Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-26


tiers to Mr. Rdsseil, the first bearing date on
the 29th of August, the second on the 18th
| ct September last, are explicit to this effrct
lhey admit OF no other construction or in
| terpreta,ion Tell your government"
says the British minister, in substance, to
Mr.. Russell, "to lay down its arms, dckno5v-
ledge the B,itish right Of imhressment, and
submit TO The hractice, and it shall then be
heard on the subject" The British govern.
ment, it seems, will then receive a memor-
al or Petition from the United States, hum
bly, praying his Britannia Majesty to suspend
| the practice of impressment from American
vessels, and he will do--what Grant
Your humble prayer Relieve you from
your supplicating posture No such thing.
| he will then treat it as he has treated all
our former applications on the same sub
ject.
I 1t is difficult to conceive proposition
more fair or more amcable than that which
has been made by the United States to Great
Britain, nor can we adequately express our
establishment at the rejection of it, made
the more offensive by the manner, which
was evidently sought for the purpose Of Civ
ing offence.
! The British government, by a series of
hostile acts, persevered in for a great length
of time, having at last. after refusing ali re
dress or honorable accommodation, driven
the United States into war III their own de-
fence, their government at the moment OF
the declaration looks to peace with an anxi-
Gus solicitude, and instructs their agent at
London to propose an accommodation on
conditions, the justice of which the whole
world must acknowledge. The grounds of
complaint were limited to anarrow compass.
They were reduced to two acts, the Orders
in Council, acknowledged by Great Britain
\ m hot inf hei- n, m
ment of our seamen from our own vessels,
for which she never had any pretext but
that of Selling her own. As an induCement
to suspend this odious and degrading prac-
ticc, our Charge DIES Aifaires was instructed
to propose to the British government sti-
pulation, whereby all British subjects should
be excluded by law from the public and
commercial service of the United States
70 make the latter Condition more accept
able, Mr.. Russell was instructed in a subsc-
quent letter to modify his proposition in such
manner as TO agree to an armistice, provided
: the British government would come to an
explicit understanding with him relative to
impressment that is, provided they would
accept the equivalent in lieu OF it. BY the
proposition, as modified in the second letter,
an effort was obviously made TO remove
, very objection which the British government
, might entertain to the arrangement contem-
plated. 1t was possible, that it might OBJ
: ject to . suspension of the practice of i'm
pressment, even pending an armistice, tho
I, evidently necessary consequence oft, un-
til the law to exclude British seamen from
!, our service should also take effect. This
claim was waved. Pride often keeps natl
, ons ut variance, when it is their interest t.
accord. The President seems to have beer
| selections to avoid the excitement of any
such feeling. He was willing, that an am
. icable uniers landing only, between the two
> | governments, respecting the conditions on
a which this great interest might be adjusted
:. | might be the ground of an armistice, conf
: ding, OF course, that, although informal, j
would be equally obligatory. The PROPOSE
ton, therefore, was made in as clear anC
, explicit terms as it was possible to conceive
!, | The practice to be forberne on the one sid,
was distinctly stated, as was the considers
ton to be given for such forbearancc on The
other. 1t was also Invested of every circum
stance which might tend to irritate.
The manner OF Lord Castlereagh's replie
: to MIR. Russell's propositions, merits particu
lar attention. In his letter of August Goth
J, he urges, as principal objection to thu
u proposed armistice. that the British govern
= ment should be required to suspend the prac
- tice Of inpTessmcnt, OH the assurance only O
: the American government that 4 law shoul'
y be passed to prohibit the employment O
. British seamen in the American service
q Fortunately, this objection had been antici
e pated, and the ground oft removed, in tn
second letter to- Mr.. Russell, bearing date o.
u the 27th Of July, as reference to that let
/ ter will show. Lord Castlereagh was the
J. driven 10 the necessity either Of meeting til
proposition or OF rejecting it, i'll direct terms
or of resorting to some evasive SHIFT to sc
rid of it. He took the latter course. A mo
cli6cation, which had been dictated by sen
E timent of delcacy and adopted from motive
lie Of respect TO his government, his bordsh
Mt treated as an insult. The proposition, Il
G. says, is covert :" bears OF its face disguise
to and therefore Cannot be accepted. In wha
&c circumstance did il merit such an inputa
n tom How was 1t possible to make on
il more simple or easy to be understood Iii
&c wonderful, ii his government had been Gis
10 posed to accommodate the difference IN th
a. mode proposed, or 10 any other mode whic
Or shosid secure our seamcn from the grasp
i British power BY snspcnding the practice {
n imDressment, and there had been any Gain
IS in the proposition so a6strusc that his Lord
4 snip could not fatbom IL 10 is wonderful in
W deed that he did not obtain, or ~ least ash
Ig an explanation OF X before nc rejected is.
rarely happens, where there is n disgr ito
at 20 accommodate. that ANY government q
s- individual rejects a proposition. for the ven
o. sou that il was not understood. cspccmll
T. where Il was So easy TO obtain AN CXplana
~ ton. We believe that conduct so peremf
~ tory and offensive * never adopted, excel
d. where i pretlc. Summation exists Mt 90 &C
le coumodate.
I'D On he prospect Of Accommodation aaor,
NJ cd through Admiral Warren little need u
a. I ..e M f,t..,f1ogfffYl fefutiVe