The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-02

gotten, although they may be torpiveH by
the American people. The United States
having engaged in,the war for the sole pur-
pose OF Vindicating their rights and honor,
that motive alone should animate them to
its close. it becoSles free and virtuovs
people TO give AN useful example To the
world. 1t is the duty OF representative
government, to render faithful account of
its conduct to its constituents. A just Sch
s,bility to great and unproyuked wrongs
and indignities will justify an appeal 10
arms, and honorable repatriation should
restore the blessings Of peace-every step
which they take, should be guided by a
sacred regard to principle.
TO form correct estimate of. the duties
which the United States have to perform,
1t is necessary to take view of the COM
munications, which have passed between
the Executive of the United States and the
British government since the declaration OF
war-Such a view, the committee is per-
suaGed, will shew distinctly the existing
ground of controversy between the tive
nations, and the Indispensable obligation on
the u States to maintain it. -.
Your committee has seen with much sa-
tisfaCtion, that at the moment of the de-
claration OF war, the attention of the Exc
cutive was engaged i'll an effort to bring it
to speedy and honorable termination.-
As early as the Goth of June last the Charge
des Affairs of the United States at London
was instructed to propose to the British go
vernment an armistice, to take immediate
effect, on conditions which it is believed the
impartial world will consider safe, honora-
BILE and advantageous to Great Britain
They were few in number and limited to
positive wrongs daily practised. That the
orders i'll council should be repealed, and
that our flag should Protect our seamen,
-. t~l
sisted on. Other wrongs, however great,
were postponed for amicable negociation
As an inaucement to forbear these wrongs,
1t was proposed to repeal the non-importa-
ton law ami to prohibit the employment of
British seamen, IN public and private YES
sells of the United States {; particular care
was taken that these propositions should be
mate in a form as conciliatory, as they
were amicable in substance.
Our committee cannot avoid expressing
ITS astonishment at the manner in which
they were received. 1t was not sufficient
to reject the proposed armistice terms of
peculiar reproach and insult were adopted
to make the rejection offensive.
II happened that almost on the same
day, IN which the United States, after ha-
wing been worn out with accumulated
wrongs, had resorted to the last and only
remaining honorable alternative in support
OF their rights, the British government had
repeated, conditionally, its orders in
council. That measure was unex-
pected, because every application for it
had failed, although repeated to the very
moment 1t was decided on. Conditional as
the repeal was, it was admitted to have
removed great obstacle to accommodate
on.
he other only remains /; the practice of
impressment. Ii was proposed to the Bri-
tiAn government to open an amicable nego-
citation TO provide = substitute to it, which
should be considered an ample equivalent.
L he substitute proposed was defined, and Of
= character so comprehensive, as to have
removed as was presumed, every possible
objection to an accommodation. The pro-
position before made to exclude British sea-
men from our service was enlarged, so as to
comprehend all native British subjects not
already naturaliZed or entitled to natural
izaticn under the laws of the u. S. This was
likewise rejected.
Your committee have sought with anXi-
ety some proof of & disposition in the Bril-
fish government, to accommodate on any
fair condition the important difference be-
tween the twonations relative to Impress
ment, but they have sought in vain; none
IS to be found either in the communications
of the British. minister to the American
Charge des Affairs in London, CT in those
OF the commander of the British naval forces
at Halifax made by order of his govern
ment to the Department of State. They
have seen with regret. that altho' Lord Cas-
tlereagh professed willingness in his gov
ernment to receive and discuss amicably
any proposition having in view either to
check abuse in the practice of impress
mcnt or TO provide a substitute TO it, he not
only declined entering into negotiation for
the purpose but discountenanCed the eXpec.
tatlon that anv substitute could be prOpos-
ed which his government would accept.
1t merits notice also, though it ceased to be
cause or surprize that lin communication
OF Admiral Warren to the Department OF
state. the subject of impressment was not
even alluded to.
Had the Executive consented to an ar
mistice on the repeal of the orders in coun-
Gil without satisfactory provision against
lmpressnent OF clear and distinct under
standing with the British government
to that effect, in some mode entitled
to confidence, your committee would not
have hesitated to disapprove il.
The impressment of our seamen being
deseryedly considered principal cause Of.
the war, the war ought to be prose I'M
til that cause was removed. To appeal to
y: .!!S::S;: .; .5'., s;i,l, 40 lay t,lsrn
down without securing it, or satisfactory
evidence OF good disposition on the opposite
party to secure it., would be considered in
no other light, than accomplishment OF it.
10 attempt to negotiate afterwards, for the
security of such right. in the expectation
that any of the arguments, which have been
4 -cre6 l,ofor IL 1. y