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- ' ' " ' - '"iii f1 , ' , ';jAgi r-..rJl-S,i-J-!-:4-- -J 1 ,, """'It "'" ' 'ir- ' wRAfLEIGII,N.C. PUBLISHED (wi4i SV. LUCAS AN D U.H. BOYLAN.; ; . , ;; : :;.--Joa $2&ccNffjN advacbA , , Y Y Y. ... .-VtV-') Y -: '-'-' .-c-" ;' f yVY-YV -',- . - YY -::-Y : J DOtLJRS.tS TSAR, "'''vG FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8; ; 1 81 1 . . , ' ; . , " V;; ' No. 814 V - -A-.Y',- account cV diffi culties which ,jwere experienced in piAtn, tjiatthe paper of the British c&rriniiision-j sanctionct!. ; Some disjit.si.ion of it was ihti efore ' , ;; PoUticaL ,r: LETTER Jr. Mourpe (it the pecretury of State dated K l Kicltfnond, Fcb, 2Zth, I808. ( PART IV impanyith mesag'.f'th'e Ptent of the Unitel Ac' V " Swtcs, reived , tUe a2d March, J 808.;. plij&'d the interest of impressment on grqund wiuc'i u. na.i poia sate apa r.onoraoie iov me u 3tate? to adroit ; that in short it gave their govern' inenthf command of the subject for every ne cessary and useful puiposeY - - . Aitsched to the treaty it was the basis or con dition on which the treaty rested Strong in its chitra'ckr in their favor on the great question of right, t.ad admitting a favorable construction on others, it placed them on more elevated groundin tljose respects t'an they hadJield before ; and by kecpirig the negotiation open to obtain a more conipl1 adjustment, the administration was arm ed with ihe most effectual meais of securing it. By th! arrangement the government possessed a and in the tnt A'inu that thVpt actice of impress-ip- "r i$ tioefte without heiog etrnipeUed -tds. .ent as cXieflsp esiii.iis.ly with the Views ! seme the- characteT belonging lo coercion.-and and interests o f he United States..: It is, indeedtt vasable to give effect to that power without vio evident from acorrect view of the contents of that paper, that G reat Britain -refused to disclaim or derogate onlyU irm what she called her right, as it also is, that aa her relusal was made applicable 'arranging .any"i icrticle on that.subject, and to pro. ceed to conclude a treaty on the other points that were embraced by the r.egociations. Asa motive to such postpo csmentj and the condition to it, it' assures ua that i the British commissioners were instructed stiil o- entertain the discussion of any plan which'cou! d be devised to secure the interests of both states, v i thout injury to the rights of either. By this papt r it is evident that the riglib of the United Stat rs were-espres&Jy to be reserved, and not abande ud, as has bten mosrerroneously supposed that the negotiation on the subject of impitsjment w tts to be postponed for ti limited time, and (or a .tspecial object only, and to be re vired as soon a s that subject-was accomplished ; It BDDears by your letter of May 20;h, 1807, utich was ; forwarded by . Mr. Purviance to JV1 r pinkney and myself, at. London, fend received on iSth July, thai yotf had constructed several jiclos of the treaty, which we had siqtied with (he British, commissioners,, ohjthe 31st of Dec. 106, in a different seosf from that injwbich. they -cre'coDifeived by usT coure we wtie ..1'.V ...1-1..- kir vmtK lrjl.!.rr LVKI.., ir 3j with regard to thM treaty," which Was .con firmed in that ol Way uth, was in no ticgree de pendent on our constructioa of any of its articles, n thnnlitiral considerations which induced us to sign it, we deemed jt unnecessary to enterinto! to a crisis of ex irwrtlinary peril, it aulhorised the any explanation in reply, either of our construe! reasonable exp cctation if not the just claim that . " i. .. . i ' .f iu.' l . , !vph in that th: aw.ommorlatinn rlesirerl wniilrl he 6011 01 KS afliciua, ur. ui mc uutiuai tuiiaiiitin- aiinrWrl tn. We thouffht it " more consistent I hereafter yielde U. ' it'll ftur dutv to look solely to Hie object of our1 In our letter to you of Nov. 1 1, which accom ni y lating the relations of amity between the ceuntries. The right to break off tht-negociation and appeal to lorce, could neveT be lost .sight ot in any dis cussiun on the subject ; while