The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-11-24

""at NrahS your huhioiS prayer! NShcFe
yn'i from your supplicating posture No such
thing. He will then treat it as he has treat
ed all our former applications OH the same
subject.
1t is difficult to conceive a proposition
more fair or more amicable. than that which
has been made by the United States to
Great Britain, nor can we adequately ex-
press our establishment at the rejection of it,
made the more offensive by the manner,
which was evidently sought for the purpose
of giving offence.
The British government, by a series of
hostile acts, persevered in for great length
Of time, having at last. after refusing all
redress or honorable accommodation, driven
the United States into war in their own de-
tence. their governments, at the moment of
the declaration looks to peace with an anx-
ious 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 narrow compass.
They were reduced to two acts, the Orders
lin Council. acknowledged by Great Britain
to be illegal iii their origin, and the impress
ment of our seamen from our own vessels.
tor which she never had any pretext but
that OF seizing her own. AS an inducement
to suspend this odous and degrading prac-
tice, our Charge des Affaires was in
structed to propose to the British govern
ment stipulation, whereby all British sub
Ijects should be excluded by law from the
PUBLIC and commercial service of the Uni
ted States. To make the latter condition
more acceptable, Mr.. Russell was instruct
ed in subsequent letter to modify his pro-
position 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's,
provided they would accept the equivalent
in lieu of it. BY the proposition, as modified
in the second letter, an effort W as obviously
made to remove every objection which the
British government might entertain to the
arrangement contemplated, 1t was posi-
Bile, that it might object to suspension Of
the practice OF inpressment, even pending
an armistice, though evidently necessary
consequence of it, until the law to exclude
British seamen from our service should also
take effect. This claim was waved. Pride
often keeps nations at variance, when it is
their interest to accord. The President
seems to have been solicitous to avoid the
excitement of any such feeling. He was
willing, that an arnicable understanding on
iy. between the two governments, respect
ing the conditions on which this great inter
est might be adjusted, might be the ground
Of an armistice, confding, of course, that, al
though informal, it would be equally obliga-
tory. The proposition. therefore, was made
in as clear and explicit terms as it was pos
sb!e to conceive. The practice to be for
borne on the one side was distinctly stated,
as was the consideration to be given for such
forbearance on the other. 1t was also di-
vested OF every circumstance which might
tend to irritatc.
The manner of Lord Castlereagh's re-
plies to Mr.. Russell's propositions, merits
particular attention. In his letter of Au-
gust Goth, he urges, as principal objection
to the proposed armstice, that the British
government should be required to suspend
the practice of impressment, on the assur-
ance only of the American government that
a law should be passed to prohibit the en-
ployment of British seamen in the American
service. Fortunately, this objection had
been anticipated, and the ground of it re-
moved, in the second letter to Mr.. Russell,
bearing date on the 9th of July, as refer
enee to that letter will show. Lord Castle
reagh was then driven to the necessity Ell
Their OF meeting the proposition or of reject
ing it. in direct terms, or of resortng to
some evasive shift to get rid of it. He took
the latter course. A modification, which
had been dictated by sentiment of delica
cy, and adopted from motives of respect to
his government, his Lordship treated as an
insult. The proposition, he says, is " CO.
VERT" bears on its face disguise and
therefore cannot be accepted. In what cir
cumstance did it merit such an imputation !?
How was it possible to make one more sim
pie or easy to be understoods 1t is won
derful, if his government had been disposed
to accommodate the difference in the mode
proposed, or in any other mode which
should secure our seamen frem the grasp of
British power by suspending the practice of
Impressment, and there had been any thing
IN the proposition so abstruse that his Lord
ship could not fathom it (; it is wonderful in
deed that he did not obtain, or at least ask,
an explanation of it before he rejected it,
1t rarely happens, where there is disposi-
ton to accommodate, that any government or
individual rejects a proposition, for the rea-
son that it was not understood, especially
where it was so easy to obtain an explana-
ton. We believe that conduct so peremp-
tory and offensive is never adopted, except
where predetermination exists not to ac-
commodate.
Ga the prospect Of accommodation afFor
dcd through Admiral Warren. little need be
said. He makes no proposition relative to
impressment. The Admiral expects, in the
spirit Of his government, that that question
will be given up Ifeither of the objections,
which were urged by Lord Castlereagh to
the proposition made through Mr.. Russell,
had had any weight IN inciining the Br-
fish government to reject it, and they were
by the clear and satisfactory ex /
plantations given by him, they doubtless
must be obvated by the late communica.