The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-25

arose 10 fan them into fame
The Secretary of State, therefore, addressed
note 10 Lord Ashburton, in which he reviews and
analyses with great cearness the grounds which
the British doctrine Of impressment rests and, al'
Ter demonstrating with conclusive and irresistible
ioree that Al has no foundation whatever IN any
principle of the common and recognised law Of ma
lions, however countenanced by the municipal code
oil England he proceeds 10 declare that the Govern
ment Of the United States after the most mature de-
Liberation on the subject, sis pr pared TO say that
the practice OF impressihg seamen from American
vessels cannot he egsr be alioBsd 10 fake place y that
1T Is founded on principles which the United States
do not recognise and l. inya .iably attended by cone
quences SO UNJUST Injurious and of such iormida-
bic magnitude besbmitisd To-" that the rule
laid down by Mr. Jefferson, when Secretary OF state,
IN the origin OF the discussions between the two Gov
erhments on this subect-,o wit that "the vessel
being American, shall be evidence that the amen on
board are such'-will hereafter be nfe Gbly main
famed by this Government and that, sin every re-
gulariy documented American merchant vessel, The
oreo ~ho navigate Il ,oiH find their protection ia The
flag uhieh IS them" Here, at least, is decla-
ration worthy the character Of Government con
scious both Of its rights and Of lis power to maintain
them, and which will find echo IN every American
bosom.
Lcrd Ashburton, in acknowledging the receipt Of
Mr.. Websler's note, recognises the propriety, In
season oil peace, OF anticipating and guarding against
"eyen possible causes of future disagreement espe-
taiioh as that OF ipresnnent and although without
authority 10 enter upon its settlement during the
limited continuance Of his mission he entertains
confident hope that the task may be accomplished,
when undertaken with spirit of candor and conclli-
alton. After adverting 10 the Opposite principles
maintained by the two countries respecting allegi
ance to the sovereign" he admits that 'serious
practical question does arise, rather has existed
from practices formerly attending the mode Of man
ming he British navy, in times oil war :" that those
wit inn nI
an importance formidable" TO call for creme
dy )" and that he has "much reason to hope that
satisfactory arrangement may be made, 10 set at
rest all apprehension and anriety"
Now, sir, | must say that, considering the marked
contrast between the matter as well the tone Of
Lord Ashburton's note, and the manner in which ev
cry ausion to the subject of mpressment has hereto
10 been invariably met by the British Government,
cannot but regard IT as wise and honorable aban
Comment OF tins odious preten ion, under the intu-
ence Of more calm and enlightened public opinion
and the progress which sounder principles of public
law have happily made in the world since the return
OF general peace.
II Is true that Lord Ashburon that the claws of
Great Britain have maintained, from all time, the
ductrne Of perpetual allegiance :" and that in
virtue OF these laws, :" all subjects Of the
Crown are, in Of necess ty, bound to
serve their country and the sea-iaring man is
naturally taken for The naval service" Now, to
all this, matter Of English law and English pre-
rogatve, we take no exception. But we say that
the execution of English law must be confined to
English jurisdiction that If Great Britain chooses
TO enforce this alleged obligation Of perpetual alleg
against her natural born subjects who are sea-
idrlng men she may do so, for aught we have to
say by impressing them while they are within the
limits OF English territory, and on board of English
ships but that if she attempts TO do SO from on
bard the ships of other nations, she respasses be-
yond her jurisdiction, and violates the law of nations
1t is 20 be remarked that Lord Ashburton, keeping
this distinction clearly in yiew while asserting the
rights of the Crown TO the services Of It's natural
born subjects as doctrine of the English law, no.
where sets up claim to enforce that service board
the resSeis Of foreign polrer-which is the gist of the
" hole controversy.
How different the language of Lord Castle
reagh, when, shortly after the commencement of the
late war with Great Britain, the Government of the
United States, anxious To the farther caami-
ties of the conflict, authorized a proposition TO be
made, through Mr.. Russell, to the British Govern
ment, asserting 10 suspension Of hostilites the
condition Of a repeal OF the orders in council, and
that instructions should be Immediately given to dis
continue the impressment OF persons from American
vessels, and 10 restore the citizens Of the United
States already impressed with the understanding
that in that case law would be passed ty Congress
TO prohibit the employment Of British seamen in the
commercial public service of the United States.
Lord Castereagh, in his 10 the proposition Of
Mr. RUSSELL thus markedly and mperiously asserts the
British claim of mpressment:
cannot refrain from expressing my surprise that
as condition preliminary even 10 suspension of hos
Ii tiles, the Government Of the United States should
have thought fit 10 demand that the British Govern
ment should desist from its ancient and accustomed
practice Of impressng British seamen T ON the naer-
chant ships Of foreign STATE simply the assurance
that law shall hereafter be passed TO prohibit the
employment Of British seamen in the public com
mercisl service Of that State
In the same spirit when the American commission
D 4 a..
article proposing only suspension Of the practice Of
impressment for limited time-accompanisd, too,
with stipulation on our part to exclude British
men from naval and commercial service and al
so TO surrender deserters from their ships-the
British commissioners dashed their pen through
the article, simply writing the word iaGdnissb e
against II
When, instead Of all this we see an experienced
and able British statesman charged with the views Of
his Government frankly admitting the evils and inju-
res attending this practice, RETAINING from any at
tempt TO justify II on grounds Of international law,
and expressing confident belief that the subject may
be satisfactorily adjus ed-and this m answer 10 a
! formal representation from the American Govern
ment demonstrating against the p etenson utterly
lndefensibe IN principle, and ntollerabe IN practice,
and calling for its total renunciaon-does mark
ed change Of tone under such circumstance. admit
Of any reasonable Interpretation, but that the English
/ nation and Government, under the influence Of the
moral and enlightened code which now controls the
intercourse oil nations, are prepared To abandon a
claim which can find no countenance or support Ia
/ the principles Of that code
Whether, then, look TO the character Of the
treaty slpulations which have been entered into,
to the results Of the correspondence between the
representatives. Of the two Governments, every sound
view Of the interests and honor Of the country equal
| ~ demands the acceptance and ratification Of the
treaty. II is earnestly objected TO the ratification,
that there has been adjustment Of limits west
Of the Rocky mountains. Most certainly II was
THE following extract from The London Times, an
enlightened and influential organ Of pub opinion N
/ England and especially Of the party now In power,
published in October last, Consequently 10 the APP
pearance Of the correspondence between Mr.. Web
ster and Lord Ashburton) fully susiaius Mr. RVes's
in reference from Lord Ashburton's note
"Mr Webster IS certainly right in conteuding that