there was no obli gation till necessity compelled it -If Great Bri tain conformed her practice tb the rule prescribed by the paper of November 8, and the explanations which accompanied it, our government might rest on that ground with advantage ; but if she depart- instriictions,-and to exert ourenorts to accomplish cpanitu ue paue i- umiyi .luusmcuiwii mw iuiv " wuiauic upwuuiiiij .vi. f and we acted in conform!! y to that sentiment, of January 3,X bich was forwarded with the treaty, jfered for theccomplishment of a more complete Tberus'ulLofilxoSe efforts was iadtjknpwn,-y ! hese iscrfimeni were fully confirmed.. In that; and satisfactory arrangement, by a decisive effort, if,, ilccuments which I had the honor to present fof Novembtn 71 ; r.we communicated one impor-'rit would at libertyo seize such opportunity -sx-Kii-l-"iiis- lntriv at -Washinttrm-'Oinp-1 tant fart- which Ueft no doubt of the sense, in which .lot the advantage of the country. wpies of a joint d,ispatchL which Mr. Pinkney and it was intended by the British commissioners, that . These considerations, founded on a view of the I had forwarded 'by Mr. Rose.. We had flatter- that pspt r shou Jd be construed by us. In call proposed arrangement itself,' furnished strong in Yourselves, that it might have been practicable ing yur a'ttent ion to the passage which treats of; ducement to us to proceed to the other objects of to obtain the amendments of the treaty which the impressment, i n reference to the practiee-which jfhe negociaticn. There were other considerations President desired, as the slate of affairs in Europe should be obse rved in future, -we remarked that 'f a different, character,-which recommended it had become more favorable to such a result ; but the term's " k seaa". were not menibnec) in it, j with still greater force. Jlad w e refused to pro io that w,e were disappointed. We found no dif and added that we knew that the omission had ;ctU in the negotiation, what , was' the alterna trnhl in .mniithiiw th. Jther nhirt. r.f rt. tnen intentional It was impossibje that those! l've which such a refusal presented to our view ? tin? it aside as we 'frere "instructed" to doT'fn case : tef mV could, na'"' rd: been 'omittednntentionally wiVAT 1 he negooiat'ien would have been at an end, after theroposed amendtnents were not acceded to. our knoiakdge, for any purpose oilier than to ad m thiq timp there U no obiection to such an tx. mil a construct ion that it was intended that im- having failed iriJdUlsjeiltSY--fojJf ..this interest was not arranged, none others could be. The at lit r- -I i . a a . jlination, that I am aware of, and there are many pressments siio ma ue connntu to uie land, l do uiuue wmcn me governments new towards cacti KSsons why itahculd be given. You will be sen- ot mean to im ply that it was understood between other, was in a certain "decree hostile. Injuries sihle thaLL-so far-as an unfavorable estimate is the British con imissioncrs and us, that G. Britain: had been inflicted by one party, and resentment enteitaincd of that transaction, it must, in the de should abandon the pratice oi impressment on the gree, tend to injure those who gave it the sane- nigh seas a!tog :ther. 1 mean, however, distinct- fon of their names ; and you will be equally st--iy to state tnai it was unuerMoou uiai ine practice iible that, if the United States are in any degree ; heretofore, pur? iued by her should be abandoned, interested in it, at this time, it mast consist in its and that no in iprcssment should bt; made ou jlhe being viewed to a just rather than an unfavorable j'high seas undei . the obligations of that paper, ex- light " in retiring trom the station which 1 have;cept in cases oi. an . cxmiorunisry nature to wnich bhewn by the other, the latter havmg taken a step in the casejjf the non-importation law, which was intended to vindicate the public rights and honor by being made the means of obtaining a redress of those injuries. The measure was intended for the ministry of Mr. H, fro,hi i which the injuries were reeieved, but bv the