Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-12-14
GAMBLER,
HENRY GOULBURN,
WILLIAM ADAMS.
No. IN.
The american 10 tAe British Commission

IS-'' SONbNtt66J0H>
era.
GHENr, September 9th 1914.
The undersigned have had the honor "a
receive the note OF his Britannia majesty,
Pienipotentiariss, dated the 4th inst. If. in
the tone or substance of the former note OF
the un~der-igned, the British Commissioners
have perceived little proof of any disposition
IN the part OF the American govei nncu
for a discussion of some of the propositions
advanced In the first note, which the un.
dersigusd had the honor of receiving from
them. they will ascribe tito the nature OF
the propositions themselves, totheir appar
ent incompatibility with the assurances in
Lord Castlereagh's letter TO the American
Secretary of State, proposing this negocia,
ton, and with the solemn assurances of the
British Pleniposentiarics themselves. 10 the
undersigned. at their first conferences with
them.
The undersigned, Ia reference TO an al
servasion Of the British PIenipctentiaries
must be allowed to say, that the objects
which the government OF the u. S. mad in
view. have not been withheld.
The subjects considered as suitable fer
discussion we're fairly brought forward. in
the conference of the sth uit. and the terms
on which the United States were willing
to conclude the peace, were frankly and ex.
press.y declared III the note Of the under
signed, dated the 21sh ultimo. 1t had been
confidently hoped that the na,ure of those
te. ms, so evidently framed in 4 sincere spir-
1t OF coBciiixtion, would have induced q.
britain to adopt them as the basis of a trea
~ ; and it is with deep regret that the I'M
d~ersigned, If they have rightly understood
the meaning Of the last note cfth British PIE,
nipo eutiaries. perceive hat they .t:li insist
on the exclusive. military possession of the
lskss, and on a permanent b. nndary and in
dependent territory for the Iodians residing
within the douihjsns of the u. States.
The first demand is grounded on the
suppositton, that the American government
has manifested, by ito proceedings towards
spain. by the acquisition Of Louisiana. by
purchases OF Indian lands, and by an avow.
ca intention OF permanently annexipy the
Cana6as to the United States, a spirit of ar-
grandizement and conquest, which ~justifss
the demand OF extraordinary sacrifices from
them, to provide for the security of the Bri.
t;sh possessions in America.
In the observations which the undersigned
felt Il their duty to make on the new de
mands Of the British government, they con.
lined their alimadyersions TO the nature of
the demands themselves (; they did not seek
tor illustrations OF the policy of Great Bri.
taia IN her Conduct. in various quarters of
the globe, towards other nations, for she
was not accountable 10 the United State.
Yet the undersigned will say, that their 60
vernDent has ever been ready to arrange
IN the most anicable manner. with Spain.
the questions respecting the boundaries of
Louisiana and Florida, and that OF indemui.
ties acknowledged BY spain due TO Ameri>
can Citizens. How the peaceable acquisi.
ton OF Louisiana or the purchases Of isuds
within the acknowledged territories Of the
United states, Doth made by fair and vo,un
tary treaties for satisfactory equivalents.
can be ascr.bed 10 a spirit of Conquest daa,
gerous to their neighbours, the UNDERSIGNED
are altogether at a loss to understand.
Nor has toe Conquest of Canada and its
permanent annexation Of the United States.
been the declared object ct their govern.
n'ent. From the commencement of the war
To the present ti"e. the American govern
ment h@sbeen always wiling to make peace.
without obtaining any cession of territory.