Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-05-31
MESSAGE :
.su. Cin2ens Of The Senate, and

FsiOsU. [fn2enS u the Senate, and
ofthe Housr Of Pepreseuiaiues,
At an early day after the close ofthe last
sessi n of Congress, an offer was formally
communicated from his Imperial Majes,y.
he Empe OF of Russis, of his media, ion, as
he common friend OF the u. States and G.
Britain, for the ivrrose of facilitating a
pesce between them The high character
| ofthe Emperor Alexander being a sstisfac.
I ry pledge for the sincerity and impartial
ty of his offer, it was Immediately accepted /;
md IS tu'the proof of the disposition on
he part OF the u States 10 meet their ndver-
| sary in honorable experiments for termlna'
ing he war, il was determined to avoid
intermediate delay. incident TO The distan ce
OF the parties, by definiii,e provision for the
contemplated negotiation. Three Of our
minent ci,izens w,re accordingly com
missioned with he requisite powers to con-
Guide treaty Of pc ace, with persons cloalh
ed with Ike powers on the part OF 6. Brit
| ain. They are authorised also to enter in
to such conventional regulations of The COM
| merce between the two countries, rs may
| be mutually advantageous The two en-
soys who were in the u. States at the lime
| IT ;her appointment. have proceeded to
Join their colleague already al ST. Peters
ourg
! Tie ENJOYS have received another com
| mission au horislng them to conclude with
| Russia treaty of commerce. with vie W 10
! strengthen the amicsble relations, and
| improve me benificlal intercourse between
| The two countries
The issue of this friendly interposiion of
| he Russian Emperor, aud his pacific NAM.
fes,ston on the part ofthe u ) time only can
decide e. That the sentiments Of G. Britain
towards that Sovereign will have produced
N acceptance of his offered medi alton, mus,
b. presumed. That no adequate motives
Al Ia prefer continuance of war with
int u States, TO the terms on which they are
wiling II close II is certain. TIE Brush
| cabinet also must be sensible that with res
peci to The impoi ant question of impress.
nen,, on which the war o essentially turns,
a search Tor, or seizure of British persons
or PROPERTY on board neutral vessels on
he high seas, is not a belhgeren, right de-
rived from the law of nations and i; is OBJ
ious, that no visit or search, or use oftorce
tor any purpose, on boar d the vessels Of one
independent power On the high seas, can IN
war or peace be sanctioned NV the laws or
authority oil another power. II is equally
obvious that for the purpose # preserving
80 each state ITS seaiaring members, by TX
GLIDING them from the vessel, OF the other,
the mode heretofore proposed by the Unlted
States, and pnw enacted by them as an arii-
Gle oil municipal policy, cannot for moment
I've compared with the mode prac,iced by o
Britain, without u conviction II us title To
preference ; Inasmuch as the later leaves
the discrimination between the mariners of
the two nations, to officers exposed by una
yoidsbie. bias. as well as by detect OF eyl-
dence, To wrong decisio1 under circum
stances preciuding, for the most part, the
enforcement Of controlling penalties, and
where wrong decision, besides the IRE
parable violation OF The sacred tights of per
sons, might frustraCe the plans and profits
of entire voyages /; whereas the mode assn
med by the u >. guards with studied iairness
and efficacy against errors IN such cases, &
AVOID, the eilec, OF casual errors on the
safety of navg atom, aud the success of mer
csn,,e expeditions.
If the ressonablcness of expectations,
drawn from these considerations could guar
sntee their fuliilment, just peace wluid not
he distsat.-But it becomes the wisd m of
the National Legislature, To keep in mind
The rue policy, or rather The md spensablc
obligation OF adapting ITS measures to the
/ supposition, that the only course To tia, hap
py event - IN he vigorous employ oil
the resources OF war. Aud painful as the
reliectioa ", this duty Is particularly en-
/ forced ny the spirit aud manner, i'm which
the war continues to be ws6ed by the enc
! nv, who, uninhaenoed by .he unvaried ex
amples OF humanity set them, are adding 10
| the savage fury of II on one frontier. a sys-
| TEN OF plumber md connagraiion on the 9th
er, tqually forbidden by respect for nation.
al character, and by the established rules Of
civilized wsrf5rc.
As al encouragement TO persevering and
nvgoraled eXertIons TO bring The contest to
happy result, | have the satisfaction of be.
ing able 10 appeal TO The suspicious progress
o. our arms, bolh by land aud on the water.
In continuation of the brilliant achiev-
ments OF our infant navy. lignal triumph
has beer gained by Capt. Lawrence and
his companions m the Hornet floop of
war, which dettroyed Britiih floop of war
with CELEBRITY 10 unexamped, and with
laughter OF the enemy 70 diiproportion-
ate to the lois IN the Hornet, as to claim for
the conqueror, the hlghef praife, and the
full recom2ence provided by Congress in
preceding cafes. Our public fhips of war
, IN general, as well as the private armed vei-
iels, have continued ALTO their activity and
iucceis againR the commerce of the enemy,
and by their vigilance and addrers have
lgreaty fruRrated the efforts of the hot lie
, iquadrons distributed along our COATS to
z intercept them in returning into port, and
r returning their cruies.
The augmentation of our naval force, as
authorized Al the laf felton, of Congrefs.
IS in progreis. On the Lakes our fuperi