The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-28


cided opposition to the praclice altogether.
In February, of that year. the British mi
mister Liston, brings the question ct seamen
formally before the American Cabinet -
The cabinet was then composed Of Timothy
Pickering, Secretary OF State Oliver VOL
cots. of the Treasury; James McHenry. Of
War; and Benjamin Stod;lert, OF the Ma
W. These gentlemen Gall true nh fo-thc
mao mep) on. being consulted, gave their
opinions aeriaftm IN the point. Their views
on the article Of imtressnens only will APP
pear from the following brief extracts:
Mr. Pickering enc!oses tn the British
Minister "a project o! stipula;ions for rcmov-
ing the difficulties OF this subject This pa
per, aftsr making provisions denying all re-
tugc or prote ctinn in The territories or YES
sells nf inc ccntrn ciirg parties 10 the Sc .,nen
OF the respective nations who shall desert
nom the same, couC!udes with the following
proviso.
@ II Is however understood that nothing in these
ttii,iiatIons s',s he construed nower the civil
military, ~ nHrGI ofsers OF either OF the contract.
ing parties fo'ci6iy into the territory, forts,
posts or c6S:eiS OF the other party violence
to the persons oil the cnms'andcrs or other officers
ct the FORTS posts, vessels of the other party, with
view TO compel the delivery of such persons as
shall desert n aforesaid"
MIR. Wolcott falls into the same track
e,t'roiect of a treaty proposed by the minis
tSt ' Dritahnic Majesty Tor the reciprocal den
very OF dcserters from the land and naval services
does not sufficiently provide against tie impress
mem I .fnlericdn sednlen, and is therefore deem
ed fnadntissi6le. The ideas of the Secretary Of
the lreasury on this subject stated in the
ter project hereto suboine, and will be found
essentially the same those Of the Secretary of
State.''
Nothing can be palmer on the point be-.
tore MS than the following extract from MIR.
Wolcott's subjoined project:
q 10
foregoing stpulations shall be construed to empower
the civil any other officers, of either party, forci-
ply to enter the forts, posts, any other place with
IN or under the Jurisdiction 81 the other party;
nor to empower the naval commanders or other
officers, OF either party forcibLy any public
or private oesSel Of the other party, on the hieh
seas, with viezu to compel the delivery of any
person T9hateuet on the contrary, it is expressly
declared to be the understanding of the contracting
parties that the mutual resolutions of persons
claimed as deserters shall only be made by the free
and voluntary consent of the military officers
employed in the land service, or the com.
manders of the public private ships or vessels of
the two parties or in pursuance of the decisions of
the courts, Judges, other competent civil officers
OF the two nations, in all arising Within their
respective Jurisdictions
MIR. MCHenry concurs with the Secreta-
ry of State:
"The counter-project of the Secretary of State,
in substance, meets the Secretary's appreciation;
but it is submitted, whether the adoption of part oil
the draught by the Secretary OF the Treasury will
not improve it,"
The opinion of the Secretary of the .NaUy,
who is supposed to pe little more CONVEX
SAINT with the subject, deserves to be quot
ed at greater length
1t is certainly lust that the United States should
afford to Great-Britain all the reasonable security
they have q right to expect from friendly nation,
against the loss of their loss OF all others
the most serious, to a nation depending on maritime
strength for its power-PerhaPs for its safety. But
1t is equally just that the United States should be
cured against the impressment of their seamen
the high and the interruption OF their chant
vessels The project of the Secretary of the Frea-
sury meets the fall appreciation OF the Secretary of
the Navy: 1t seems to comprehend every thing
that ought to be required either side. But it is so
desirable to have a right understanding on n subject
SO likely to produce i'll blood, that rather than not a
gree, the Secretary of the Navy thinks the word
heysafer il positively insisted on, may be struck
out of that Project-and submits, whether, for the
sake of accom- mediation, the limitation of time i'm
which dcserters may he claimed, If strenuously urg-
ed by Mr. Iiston, may not be extended to three
years The Secretary IS clearly of opinion, that il
rs better to have no article, and tn all conse-
quences, than not to enumerate merchant vessels on
the high seas, among the things not to be rorciby,
entered in search of deserters."
Mr.. John Marshall who succeeded Mr.
Pickering in the Department of State, re-
probates in the strongest terms the prac-
tice OF impresSment, and points to the ca
tastrophe which would result from it's con-
tinuance:
Extracts OF i letter from John Marshall Esquire
Secretary of State, to Rufus King, Minister Pie
nlpotenliary ofthe United States at London, dated
department ofState, Sep. 20, 1900.
he impressment OF our seamen is an injury of
very serious magnitude, which deeply affects the
feelings and the honor of the nation.
This valuable class of men is composed of M
tives and foreigners who engage Voluntarily i'm our
service"
=. &c 1t is the duty we'll as the right OF a friend
" nation to require that measures be taken by the
British government to prevent the continued rene
titon OF such violence by its agents This can only
be done by Furnishing and frownnk on those WIN
perpetrate it. The mere release of the injured sf
ter long course of service and of suffering ia M
compensation Tor the asst, and security for the
future.-it is impossible not t. believe thai
the decisive Interference of the government in this
respect, vonId prevent practice, the continuance
CT which must inevitably produce discord befzueen
fSDo nations which ought to be the friends of each
ether" >"
The case Of british subjects, whether naturaIi
zed or not, is more questionable but the right O.
ven to impress them is denied The pEactice ortbe
British government ITSELF may certainly in a CON
trOversy with that goyernmc,;i, be relied on The
pryiie6csi claims and exercises ought 10 he cadcd
to others. y" deny this would be to deny the equal
ltv ut natinns. ani - make Il s::'s.:: x =
not OF right"
50 We hope; however, that ar agreement may he
entered into satisfactory AVID beneficial ~ both par
ties. The article which appeals to have been trans
United by my predecessor, while it satisfies this
country, will probably restore to the naval service
os Britain greater number OF seamcn than will
he lost by it. Should even he mistaken in this
calculation yet the difference cannot be puj in com