Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-12-14
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
No: III.
lhe British to the American Commission,
ers.
Client, Sent. 8. 1sl4.

ers.
Client. Sept. 8. 1914.
The undersigned nave the honor TO &C.
knowledge the. receipt Of the note of the A.
plenipotentiaries. dated the Gath.
ultimo.
It is with unfeigned regret .h.s., the under
s,gned observe, botc III i,le tons & substance
" vac s''s.~ note, 50 little proof of any dis
position ON the part Of the government OF
the United States to enter into an amicable
discussion Of the several points submitted
by the undersigned in their former commu /.
nication The undersigned are perfectly
aware, that in bringing forword those pe:..,ts
for consideration. and stating with so much
iIankness. as they did, the views with which
they were proposed, they departed From the
usual Course OF negotiation, b. disclosing all
the OBJECTS OF their government. while those
which the American poyernment had in
view were wshsli: but in so doing they
were principally actuated by a sincere de-
sire of bringing the negotiation as soon as
possible TO a favorable Termination, and in
om measure by their willingness to com.
ply with tho wishes expressed BY the Ame.
rican ~plenipo'eptiai les themselves.
IT'S perfectly true hat .the war between
his majesty and the United Sta es. vas de.
elared by the latter power upon the pre-
tesce OF maritime rights alledged to be as
serted bv Great Britain, and disputed by the
United States.
II the war thus declared by the United
Sales had been carried on by them for OBJ
Jects purely of a maritime nature, or if the
attack which has been made on Canada had
Deer tor the purpose Of diversion, or in the
way OF defence against the British forces in
tnat quarter, any question as to the bcunda
rtes OF Canada might have been considered
as unnecessary ; but It is notorious TO the
whole world that the onque of Canada,
AMI is permanent annexation to the United
states, as the declared object of the Anne.
rican government. If. in of a
different course of events on the continent
OF Europe, his mnjesty's government had
neen unable to re enforce the British armies
an Canada and the United States had OBJ
taiaed a decided superiority in thai quarter,
as there any person who doubts thai they
would have availed themselves of their situ-
atien to obtain on the side of Canada i'm.
PORTRAIT cessiors Of territory, if notsthe en.
tire abardonmeut o; thar Country by Great
Britain Is b American government to be
allowed tc pursue, so far as its means will
enable II, a system of acquisition and ag
grandizement to the extent af a~nnexiug en-
TIRE provinces to their dominions, and IS his
majesty to be p~rscluded from awaiting him.
gen or has means. SO tar as they will enable
nm, to retain those points which the valor
OF bsuish arms may have placed In his pow
er' because they happen TO be situated with
IN the territories allotted under former
treaties to the government Of the United
States?
Such a principle OF INCARCERATION was never
vowed at any period ansecedent to that of
the revolutionary government of France
1.-THE policy Of the United States had been
essentially pacific, as the American p.eni-
potentiaries assert it ought to be, from their
political ms buttons, n, m the habits of their
citizens, and from their physical situation,
Il might not have been necessary to propose
tn precautionary provisions now u:,der dis.
cussioo Ihas of late late years at least,
tae hnerican government have been infiu-
enced by avery different policy /: by a spirit
OF agSranuizemen not necessary TO their
security, out increasing with the extent
OF their empire, has been too clearly mani
tested ny their progressive occupation OF the
Indian territories; by the acquisition Of
Louisiana, ~ the mere recent attempt TO
wresi by force of arms from a nation in ami
ty, the two Floridas (; and, lats,;, ty tils a
vowed intention OF permanently annexipg the
to the U. States
1t, then, the security of the British North
dominions requires any sacrifices
on the part OF the United States, they must
be ascrioed to the declared policy Of that
government IN making the war not one OF
self'defence. nor for the redress Of grieyan-
ces, reaior pretended, but a part OF a sys.
tenn ct conquest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Ihe British govern .nsnt, in its present si>I
is bound 10 Guiy to endeayor TO se-
cure lis North American dominicns eainst
those attempts at conquest, which the Ame
government haye avowed to be a prin>
ciple of their policy, ard which as such will
undoubtedly be renewed, whene yer any sue
war between the two Countries shall
afford a prospect Of rene wing them with
success.
The British plenipotensiaries proposed
mat Tho military possession OF the lakes, from
lake Ontario 10 iabe Superior, should be ss
cured to Great Britain, because the CONS
OF those lakes would afford to the A.
merican government the means of commenc |
ing a wars in the heart OF Canada, and
because the command OF them, on the part
Great Britain, has been she WIN by expo.
renee 10 De attended with 10 insecurity to
.he United States.
$3.50" ~ ieiattse, strtnBth OF the two
IN North America is considered. IL
should be recoiiected that the British do,n;-
HONS in that quarter do not Contain a ponu.
Iation OF five huudi ed thousand souls. wbere.
as the territory OF the United States contains
a population of more than seven millions :
that the naval resources of the u. States are
at hand for attack, and that the naval re
sources of Great Britain are Oh the other
of the Atlantic.
The military possession Of those lakes Is
not, therefore. necessary for the nroteef;..