removal of that miBis lately held, this is the last act of public and prr- no general proj ibitiuii against it could be constre-j tr)"' antl the delay which took place mine passage ue la'-s ;t cane mto operation aguti Mf'fiV. trhirh ! Jiav tn ni-rfnrm. in rln tinn trt led fail'Iv to ext itld. The CUS2S to whirh I llnltil iL Jt is to me, ftmauy views, a painful duty, out wei described in onr letter ot iNov. 1 1. Fhey Jtillit isone which it is highly incumbent on me supposes Briti sh ship of war and a merchant ves tOfixecGte. jSelof the Un:ited States lying in the Tagus or It is far fronrbetng my desire to conipomtt some other pc rt the desertion of some of the sai MfTPinkhey, in this letter, in the slightest str- jlors from the t hip of war to the merchant- vessel, cumstance. In the management of the business and the sailing-..! the latter with such deserters on which was entrusted to irs jointly, we acted withboard, thty bt ;ing British subjects. It was ad (he greatest harmony, and exerted our best eflbrts . nutted that no general prohibition against im to accomplish the objecf of our instructions. I piessment eov t.d be construed to sanction such am not aware : thatr 1 speaking of any part of .the ' cases cf injustice' and fraud; and to such casesit treaty, I shall "give it a construction in which Ee was undeistot.Ki that the practice should in future tould not concur ; but that presumption is found-. be: confined. I td. altogether on what took place betweeu us in It is a just claim on our part, that the explana Hie course of the negociation. lo. this commu- tions whictrw eve given of that paper by the British Jication he is not a party, nor indeed does he know; cpmmi ssione rs when they presented it to us, and tint: such "a -one witi-fee-made. In every view, lalterwards w hle the negociation wae depending. therefore, . it is improper j and would be unjust, ! which we cc onmunicated to you in due order pf thap he should be considered as having any con eerrt in it. 'The impressment of seamen from our merchant time, should, be taken, into view, in a fair esti mate cf our Conduct in thai tiansaction As the unangeicent which they proposed, was of an in tessels is a topic-which claims a primary alten-'; formal natur e resting on ari understanding between lion, from the -order which it holds in your letter, 1 .the parties i rt a certain degree'eonfidential,--it could but more especially fromome important coiisitie- J npt othcrwi h tbanjhappen that iuch explanations ratiuns wnicn are connecteu wnn h. i ne iaea would De iri'en.us in the cntirse ni the hiisintisa. nf Wtenained by the public is, that the rights of the ihe views of thtir' iroveinment in recarH tn it. United States were abandoned by, the Americaii And if an ;iTangemcV.t by informal understanding wjMiauhsjoners in- ine jate negociauon ana mat is aiumssiitfe m any case beHyeen nations, it was their seamen were left bv tacit acauiescencc. if our dntv t Wt by formal renunciation, to vder?end for their them the veight to which they were justly entitled wwyt on me mercy oi iqe urriso crtuzers. l ana to co mmunicate them & you, with our im MyeTon the contrary, alway s believed, and stiil pi ession- t ,1 the extent of the obligation, which they lIieve that the ground on which that interest impress. It is iruhat mode only tl.at what is iguinSt the min istry of Fox and lord Grenville, who would not " have rendered those injuries, and against whomN of course such a weapen "vou!d not have bten raised. Not.vithstaailing the existence of that law, "and the attitude which still remained be tween the governments, it was impossible to ap peal to it as a strong motive of action with the new ministry Such an appeal was sure to produce more harm than good. It would have lost us all claim on the. generous feelings and liberal policy, which the new ministry was believed to indulge 5c disposed to adopt towards the United Slates, ,'fhe negociation, therefore, with the new ministry was conducted by policy, as well as by inclination, on 'friendly and conciliatory principles. Should it fail, however