Newspapers / The Raleigh Minerva. / Dec. 23, 1814, edition 1 / Page 1
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W. .-tola, mmmm A fi FKIDAY, iljCEMBEIt 23,181. wVo. 977. Vol 20. ..',.:',.'; ,- ,--V V ' . : i y Mji ii w ii i i ii I'jiB I i i nni' ' i i JL M;nff tn.-l iitfpn.!oil. with no ineaur)ti lb i After the- declaration hublicly made to thesejingfrntheni, jnaian nations, ny jne gtweriio. gri. -- .-r-y....-jj,...a. , lo mnr appar ; RALEIGH, (Nr. C.) . FBIKTEfc, WEEEtT, BV ALEX. LUCAS.; , Ttrmk uf Vibmptioh: TWSFoouars per yean one half to be t). X nicivoicc. No ,per.to b tantmued Ion, thui three niUw at ttr a year uor' comes due notre 1 Werrof 1i.iU have been given, t,.--orto4l!iY!W.l Vor t;enty-fivc cents eijch subse- they will ascrihe iUo Jhe oat a re . . 1 11 -.r-iffl' urHiA ttlir oirfiit tnscmon ; ana ni ii.c tmVvi w - i's a gj-ciier ndmbor of Uu s than fourteen. ,. Stiitc Papers. ft u.i i: ..J t J . ' Mm arm? nt periaiUcd o the wJiters, nasBeen made, for the purpose -of manifesting, that pe curity und not acquisition of territory is the ob ject of the I3ritih gtverainent, and that they have o desire to throw obstacles in the way ut any cohimerre winch the people of the United States may tie desirous of carry ing on upon the lakes in time of pf ace. . , .The undersigned,, with the aniions wish to rectify atf njisundtrstanJiug have thus more fully explained the grounds upon wK;eh they broneht forward the propositions contained in Jh- British doniiuions in JNorth America. ' They do not 'wish to insisupon t hem beyond wltat the circumstances may fairly require. They ar ready, amicably, 10 discuss the details uf thetn a with view to the adoption of any modi fications which the American plenipotentiaries. ,r !heir government, may have t6"Vaggest,if hrj are nit incompatible with the object itself. W ith respect to the boundary of the district " THE NEUOCIATlOtf, (continue.) x :.- No. nr. '. . The British to the American Commissiontrs, : " Ghent, Sept. 4, 18U. The undersigned have the honor to aeknotv ledgii the receipt of the iiote f the AmerWau bleniM)tetiiries, dated theiith ultimo., -.y It is with unfe'gned res1'1 .tl,a th unflsf . irued brrfVo iw ths l 'wbatoiWe f the wtole notejjo Httlr proof ofanyJdispo sition oa the7prt of the government of tke V nied Slates to enter into an amicable discus lion of the several points submitted by the un dersigued in their former communication. The undersigned are perfectly aware, that in bring ing forward those points for consideration, and 'stating with so n'uieli frankness, as they did, the views with which they" were proposed, they departed frmn the usual course of negotiation, ly disclosing all the objects of their govern-, tntnt, while those which the American goyern meuthad in view wcrewithu.eld ; but in so do ing Uiey were priscipally actuated by a sincere desire of bringing the negotiation as sooir as possible to a favorable termination, ami in sixoo measure by their willingness to comply w lib - the wishes expressed by the American plenipa fentiaries themselves. II is perfectly true that the war between his majesty and the United States, was declared by the tatter power upon the pretence of maritime rigbjs alleged to be asserted by Great Britain, and disputed by the United States. If the war thus declaralby the United States had been carried on by them for objects purely of a maritime nature, .r if the attack which has been mads on Canada had been for the purpose of diversion, or in the way .of defence against the British forces in that quarter, any question as to the boundaries of Canada might have been considered as unnecessary ; but it is notorious to the whole world that the conquest of Cana da, and its permanent annexation to the United jkate9, was the declared object of the American government. If, in consequence of a different course of events on 'he continent of Europe, his majesty's government had been unable to rein urcetht British armies in Canada, and the U nited States had obtained a decided superiority jtn that quarter, is there any person who doubt's that they would have availed themselves of their situation to obtain on the side of Canada important cessions of territory, if not the entire 1 abandonment of that country by Great Britain ? Is the American government to be allowed to pursue, so iar as us means will enable it, a tystem of acquisition and aggrandizement to thp itit of unnfexinp pntirp nrnv!noa tn ttmir V . . . . r -'"fv, k ...v.. . , , . dominions, and is his majesty to be precluded; 'J r5 a l'"Pu leans, so larasi1"1 """J"?1 cai""uc ' A, . ... ! . tht United States. -YheaLlbexetative strength af Ihe twoplreri Cartada, that Great Britain would not in North America is considered, it shoiiMne'tbem, could the American governing! recollected Jjhat tha British dominions in Ji4t persuade itself that no proposition relating to Suarter do nt contain a population of five hW j those nations wotild be advanced, and did lord red thousand souls, whereas the teiritory of . Castlereagh's note of tht 4th November, 18ia,' the United States contains a population of more than seven millions ; that the naval resources of the U. States are at hand for attack, und that the naval resources of tireat Britain are on the oiherlside jf the Atlantic. ' The military possession of those lake id not, therefore, necessary for the' protection of the U. States. -, ; The proposal for allowing the territorieVuu the soutlierii banks ot trie lakes above mention imnlvio arreat a sacrifice of Itonor, of cxelitfji from dbcusiioo evry subject; excepttng what immediately