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

that II the commissioners were not able to make
satisfactory arrangement OF the,r neutral rights,
they might enter into a provision that whatever
should be- afterwards advanced TO neusrals should
be extended 20 them. In January, news OF, the
battle OF Leipsic, and that the French had been
driven across the Rhine, reached America, and
she therefore contemplated the probab iitv of
peace between this country and France. His ma
Jcsty's minister's had been charged withret be ng
very ANXIOUS about commencing the negotiation
after thepeacc OF Paris. The reason that inf.u-
enced his ma esty's ministers in not beng over
ANXIOUS at that time TO enter on the negotiations
was, That they were apprehensvc that the Ame-
ricaE commissioners would be then obliged to
act under Instructions given when affairs were in
avery different aspect. They therefore thought
1T advisable TO wait until the altered situation
OF affairs was known in America, and until IN
structions could arrive which would promise
more favorable result 20 the negot.aton.-
He was convinced, that if the negotiation had
commenced two months sooner, we should have
met the American commissioners instructed to
INSIST upon points, which from the commence
ment we had declared that We never could ac-
cede to. In fact, a fresh instruction was gwen
from the American government to their commits
s.oneir, and tlis instruction, which was sent in
| the month ofJune, dId not arrive till two DAYS
alter the negotiation had begun He thought
that the delay could not, therefore, be consider
ed as a., iinprovident one: and he thought that
MINISTER'S must stand completely justified on the
different charges that had been brought against
thern.--He thought that The house would consider
them fully justified 1st, in not agreeing to an
arm-stice, that was to be coupled with the con-
dition of practically suspending our maritime
rights during its continuance ;--2dly, that they
were right N not accepting the med alton of Rus
STA, especially when this refusal was coupled with
an ofier OF, negotiating directly with the Ameri-
can government for the restoration OF peace and
lastly, that they were right n not commencing
negotiation, until there was time so- the Ameri-
can commissioners TO oeivs fresh Instructions.
ne snocid now return to the negotiation itself.
upon o1- proposition n favour OF the Indians who
had co-oPerated with US, the American commis-
sio'lers asked whether those propositions were
maj or not. Whateg er might have been the
conversation upon this subject, or whether the
american commissioners reported it rightly to
tneir goyermne nt or not, still it was evident tha,
i even the papers now moved for were granted.
u would not be possible for his maiestv's m MS
'ers TO produce The commun cations between the
Ainerican commissioners and their government
hey could only produce that which was enter
cd IN the Protocol. The noble marquis seemed
not 70 have thought it extraord nary, that the
American commissioners should have thus dc.
manded our ultmatum in the first instance. II
ne recollected rightly, however, when that noble
lord was IN office, the negotiations ut Isle had
Deen broken on on the same ground, that the
french government required ofus to give in ON.
ultirnatum at once. The difference between us
and the American comm ss.oncrs, with respect to
The Indians, was, that they obi ected 10 their be.
lng named IN the treaty, although they sad that
we might depend upon 1t that peace with them
would be necessary consequence of the treaty.
They protested against this country interfer-
ing, IN any manner with respect to the Indians
within their hOiiOJarx We haI III n
definite boundary of the Indians, territory, and
We had succeeded in obtaining it. We had cal.
ied upon the American comm sioners to rive in
Their projei, and 1T was the consideration of this
prcjet which had occupied so much time. He
should now call to the recollection of their lord
shiPs, the conduct OF the American government in
publishing a part of the correspondence. and
should subrpitit 10 their judgment whether there
was sufbcent reason for our publishing the
whole oft The noble marquis had very fairly
stated the reason of their publishing part of the
correspondence. 1t was because that the Amer
ican government did not expect that the negoci.
alton would end inpeace, and imagined tfat it
mad been broken off by that time, they published
tllose papers in order to produce an effect on the
minds or Their people hostile 10 tins country
was It necessary for us now TO follow their ex-
ample after the negotiation had ended in peace,
OF could we Wish to raise feeling in this coun-
Try hostile 10 America II that could not be the
wlsh OF any person in this country, he could not
see any motive for departing from The usual lire
OF proceeding, and publishing the whole of that
correspondence which had ended in a treaty Of
peace There was another part of his speech
winch he found necessary TO touch upon, IN Or
der to vlndcate the honor of the BRIT sh arms.
which re thought had been injured by some
Oh ms lordshp's observations. He would con-
TEND that the capture of Washington had
oeen attended with important advantages in the
course of the war, 1t was that event, and the
'Perations on the Chesapeake, that broke all
'heir national and private banks, and which was
| ne commencement OF those financial difficulties
under winch the American government found It.
Ell so much embarrassed. lie must now state
~iiat the conduct of the British army was upon
1hat occasion AT, er successful battle, they
inached upon Washington, Allie pubic s,i-
thorlties had left it, and he believed there never
vas an examPle of any capital having been gwen
up III mat manner, without any sort Of capItnla-
.ion' NJ The very moment when general Ross
was using his utmost endeavoms t. enforce the
most exact discipline, and TO preserve the lives
and properties of the inhabitants. an attempt was
maze 10 assassinate him. a shot was fred 81
nm non house, which killed bis horse. BY
me laws OF war, after such an act as this, the
ives and Properte s of allIthe people Of Washing
ton were forfeited. Tire troops immediately pro
ceeded TO destroy the house from which the
shot was fired, but the voice ofthe general was
soon heard, calling on them to spaTe the lives
ana properties OF the inhabitants he believed
mat whatever destruction Of private property.
20, Whatever Piiage, might have sf erwarCls tax en-