The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-01


Anu the mouse adjourned to Monday.
~, harrington. Jan. OF.
OUR FLAG NOT STRUCK.
| In speech in the House of Represent "a :
yves on the 21st instant. by member from
New-Iersey, whose public talents are eyia
ced by the speech ITSELF and whose private
worth is acknowledged by his able and can
alo opponent, his satisfaction ia deIiberate
| ly expressed at finding that the Admfnistrs
ton has struck its flag to the enemy. Nv
s'rikng rs flag, il appears he mesnt p
concession 10 Great Britain of her claim TO
Iimpressment on board vessels under the
nag OF the United States and for oroos
OF this concession, he referred TO the late
acceptance of the British proposition to
ltreat Tor peace consistent with the max
ms OF pubic law, and the maritime rights
| OF the British empire. It is said the same
sentiment and argument have been adyan
ced With equal Confidence in the other
branch ct the National Legislature. It
may hence be apprehended that not few
anong ourselves, & what is worse. that the
foreign governm mt with, which peace is 70 be
negoctated, will be misled into belief that
the Administration is actually about IN sur-
render the rights of our flag and the securi.
| ~ OF our scataring Citizens to the practice of
| impressmcnt.
!
the Administration had come to the deter
mination to make the sacrifice in Question.
II would De unwise in those who have in
view the interest and honor Of the nation. to
holo out such an idea to the enemy. Men
OF all parties who are Americans in their
hearts. must wish for security 10 or sea,
men against British imPressment; tie evils
OF which have been so sorely felt. Those
VINO th'nk the British have q right to take
4 Nvuy1 60 6
othcers, and that we ought to submit TO all
the abuses on American seamen to which
the practice IS necessarily liable, must at
least wish that Great Britain would agree
10 discontinue the practice, and that in the
! approaching negotiation, she might not be
encouraged to hold out against our claims
ny persuasion that our commissioners are
sent with instructions to abandon them-to
strike the nag that covers free trade and
sailors' rights.
| But it is hoped and believed that the Ad
rninistration will never strike that flag. and
that II they were. so lost to the rights and
! honor OF the nation as to do it, that the ma
ton would order it to be re-hoisred by other
hands that would be more faithful to their
trust 1t is believed also that there il mo
color for the inference of an intention 10
yield the point of impressment from the &C
ceptance of the negotiation lately proposed
| oy Great Britain, and it is to be hoped that
| the British government will so understand
it, notwithstanding the unfortunate Ian.
guasc held on the subject by respectable
mel among ourselves.
| Here IS the easoning by which the inten.
ton to strike the flag over sailsrs' rights is
deduced. Great Britain has proposed TO
treat OH terms consistent with her maritime
rights. Among these rights, il is known,
she includes impressment by her officers on
ooaTo american vessels. In agreeing 70
! the proposal, there fore, the Administration
( agree TO treat on the basis of the British
iTght and practice of improvement.
Now, admitting that Great Britain re-
talns her opinion that the impressment in
| question is one Of her maritime rights 4,
does not follow that she will not discuss
the rights nor does il follow that If the dis
cussion should not change her opinion, she
1 wiil enter into no stipulations securing the
object OF the United States, namely, an A.
BOLTON OF the practice OF impressment on
board Their ships. On the contrary, she is
quite In the habit Of accommodating by
treaty what she cogsiders her s-aritiEae
! rights, 20 the rights and claims Of other ma
tons. Take for a conclusive example, the
! right to capture enemies property on board
neutral vessels. This is. of all maritime
! rights asserted by her, the one to which
she cliHgs with most inhexibility, and at
taChes the greatest importance. Yet it
, is well known that she has often stipulated
IN treaties, that free ships shall make free
goods. She did so in the year 1885 (when
our Independence was acknowledged by
articles IN her peace with the maritime
powers Of Europe And in a treaty of com
merce wiki France in the year 1886, the
same rule Of free ships free goods, is again
expressly stipulated.
But it is not necessary to recur to season.
ing or 10 precedents in this case. We have
the direct and express declaration Of the
British government, that it is willing to dis
cuss and to arrange this very subject IF i'm
Pressment with the United States. We re-
fer to Official documents in PROT, and of so
recent date that it is as much a matter of
snrprize as regret that they should have es-
capped attention. Several Of these docu
ments might be cited as bearing on the
subject. The following extract from Lord
Castlereagh's letter TO MIR Russell, of Au-
gust goth, 1912, woUld alone suffice .---
Under these circumstances Of your having
|no powers to negotiate, must decline en-
isring into adetaileG discussion Of the pvc-