The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-12-08

Great Britain reserves exclusively the cor 4,
responding rights to herself. That in point
# military preparation. Great Britain in her
posse ssions in North America, ever has been
IN condition to be termed. with proprietv,
the weaker, power, in comparison with the
United States, the undersigned believe TO be
incorrect in point of fact. In regard to the
Notifications of the shores and to the forces
actually Kept ON foot upon those frontiers,
they believe the superiority to have always
been Oh the side of Great Britain. II the
proposal to dismantle the forts upon her
shores, to strike forever her military flag up
on herlakes, and lay her whole frontier de
tenceless III the presence of her armed anG
tortured ncighbor. has proceeded. not from
Great Britain tc the United States, but from
the United States TO Great Britain, the I'M
dersigned may safely appeal to the bosorns
OF his Britannia M4esty's plenipotcntfaries
tor the feelings with which, not only in re-
gard to the intere SITS, bat to the honor of their
nation, they would have received such a pro-
posal. What would Great Britain herself
say, if, in relation to another frontier, where
she has the acknowledged superiority of
strength.it were proposed that she should he
reduced to condition even of equality with
the u. States?
The undersigned further perceive, that I'M
der the al!edged purpose OF Opening di-
rect communication betwe II two of the Bri-
tish provinces in America, the British govern
ment require CeSsion of territory forming
part of one of the states of the American u
| Mon, and that they propose, without purpose
| specifically alledged, TO draw the boundary
| line westward, Bot from the Lake Of the
Woods. as it now is, but from Lake Superior
| 1t must be perfectly inlmaterial 20 the u. S.
whether the object of the British government
| IN demanding the dismem5ernent of the U.
| >. Is to acquire territory, as such, or for pur-
poses less liable, III the eyes Of the world to
| ne aScrioed to the desire of ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Whatever the motive may be, and with what
ever consistency views of conquest may be
| disciaimed. while demanding for herself, or
| fr the Indians, a cession # territory more ex-
tensive than the whole island of G. b. the 6u-
ty marked out for the undersigned is the same
| they have no authority to cede any part of
the territory of the U. S. AMI to no stipulation
to that effect will they subscribe.
Inc cont.,hon proposed by G. Britain
| nave no relation to the subsisting diff rences
1 between the two countries they are neon
sistent with acknowledged principles of pub
hc law they are founded neillier on recipro-
city nor on any Of the Usual bases Of negoci-
alton, neither on that Of the ut possdetis, or
of status ante bellum thet would infiict the
most vital injury on tie United States, by
Remembering their territory, by arresting
their natural growth and increase Of popula-
ton, and by leaving their northern and west
ern fronticr equally exposed TO British inva-
SION and to Indian aggression they are, n
oove all, dishonorable to Tic u. States iii de
manding from them tn abandon territory and
| portion OF their citizens, to admit foreign
| interference in their domestic concerns, and
to cease to exercise their natural rights on
their own shores and in their own waters
| treaty concluded on such terms would be
but an armistice. 1t cannot be supposed that
America would long submit to conditions so
| injurious and degrading. Ii is impossible, in
| the natural course OF events, that she should
not, at the first favorable opportunity, reccr
to arms, for the recovery Of her territory, of
her rights, of her honor. Instead of settling
existing differences, l peace would only
create new causes Of war, sow the seeds of a
permanent hatred, and lay the foundation Of
hostihties for an indefinite period.
Essentially pacific from her political insti-
tutions, from the habits of her citizens, from
her physical situation, America reluctantly
engaged in the war. She wishes for peace
but she wishes for it on those terms Of reci-
procity, honorable to both countries, which
can alone render it permanent. The caus-
es OF the,~ar between the United States and
Great Britain having disappeared by the
maritime Paoihcation OF Europe, the govern
| ment OF the United States does not desire to
continue it, in defence of abstract principles,
which have for the present, ceased to have
any practical effect. The undersigned have
been accordingly instructed to agree to its ter
mnation, both parties restoring whatever ter
| rItory they may have taken, and both reserv-
ing all their rights in relation to their respec-
tive seamen. To make the peace between
the'two nations solid and permanent, the un-
| derslgned were also instructed, and have
been prepared to enter into the most AMIGA
bic discussion Of all those points on which diff
ferences or uncertainty chad existed, and
which might hereafter tend in any degree
whatever to interrupt the harmony of the two
| countries, without, however, making the con-
clusion of the peace depend upon a successful
result of the discussion.
| tits, therefore, Nth deep regret, that the
undersigned have seen that other views are
entertained by the British government, and
that new and unexpected pretensions are
| raised, which, if persisted in, must oppose an
! lnsurmountable obstacle TO pacification. 1t
| is not necessary to refer such demands 10 the
| American government for its instruction.
| They will only be a fit subject of deliberation,
when 1t becomes necessary 70 decide upon the
| eZpedency of an absolute surrender Of natl
| cnal Independence.
! The undersigned request the British pleni-
| potentaries to accept the assurance Of theiI,
| high consideration.
| (Signed) JOHN Q. ADAMS,
J. a. BAYARD,
Ii. CLAY,
IONA EITSSFTT