The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-29
of peace. by negotiation with Great Bri-


tatlon, upon the head of mpressmsnt" was
deemed utterly inadmissible,' by the A
rnerican government, because it did not sufIi-
GENTLY provide for that object. ~ 1t has,
also, been shown, that another treaty. promo
sed by the American minister, at Londou,
was laid aside, because the British govern
nient, while it was willing to relinquish, ex-
pressly, impressments from American YES
sells, on the high seas. insisted upon an excep-
ton in reference t6the narrow seas, claimed
as part of the British dominion-and ex-
perence demonstrated. that, although the
spoliations committed upon the American
commerce, might admit of PREPARATION, by
the payment of pecuniary equivalent vet.
consulting the honor, and the feelings of the
nation, it was impossible to receive sat;sfac-
ton for the cruelties of impressment, by any
other means, than by an entire discontinuapce
OF the practice. When, therefore, the envoys
extraordinary were appointed in We year
1906, to negotiate with the British govern
ment, every authority was given, for the pur-
poses OF conciiatlon; nay, an act of con-
gress, prohibiting the importation of certain
articles OF British manufacture into the u
nted States, WAS suspended. in proof of
friendly disposition () but it was deciar-
ed, that " the suppression Of inpressmeut,
and the definition of tlockades, were ai,so-
lute,y indispensable ;" and that, " without a
provision against impressmepts, thatno trea-
ty should be concluded" The American
ENJOYS. accordingly, took care to communi-
care tothe British commissioners, the lmita-
tons of their powers Influenced =. the
same time, by sincere desire to terminate
the differences between the two nations :;
NnowinE the solicitude of their government,
TO relieve its seafaring eitizens from actual
sn,ferance listening, Win confidence, 20
assurances and explanations of the British
com IN q fay- 10 I,
wishes; and Judging from a. state of inform
alton, that gave no immediate cause to doubt
the suifciency OF those assurances and ex-
plantations the ENJOYS rather than terrnin-
ate the negotiation without any arrangement,
were willing to rely upon the efficacy of
substitute, for A positive article in the treaty,
to be submitted to the consideration of their
government as this, accol ding to the declar-
alton OF the British commissioners, was the
only arrangement. they were permitted at
that time, to propose, or to allow. The sub
Stitute was presented in the form of a note
from the British commissioners TO the Amer
lcan ENJOYS, and contained pledge, that
instructions had been given, and should be
repeated and enforced, for the observance of
the greatest Caution in the impressinr Of
british .seameD; IT, 1T the strictest care should
be taken 10 preserve the citizens of the u.
states from any moiestation or injury; and
that iH,Tnsdiate and prompt redress should be
Afforded, upon any representation of injury
sustained BIZ them" %
inaSmucn. however, as the treaty contain
Ell no provision against impressment, and Il
was seen by the government, when the trea-
ty was under consideration for ratification.
that the pledge contained in the substitute
was not complied with, but, on the contrary.
that the impressmeuts were continued, with
undiminished violence, in the merican seas.
long I'LL JoEa &c
structiOns, which were 20 arrest them that
the practical inefficacy of the substitute could
not be doubted by the government here, the
ratincation or the treaty was necessarily de-
clined; and 1t has since appeared, that after
change IN the British ministry had taken
place, it was declared by the secretary for
foreign affairs. that no engagements were en-
tered INTO, on the part of his majesty, as con-
nected with the treaty, except such as an
pear upon the face Of it. (k)
The American government, however, with
unabatlng solicitnde for peace, urged an i'm
mediate renewal Of the negotiations on the
basis OF the abortive treaty, until this course
was perenptoriy. declared, by the British
government, to be wholly inadmissib!e." IN
But, independent Of the silence of the pro-
posed treaty, upon the great topic of Ameri-
can complaint and of the view which has
been taken OF the projected substitute the
uipOtdilCOtS OCCldTdllOn OF the British
commissioners, delivered by the command OF
their sovereign, and to which the American
ENJOYS refused to make themselves a party,
Or TO give the slightest degree of sanction, W rs
regarded by the American government, as
ample cause of rejection. In reference TO the
French decree, which had been issued at
Berlin, on the 21st of November, 1906. IL was
declared that If France should Carry the
threats at that decree into execution, and. if
I" neutral nations, contrary to all expectation,
should acquiesce in such usurpations. his ma
lesty might probably, be corn 2elied, however
reluctantly, to rctaliate, in his Just defence,
and to adopt, in regard to the commerce of
neutral nations with bis enemies, the same
measures, which those n1ticns should have
permitted to be enforced, againct their com.
merce with his subjects :" that his majesty
could not enter into the stipula:ions of the
present treaty, without an explanation from
the United States Of their intentions, or a re-
servatiun on the part of his majesty, in the
case above mentioned, II it should ever oc-
CIR and that without a formal abandon
meuf, n tacit reiinqgishment of the unjust
pretensious Of France, or without such con
dpet and assurances upon the part at he u.
states, as should give security to his mai"s-
o. 81 teor;evt n council Of the 9Th Jane, 1905,
a Oh i1til Of Ave. 1905.
o. See ;he memorials Of Boston, New-York. PHIL
solpha, Baliiiae 81 sc prescott 4 to congress in the
end 81 the year 805, and the ginning OF the year