Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-10-15
wAsaIseroN. Oct II.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.

cited in both Houses were purely national,
and almost unanimous.
TO the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States.
. 1lay before Congress carhsnunications lust
4eeeived from the rlenipotertiaries Of the.
Unieed States, charged with negotiating
peace With Great Britain shelving the con-
2iticns on which alone that government Is
wilIiag to put An end 60 the war.
Thrinstructionst To tho6e plenipotentiaries.
disclosine the grounds, On which they we're.
atthcrisedto negotiate and conclude trea.
y ofpeace. will De the subject Of another
JAMES MADISON. #
WAsliiagtoa. Oct. 10. 1914.
DOCUMENTS. u
Copy Of ale,ter from Messrs. Adams, Kay.
ard, Clay. and Russell, to MIR. Monroe:
Secretary Of State. dated
Chent. 18th August. 1874.
We hare the honor TO inform you
shat the British Commissioners, Lord Gam
bier. Henry Gouiburn. Esquire. aud William
Adams. Esquire, arrived in this city on Sa-
4urday evening. the sixth instant. The day
otter their arrival, Mr.: Baker. their Score,
sary. called upon us 10 give VI notice of the
fact, and TO propose meeting, at a certain
hour, on the ensuing day. The place hav-i
ct one O'clock. on Monday che eighth inr
slant. ,p@ S.
We ENCLOSE, herewith, a copy Of the full
powers exhibited by the British Commiss-
oners at that conference which was opens
I'D on their part by an expression of the sim
eere and earnest desire af their government.
that the negotiation might result in solid
peace, honorable to both parties, They, at
the same time, declared, that no events
which had occurred since the FIRST proposal
for this negotiation, had altered the pacific
deposition of their government, or varied It's
views as to the terms upon which il was
willing to conclude the peace. s5s
We answrred, that we heard these de-
elaratious with great satisfaction, and that
our government had acceded to the proposal
Of negotiation, with the most sincere desire
TO put an end tn the differences which divi.
ded the two countries, and 60 lay upon jast.
Nna 3iberAa grounds the foundation afa peace-
which. securing the rights and interests Of
both natiens, should unite them by lasting
beads of amisy.
The British Commissioners then stated
che following subjects, as those upon which
il appeared to them that the discussions
would be likely to turn. and On WHICH they
were instructed,
I. The forcible seizure Of mariners on
board of merchant vessels, and in coul,ectl,o
with it, the claim of his Britannia Majesty to
the allegiance OF all the native subjects of
Great Britain,
We understood them to intimate, that the
British government did pot propose this
point as one which they were particularly
DESTROYS OF discussing; but that, as it had
occupied so prominent place in the dis.
putes between the two countries, Il necessa.
rily attracted notice and was considered as
subject which would CONS under diecussi-
ons
2. The Indian Allies Of Great Britain to
be included in the paciication, and def.
mite boundary to be settled for their terrific.
~.
The British Commissioners stated, that
an arrangement upsn this point was a cine
qua non that they were not authorised to
conclude treaty Of peace which did not
embrace the Indians. as allies of His Britain
mic Majesty; and That the establishment OF
definite boundary of the Indian territory
was necessary to secure permanent peace.
not only with the Indians. but also between
the United States and Great Britain.
3. A revision of the boundary line between
the Usited States ADD the adjacent British
colonies.
With respect TO this point. they expressly
disclaimcd any intention, on the part IL their
government, 10 acquire an increase<,f terri.
tory, and represented the proposed revision
ss Intended merely for che purpose of pre-
venting uncertainty and dispute.
After having stated these three points, as
subjects Of discussion, the British Commits
sioners added, that before they desired any
answer from rs. they felt il incumbent upon
them to declare, that the British goyern-
meut did not deny the right of the Ameri-
cans to the fisheries generally, or in the
pen seas but that the privileges, formerly
sraDted by treaty to the United States. of
5hshing within the limits Of the British juris
dictjon, and Of landing and drying fish on
the shore of the British territories. would not
be renewed without an equivalent.
The extent of what was considered by
them as waters peculiarly British, was no,
stated.
From the manner 10 which they brought
this subject into view, they seemed to wish
as to understand that they were not anxi Gus
shat il should be discussed, and that they on.
~ luscpdsd 70 give US notice that shese