in its object, and be broken off, the relation between the parties, wduld change in an instant. From that moment the new. minis try would stand cn the ground of the old one,- and the nation be united in all its political parties a gainst us. The attitude would become tn ' fact, what the exterior announced if to be, hostile, and jndispensibly necessaryiniany course which midit be taken.Y Thse cbnwations had much w-eihtY in deciding that whjch. JS pursued, and I frar.ki-V ly own, that a sincerere to afi'drd to the ud miaistration a hohorivH opportunity for its' r-peafy-since, tinder exi;.,.ii-circumitancei'i it ''id not seem probable tha1 it tOiW,be longer ucSiV, ' and might be injurious, was a tror,g motive wi: i me to .ncur the resv Ji&ibiliiy- nfch I took: r: myself in that transaction. ! 'j o' tbr-r.nangetn'.'nt proposed we gave our Ganctrsi , VQ. 'unset" -k, to submit it to iUt, coas'deration of ou jlovt m. ment, taking care to j'liqrm the British co.n'mu-' siohevs, that we had fli V-.ver tofcrmclvw'e s tn.fU iy thatdyd hflf obfig! '. ' on-the UniitaSvars;. which did' nofc arrange lira iatisfactory matvue' the ' ' "" interest of impressment. VVi agreed also to pro-' ceed in a discussion of the other ubjecta of the nc- Vt gociation,- and eventually1 tntlude.d xr '".treaty j it'll beihe tahderstood. from 'what we'had frVm'i tiiti. stated, that if onr goverrtmem shotlo! disapp)v"v ; the arrangement; relative Jto'v'lmpres8mentMhe I I wnoie wouia lau win it. inustneuniiea 'statps , : t enjoyed the advantage ofcheirig; at liberty to ac- I cept or reject the arrangement, while on the BrU i, 3 tisli gpverprnent was it binding; With one party it was a cojt, . with the bthtr a treaty'TJiem. was in truth nothing unreasonable in this circun stance, as the British commissioners acted i n pre t, sence of the cabinet, consulted and took ft? in itruction on every- poirivJueiursLande pur government rendered such a recurrence to it impossible This advantage ' hovsever Sweetie trom the nature ot the transition We advanced in the firm belief, that although it' fell short of what we had expected to obtain? it was nevertheless, in the then existing state of af- Y fairs, such a one as the United States might adopt with credit and advantage. I have " no doubt Y' ; that the British cbmmissicners c greater ccnuuence in sucn a result. i ne cn-cum wj 5f si! stance of onr finally agreeing to sanction the ar rangement rather than' break off the n gcciaton, at which issu we had frequently stood in the -progress of it, was calculated to make that imp tisi- on. But it was much strengthened by a knpVl.dgo that the whole arrangement .would expose, t hern'' to very severe and 'probably successful attacks" from the opposition,: while they had no expecta lion that it would be popular in the country. By your letter ofFebJd, IjSOin reply to ours of Nov. 14th, 1 806, thecqurse which" the govern ment resolved tfljiursue. was announced. iBy i$ wt welt; infirmed that tKc president disapproved! the informal arrangement ptoposed by the Briush. commissioners relative to inpressment, and was resolved to enter into no treaty with the British go vernment, which when limitted to, or short of strict right on every father point, should include in ili ho article on that particular one ; ftat in case : Such, an article could not be obtained, we should termi nate the negociation without any formal compact whatever, butwith a mutual understanding, found ed on friendly and liberal discussions and expla nations, that In practice 'each party would entire ly conform to what should be thus informally sett led between them. And we were authorised to give assurances, iu case such an arrangement should be satisfactory in substance, that as long as it should be respected in practice, particularly on theubjects of neutral trade and impressment, the president would earnestly, and probably success fully, recommended jo congress npt to permit the non-importation law tb go ipto operation f arid in the meah time, that he would exercise the -power vested in him by an act- otcongressV