Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-02-04
e Commonwealth, near the l3ell-Iayern,

motion to strike out the first section was "a =
ken and lost.
The committee then rose and reported
the bill to the House without amendment !;
and the House adjourned at s O'clock.
January 90
Mr.. Grosvenor, elected from New-York,
vice RLe Roy Livingston, resigned, appear
ed, was qualified and took his seat.
| FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr.. Grundy, from the committee Of Fo-
reign Relations, made the following report !:
The Committee to whom was referred so
much OF the Presidents Message OF the
4th day of November last, as relates TO
cur Foreign Affairs,
REPORT
That IN presenting to the House at this
time a view OF our relations with Great Bril-
tain, 1t Is deemed unnecessary TO recite the
Causes, which produced the war. The
wrongs which the United States had receiv-
ed from that power, for Long series Of
years, had already been laid before the
public, and need not again be enumerated,
they were too deeply felt to have been for
gotten, although they may be forgiven by
the AMERICAN people. The United States
| having engaged IN the war for the sole pur
| pose OF indicating their rights and honor,
that motive alone should animate them to
| us close. 1t becomes free and yrtuous
! people to give an useful example to til,
| world. 1t IS the du'V Of "A representative go
! vernmeut, TO render a faithful account OF its
Conduct toitS constituents. 4 just sensibii-
| ity TO great and unpravoked wrongs aud in
di5ni;iss viii justify IN appeal TO arms, ali
honorable reparation should restore the bles-
! sings q; peace every sep which they take,
should be guided by a sacred regard TOT rin-
! Cip'e.
10 form n correct estimate of the duties
| which shc United states have to perform.
1t is necessary To take a view of the com
! mlnica IONS, which have passed between
the Executive ofthe United States and the
! British 9 .vernmeut since the declaration OF
"ar--Such view, the committee is per-
su'ded, viii slew distinctly the existing
| ground of controversy be- ween the two ma
tons, and Jne Indispensable obligation or
the u States 10 maintain it.
| Your committee has seen with mitch salts
faction, that at The moment OF the declaration
| o war, the attention OF the Executive was en-
| gagged in an eifD'l 10 bring il 10 4 speedy an
| honorable termination. AS early as the TWEEN
| ly-aiXth OF Jure last, The charge des Affairs of
| me United SJd[-s 1T London was instructed To
! propose 20 the British Government an arms-
tee, take Immediate effect, on conditions
! winch it is believed the impartial world will
| consider safe, honorable and advantageous t.
| Great Britain. They were few in number and
| limited To positive wrongs daily practIsed.
| That the orders in council should be rep ,aied
and that our flag should protect our seaman,
| we're the only indispensable conditions us ,st-
| ed on. Other wrongs, however great, were
| postponed for amicablc negotiation. AS an in
| ducement to the British government to forbear
! these wrongs, IT was proposed to repeal the
| non-ImpoItation law and to prohibit the employ
ment OF British seamen, in the public and pri-
| vate vessels of the United States; particular
care was taken that these propositions should be
| made in a form as concil atory, as they were
| amicable in substance.
| Your committee cannot avoid expressing It's
| establishment at the manner IN which they were
| received. Z. was not sufficient TO reject the
| proposed armisticei terms peculiar reproach
and insult were adopted to make the rejection
| offensive.
| 1t happened, that almost or the same day, in
| which the United States, after having been
! worn out with accumulated wrongs, had re-
sorted to the last and only remaining honorable
alternative in support OF their rights, the Bril-
| tish government had repealed, cOnditionally, It's
! orders in council. That measure was unex-
Pected, because every application for it had fail
| ed, although repeated to the very moment it
was decided on.-Condtional as the repeal was
| it Was admitted to have removed great obsta-
| Gle to accommodation.
The other only remained: the practice ofim-
| pres5mcnt. 1t was proposed to the British
| government to open an ainicabie negotiation TO
! provide Il substitute to it, which should be con-
| slIered an ample equivalent. Tie substitute
| proposed was defined, and of a character so
| comp; extensive, as to have removed, rs was
presumed, every possible objection TO an accom-
! mediation. The proposition before made to ex-
| clude British scamen from our service was en-
| larged, so to comprehend all native British
| subjects not already naturalized or entitled to
| naturalization under the laws OF the United
| States; this was likewise rejected.
| Your committee have sought with anxiety
| some pro + OF disposition in the British go
| vernment, to accommodate on any fair conditi-
| on the important difference between the two
nations, relative TO impressment, but they have
| sought in vain none IS To be found cilhcr in
| the communications of the British minister to
| The American Charge DIES Affairs at London, or
| 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 re ret, that although Lord Castle
| reagh protested willingness in ms govern
msnt to receive and discuss smcably any pro-
| position having in view either to check abuse
| in the practice Of imprcssmcnt or 60 provide
| substitute to It., he not only declined entering
| into 4 negotiation for the purpose, but discOun
| tenanced the expectation that any substitute
| could be proposed, which his government would
| accept. II merits notice also, though il ceased
to be cause Of surprze, that in the cOmuu-
ulcation OF Admiral Warren 10 the Department
of state, the subject Of impressmcnt was not G.
| ven alluded to.
Had the Executive consented to an armislice
on the repeal Of the orders in council, without
1 ION nor,inat