me TO propose terms OF accommo-
dation here, i woulc probably wait Tor intor-
nation concerning the manner in which they
had been received, before it would consent to
more unfavorable conditions. In the mean
time the war would be prosecuted, and might
produce new obstacles TO pacific arrange
ment. was happy to learn that the failure
OF a former negotiation concerning impress
ment could not be ascribed 10 want OF sin
cerity and mqderMio.i in The American gov
eynment, and hoped the mode now sugges-
ted for securing to Great Britain her own
seancn might remove the difficulties which
had hitherto embarrassed this question. III
the people Of England were so jealous AND
sensitive with regard 10 tho exercise of this
harsh practice, what ought to be the feelings
of the people of America, who were the VIC
tins of it In the United States this practice
or impressment was considered as bearing
strong resemblance to the slave trade 4; ag-
erayatcd indeed, in some OF its features, as
the negro was purchased, already bereft OF
has liberty, and his Slavery and exile were at
least mi,igated bv his exemption from Can
ger, by the Interested forbearancc OF his task
master, and the consciousness that, if he
could no longer associate with those who were
dear to him, he was compelled 10 do them
injury while the American citizen is torn
without price, at once, from all the blessings
Of freedom, and all the charities OF social
life, subjected TO military law, exposed TO IN
cessant peiils, and forced at times, TO hazard
his lie in dcspoiling or destroying his kindred
and coun,rymen. 1t was matter OF astonish-
mcnt, that while Great Britsin discovered
with zeal for ,he abolition Of the traffic in the
barbarous and unbeleving natives OF Africa,
a, to endeavor to force j, on her reluctant al
lies, tha, she should so obstinatcly adhere 10
the practice Of imprcssing American citizens,
whose civiliza,ion, religion and blood, SO OBJ
viously demanded more favorable distinction.
mex. pointed OIL. to bis Lordship, the df-
ference betwecn the propositions, which
now submitted, and those contained in my
note Of the Oath Of August. That although
the object OF both was essentially the same,
there was great diversity in the manner oil oo-
taining it. The discontinuance of the prac
tice OF imprsssment, which was before
required to be immediate, and TO constitute a
formal preliminary TO an armis,ice, was now
deferred 10 commence contempcraneously
with the operation Of the law OF the United
States, prohibiting the employment of Brit
ish scamcn, and was consigned, with the 9TH
80 conditions, TO separate and informal ar
rangement. In this way it was no doubt in
tended, by respecting the feelings OF the
British government, to obyiate any objection
which might have been the mere suggestion
of its pride.
finally offered, in order 10 snswer at once
all the observations and inquiries of Lord
Ca:tlercagh, that the proposed understanding
should be expressed III the most general
fe''0s.-that the laws, to take effect on the
discontinuance ofthe kracsce ofimpressment, of
should prohbibi, the employment of the ma.
tive subjects or citizens Of the one state, ex'
ccpting such only as had already been natur.
allied, on board the private or public ships o!
the other thus removing any objection tha,
might have been raised with regard 10 the fu.
turc effect Of naturalization, or the formal re-
nunciation Of any pretended right. With re-
gard to blockades, proposed TO follow the
same course, and only TO agree that none
should be instituted by either party, which
were not conformable to the acknowledged
laws or nations, leaving the definition of such
blockade, and all other details to be settled
by The commissioners IN the defnitivc treaty
Iwas disappointed and grieved to find thai
these propositions, moderate and liberal as
they were, should be treated in manner
,vh,rb foch;I m, a t,x or~eOt tbeir ptap~e