if no.iht'er vening intelligence forbade it, of suspending it? Oi , it"waS difficult to nerceive how it could be chanir ed, and peace be preserved,' with , honor to therperalion till the meeting of 'congress, who, being United States. They could not recede from the! in session, would have an opportunity to make due placed by the paper of the British commis calied an informal understanding between nations doners of Nov." 3," lg06, and the explanations can be entered into.. It presumes a want of pre luch.accompanied it, was both honorable and Vision ItV lhe written documents connected with-it, Klfftniageous to the United States, that it contain-' which is. supplied by mutual explanations and con jd 4 concession in their favor, on the part cf Great ,fidence. Reduce the transaction to form and it Britain, on -the great priticiple ' in contestation becom-rf a treaty. That an informal understand, flevet before made by a formal and obligatory act ing w;'s an admissible mode of arranging this in jf the government, which was highly favorable to terest yith Great Britain is made sufficiently evV flieir. iWerest ; and that it also imposed on her dent hy your letter of February -3d, 1807, in re 'ne ohligation to conform her practice under it, ply to ours of NovHl, of the preceding yeari, ' Wl. a more complete arrangement should beVon-t 'VV i'thoul rtlvinir, 'howevrYon the -explanations wed, to the Just claims, of the United States, .that were given by the-Britislt-comnvissioners pfithat their coast was unfortified, ard their cities In a great measure ceiencete: tnat tneir muiua, i ground which they had taken, or accept, by com pulsion, terms which they had rejected in amica ble negotiation. War, therefore, seemed to be the inevitable consequepce of such a slate of things, andJ was farfrom considering- it an alternative, which Oueht to be preferred to the arrangement which was offered to us. When I took4nto view gain on .the business with a vfew to such a result- JiiitedTas was desired- ' . the prosperous and. happy condition of the Uh Stateb, compared with that of other nations j that as a neutral power, they were almost theaexclu. sive carriers of the productions of the whole world ; and" that in commerce they flourished be yond example,'' notwithstanding the losseawhich they occasionally 'suffered. 1 was strong in the o pinion that, those blessings ought not to be hazard ed in such a question. Many other considerations tene'ed to confirm me in that sentiment. I kuew that the United States were not prepared for war ; provision for the case ; f and finally, fhat. if a treaty wnicn aip not proviae ior in e interest oi impres.s meht, should have been concluded before the? re- ceipt of that letter, we should candidly ?.ppri the British commissioners of .the reasons why it wotild riot be ratified, arid invite therh to enter ai -hlace this transaction in its true light and tojthe import of that paper or of the course which o justice to the conduct, of the American com-, thei,r government intended to pursue under it, it iHiioners. itYvill he neceskarv to entr fit enmpilc i 'ir r ,-u-b- ,m. ii .,nut li.ir i,of o u.. : K'jSth into tlic subject. - . . Ith'ritrhts of the uarties were reserved, and the 3 particular rmed.on the o- uc untiiij paper states tnat me. king was not n fjociation'might be contimjed on tin I'varea toctsclairn or derogate- irom a npht on tr jpic, after a treaty should be! fo "W-h t he security of the British navy ' mirht es- t hrv. r.Mt nritVm wax hound nr.t tr epttra, esaerialtV ) WOlMtincture Wllfn :t hc f iolili whd that nrcrnriatmn wa ArnA 5 M'S in wars vvluch enforced a rieccitv mtr : and iti case she did trespass on them, in ''I tut. mr.sL vi.",!-,irit altpnlinii tf the iirnpnriiinn ' Y.. -.'i... it.,Ki-..ri. V. r7n:oJ 'Ctt,.!...ii; , . , - - - - ---- .v liiuyu i "lU'SUDDlv of hi n:,wal l.-irre thrT hp haA t;,w 1i :c.'A : r .k. wJ J l):Commissioners-tp giveto the commissioner: i .appealing to force' in vindication of thelrights. 4e.itd,;Stalt?s fhertjiost positive.