Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-01-05

PsSeSHsS OIAStSu sCasHSu - Vus wv WV :
chant ships of foreign state, simply on
the assurance that law should hereafter
be passed to prohibit the employment Of
British seamen in the public or CONNER.
cial service of that state.
The British government now, as here
totore, is ready ia receive from the GO
vernment of the United States, and ami
cabiy to discuss, any proposition which
processes 10 have in view either to check
abuse in the exercise Of the practice OF
lmprsssment, on to accomplish BY means
less liable to vexaliun the object for
which impressmeat has hitherto been
found necessary, but they cannot consent
TO suspend the exercise of "a right upen
which the nava! strength of the empire
mainly depends, unit! they are fully con-
rinced that means can.be devised, and
will be adopted, by which the object to
be obtained by the exercise of that right
can be .efectually secured"
Here is seen the proposal which was
last made by the British 70 the Ame"i-
can government, AID it is observable
that the want Of power in MIR. Russell to
negotiate en- some substitute for im.
pressment is mentiosed as the reason
why the British minister declined to en-.
ter into discussion Of the American
proposition.
No additional power was ever sent to
Mir. Russell or to any other public agen-
to treat anu agree on substitute for the
claim and practice ofimprcssing british
subject in American vessels.
This is the state Of the controversy,
concerning imprcssment, to which Lord
Cas,lereagh, refers in his last letter to
Mr.. Russell, and this is the state in
which it was placed in August 1912,
and has remained ever since, SO far
as has depended on the negotiations in
London. A want Of power in Mr..
Russell to negotiate on substitute ex-
listed then and ever stree, and thus the
British proposal to treat on substitute
has proved abor,ive. At the time Of
the last correspondence and conversa-
ton in Sep.ember, Mr.. Russell possessed
no diplomatic character, but was iDdulg-
ed with IN audience because he bad
been one 20 communicate proposition
of the American government, withou
power to discuss aud agree upon the
lcsding principles involved in the set.
Element OF ihe most difficult and impor-
tant point of the differences remaining
to be adjusted between the two nations.
With such al agent lcrd Cas;lereagh re-
fused 10 enter into any discussion on the
substitute for impressncnt, expressing
in his letter of the lsih September, an
other objection in addition to those IN
bis !ctte. Of the Goth August, that he
was not empowered or instructed to
propose or accept any specific plan,
with reference to which the suspen-
sion Of tho practice of inpressment,
could be made q subject of delibera.
ton.
In the proposal of Mr.. Monroe to
Admiral Warren. to treat upon the
subject OF impressment, the suspension
of tho practice during the proposed
armis,iLe is q, and an offer to treat
is made without any condition. Unfor-
tunately for the peace of the countries,
the powers Of Admiral Warren, were
not adequate to this part fthe disputes.
For want of power in the British minis
ter the overture of Mr.. Monroe was
frui,)ess in America, AS for want OF
mower in Mr.. Russell the overture Of
Lord Cas,lcreagh in August had been
in like manner fruitless-But- nei-
Their nation appears ever to have retract-
ed these over,ures, although neither has
advanced in the road to peace.
(To be csntinued.)
COkGkESS.
nCnDTCENIT T'lVES