Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-14

ior hn 20 saw whether il deserved - l
come under that head, till he saw IL The mo- |
ton was OF yea extraordinary nature and if il
were to be the understood practice that at the
successful conclusion of every negotiation OF
peace, the correspondence of the negotiation
were to be made matter OF public discussion,
he knew ofno practice which would in future be
made more likely to create difficulties in the Very
approaches 10 peace. The practice of max ing
public foreign correspondence, had very ma
terialiy increased in the last Is or 30 years
and though he was far from saving that it had
not been productive of great public advantage
yet Ire knew that il had at times occasioned very
great and serious mischief. In negocia;ions foi.
peace the practice would be productive OF this
INJURY, that ministers would not be rs open and
frank as they could wish TO be- from am appre-
hcnson that what they said would be afterwards
published. Interpretations indeed with fore gn
powers should be conducted with the greatest
tehcacy; but IN what condition would be the
foreign minister who should be liable to have his
| correspondence published From the moment
ofhs making demand he could not recede from
1t; for IT would afterwards become matter OF
publicity that he had so made 1t. It was well
known that pride was the great obstacle 10 all
peace making and if ever minister were to
wave point OF pride, Il would become notorious
that he had done SO. This was not the only OBJ
lection 20 the publication ofsuch correspondence
1t would relieve much ofthat animosity VIII ch
1t was the very object peace 10 bury IN obl.vi-
on lie was indeed almost afraid to enter INTO
| the discussion of the many points of the noble
marquis's speech; for such discussion would re-
quire HIM TO solve many questions which he
should heartily wish not touch he had not that
| command oflanguage which would be desirable
IN such case; and If any expression he might
make use should tend 10 rritate, he entreated
that it mightnot be considered as conh g from
any thing like disposition to look back to past
annnosties. He knew that there had been
good deal Of rancour in the feelings both Of Anne
rca and England and that even after the nego-
cation of peace, such feelings might be alive to
| every irritation He should not enter INTO the
question which had been raised by the noble
marquis, whether war with the United States
| was not one Of the greatest calamiues which
| could befd us He agreed il was great ca
ialnity, and for that reason nc lamented the ne
lcessty of entering into the present discussion,
as he should be Sorry that future misunder-
standing should take place.
The noble marquis had stated, that it was the
bounden duty ofminIsters 90 embrace the earliest
! opportunity of putting an honorable termination
to the American war; and had advertcd TO the
armistice at the commencement oft. He could
mot recollect whether he objected to that arms
tee. ltwould be remembered that the AmeTi-
can declaration of war arrived here soon after the
repeal OF our orders IN council and this arrival
happening before the news of such repeal could
reach America, our government expressed their
readiness TO consent to an arInlstice, thinking
that the repeal, when known, would alter the
/ disposition of America With this view, our
government gave directions to the admrals on
the American station, that if the American gov
eminent should show any disposition to consent
| 70 the armIstce. they should declare that such
was our disposition. They declared Their will
lingness to such consent, and conveyed it TO the
admiral on the coast, but only gave 1t on condi-
ton that we should suspend our practice of
searching their ships for English seamen, and
leave that to be settled by after negotiation They
would come to no agreement with us, unless we
either made declaration of our abandoning this
right, or consented TO a suspension OF the prac-
| t:ce for specific time.
| 10 either of these we objected, and war was
the consequence. twas next proposed 10 us to
Negotiate this right through the medium of the
emperor of Russia; but we objected to the inter-
| ference of any foreign power, not from any dis
tr'st ofthe emperor of Russia, but from AN nm
preston, that where our maritime rights are in
question:, IT was not proper to consent to the in
reference of any fore .gn power whatever; but at
de very time when we communicated TO the
American government that this proposed meclI-
alton was not accepted by us, we accompanied
chat communication with n declaratiou that we
were ready 10 treat with them. The noble mar
guns had no objection to the mediation of the en-
lPeror of Russia for he could have no desire up
on the subject ore way or the other, and thought
the American instructions couch ed in such mode
rate language, that they might have been follow
/ Ell by successful negotiation. he would state
what those instructions were this was the more
Unnecessary, because the Instructions TO the com
missioners at Client reierred to them, and could
not be understood without them.
| Fney first demanded that the FLAG, should nro
tcct the crew; n other words, thai we shouId
not have the right of searching for British sea
men: and required us either 10 declare chat u.e
had abandoned this right, or suspended the prsc-
tee for given period unless one of these mo-.
sures were adopted, they would come 10 no CO.,
cluson. They next demanded definition of ~
rightof blockade. Thirdly, some Complete ar
engagements as to teir right of carving ON trade
with the colonies of parent benieerent state
curing war, although in time of peace they had
! been excluded from such trade in other words
What they called he rule oftrade in 1856. They
hexI demanded their right as neutrals to trade
WIN The ports of belhgerents, in other words. 10
the coastng trade; and lastly, they asked for in.
demnity for losses among Others, that we should
IPay them for all vessels condemned under our
orders in council, calling upon us thereby to ac-
knowledge our injustice N he most dsgraceflI
shape Of fine. This was in April, and m june
following another Instruction was added Hav
ling before instructed their commissioners 10
make all these demands, they concluded. that
| If the first should be conceded, they needed NOT
TO insist upon the OtLer--a most unheard ofmea-
sure, TO make any derN.rnd VII en- was not to be
/ q cd l.Nfa s.ISf 4