- assurance '! The mere circumstance of entertaining an arnica t instructions had been given, and should be ji e. fbleTnegociation by ore" party for the adjustment pled and enforced, to observe the greater cP ,uJof a couitpyrsy, where no right had peenatknow JJm the impressing of British earrrebr to -rcledgcd in it l?y theotherFgives.to the latter aiust atiop or iiijuty, and that immediate and pro, far f0iiner. But the entertainment of a negociation .f "i-flumuiu u "j iiun --ior ine express purpose oi securing interests sai.c- tity sustamed. by them: 'It tlKuproj)o i s. to tioned by ackjiowletlgeQTS7makes such claim mtiit whale v;tr shoUldbe jn-aaicable, it wrtuldoe-atwe:sanena ne , hc article: relative to impressm' ht on'irresisiableyY.. We h ere therefore, decidedly i of "iessdvanugeous :.on than Chat which :.we, Jiad 1 the whrfe.;arranlUli .Y..V- A - j ' -',' v" . . . Y &--.''', ' ' ,;. '" :. .vr .; V - -'. -,Y ' '.'tV .'; - '1. vi' '",.,.-.,v?'v, ' Y V:' '.'"':'.V:. Y ' -rH" -i--YYs: -Y" Y... J . 'BY':1 tiiVli ir. - ;.,YYl-vY-Yir-. - f.. z. ,-'-v- - '-'. ' ' si-'r -' ;. :v.v.r - ; ? tp :;?c.'j'--'4'-:;v:y:yy?:v,V: f ' '-.',.; ,Y .-.'..;.;'...,.. ... ' ; " . . - . -.. i i--. ,- Y - it.-..- . - . Y' ' . - . - - . . . Y '"''-: ' 'Y- 'r? YvY";-. -Y--, 1 ..- ''' ; ' Jv " "i ' ' - ' : . . '--f Y. , . t.y . .' YY ;- . T ' i -' " ' . .: ' ,. . y !-- - . - ; YY , ' A -'''--'il. -----' I --- , i -' -. . -..''v' "V: , I '.'' . ' 1 Jl - - T" -. '--. "v"- h-. - . -t "vy-'"- -- ' -, ' ':' S t 'y'--'--""' ( many of the states, wai neither armed nor train ed;- and that'their whole revenue was derived frOrii commerce. I could not ptesurii'e that there was just cause to doubt which 'of the alternatives oucht to be' preferred. Had it, however, been practicable to terminate the negociation, without such an(,adjutmerit 'as that proposed, , and w,ith. out taking any decisive nieasure rrrconsequeftce Id of its failui e, what was to ibecomcof the non-im- portation law I - If sufferfcd. to remaia m-torcej it was sure to produce wa);. Great Britain, it was knowri, would enter into no ajrarngement, by trea ty, which did no provide: for its. repeal ; and there was little reason tos presume, after the rupture of the negociation by, whicb' therelatiQrji between me parties Would dc less friendly, that sue would be come more accommodating.' It-was,' on the con-trary'r-'fairlF'tc". be contiudedrthaHf anyYarrange- mtut whaieiftr should be practicable, itwrtuld ic-a By this letter the arrangement which we" haJ sanctioned, comprising the informal ones relative to impressment, and that by treaty on the other Ltopics, was rejected, und in lieu, ol it we were in structed, to enter into an-informal understanding; or arrangement of the whole sublet, and as w:.' nn iht snnifl rnnftll irihsl It wfiltn'e 'more to be; r presumed that, the covernmerit was willine to ai?' ' ; cept, in themode which it proposed, the coridi' ' 'Y tions winch we might be able to ftbtain in the inw- ther, from the consideration, thjjt the latter wfere j under its view at the time the instructions were ( criven, bv the1 paper of the British commissioners "a of Nov, Sth, snd; our lejttr of the: 1 1th, and tho certainty witlr which itja4 Well as wemust'JiaV:' : been iihpre3scdj that more favorable could not beY j expected. ', - ".''- ... "'', ' ' '- ' - In cefendtng rhysdr .aaina . the-imputation ot Y'j having saerificed llje rights, c f our's; aVl ;tr I $UaH ,:, , be perjnuted to derive support Ti'TA tht coiidt'di tV i :l tne government usen i rnv .we jn'crca... ----Jtx x have toremark, that iN:o'ni'.j?rtk'e coiHUictcf;hY. governmeht-as furbishing 'the 'h'.o'st ample "iiiiljc : tion of the Aricancoifiisi'jners. Tbeo yernment r.wita equally willing j entpr into wni arrangcininthicji j : J of the. countt y, niottg.Ii;. it shjld nor neepm--. . plisU the'ob'iett Vhith Md; 'been :so?ardenlly efY;' sired.Tht only differejice between the p3a wlriti wesancli,onedndrthatybk4i-if jnAevaft1. ; .
The Raleigh Minerva (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Nov. 8, 1811, edition 1
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