related to the maritime questions referred to in it ? Wliea the undersigned assured the ' Ameri can Plenipotentiaries of the anxious wish of the British eovefnmentthat the negoeiatioii might terminate in a peace honorable to both Parties, it could not have been imagined that the American plenipotentiaries would" thence . . ' 9 . m . a . m .... m tA f rfm.iJn in the nosiess on ofthi Ptr.wt conclude, ttiat His oaicfV '.'weramenw.fM - p rw .J ,. . ' T . ,w ment-of the United States, provided no fortiaf rTOartd W abandou the inaiau nations to uietr faU, nnr could it havebeea foreseen that the American government woiildjhave considered it as derogatnry to its honor to admit a proposi tion by whioh the tranquility of those nations might be secired. , " The British Plenipotentiaries have yet to Icarn that itis contrary to the acknowledge principles of public law to include allies in a ncgociation for peace, or that it is contrary to the practice of all civilized nations to propose that a provision should he made for their future security.' The treaty of ureenville established the bun- tlicir former note respectine the boundaries of daries between the United State and the In- eni incompatibility with the assurauees in Lord L-asuerfasirs letter to the American SccrctAry of Stat, proposing this iiegoeUtion, and with" h? soIcoiiBsuurai ces of the B.itlsh Plen.ipoten liuri..H, tbfinselve, tofhe Hiiucrsigfiedi ut tha first conference with them. r , The undcrsigtied iu reference to an observa lion of the Britilb Plenipotentiaries, must bo allowed to say, that the objects which the go vernment of the U. 8. had iu view, have not bel, withheld. The tabjeftv considered as suitable for dis cussion were fairlv broi:ht fnrn!. t. iti fcrence of the 9tk fill, and iheiarmsia hicfe - the VtM5CtU9- were wilting to eoncliidc the " peade, frankly and expressly declared in thi note Of tlie iindersigned, dated the ,24th ultimo. It had been confidently hoped that the nature of those lerms, so evidently framed iu a sincero. spirit f conciliation, would have induced G,. Britain to adopt thenf as the basts of a treaty and it is with deep regret that the undersign ed, if they have, rightly understood tho uu.iii g' of the lastflote of the,Brili8h Plenipoientii ies, perceive that they still insist on the exclsive military possession of the lakes3 and on a per manent boundary and independent territory for the Indians residing within the domiuioas of the U. States. . The firsl demand is grounded on the suppo sition, that the American government has ma nifested, by its proceedings towards Spaiu, by the acquisition of Louisiana, by purchases of Ia dian lantis, and by an -"avowed intention of per manently annexing the Canadas to the United dian uations. The American Plenipotentiaries must be aware, that the war,' which has since broken out has abrogated that treaty. Is it contrary to the established nrincinles of oublic' Irw for the British crovernment to rroooe. on!Sttes, a spirit of aggrandizement and coi.oueTst behalf of its allies, that this treaty shall, on j whieh justifies the demand of extraordinary sa the pacification, be considered subject to such cr'fiws from them, to provide for the security of modifications as the case may render necessa- tlle British possession in America. ? Ur is it unreasonable to propose, that! 10 ",e eoservauons wb tne undesigt ed lelt of Maine, and thatof the North Western r0aiOt'Pi1,uti lhat! l,l.,sV w 1, ne new ienihuur et .:. ..c.i... it a t on that foundation some arraneement sheuId'thcBittisli' government, they confined their a n,r,A 1 1 a ut m t it it t a tho : '..kifi.... nf,:..,i be made which would provide for the existence mmadversion to the nature of the demand in the note of the Am. riean pleiMUotentiaries,,0' a neu,ral Pwer between Great Britain and "that thev were instructed to treat for the re vision of their boundary lines," with the state ment which they have subsequently made, that they had no authority to cede any part, howe ver insignificant of the territories of the U. S. athough the proposal left it open to them to de mand an equivalant lor such cession either in frontier or otherwise - The American plenfpotentiaries must be a ware that the bouudary of the district of Maine has never been correctly ascertained; that the one asserted at present by th at present by the American co vernment, by which Jhe direct communication1"015 "l,,u. "e ie,"TO 1U5.-M hiwen Halifax and Quebec beanm. imr.mt. the AnKOetfn Kowmmerit Itself most Ii ; ' --fc ' .-w a .i. m a j d. walnut in contemplation of the British nlen veea " &WJ J me wreenviue treaty. '11 V . m,' themselves; they did not seek for illastratiorA the United Stales, calculated to secure-to p tne poliey or Ureat Britain in Her conduct, both a longer continuance of the blessings of 'n various quarters of the globe, towards Qhe peace?! i'. nations, for she was not accountable td-tbe So far was that specific proposition, respect- United States. Yet the undersigned wili say, ing the Indian boundaries trom being insisted j r"ai meir government nas ever been,ready to upon in the note, or in the conference which preceded it, as one to be admitted without dis cussion, that it would haVe been difficult to use terms of erreater atitude,' or which appear ed more adapted, not only not to preclude but to i invite discussion. If. the' basis proposed eould convey away third ol the territory at the U. States. ave con veyed it away by the Greenville treaty of ipotentraries, who concluded the treaty of 1783, . ami that the greater nart ef the territorv in " impoMibleTe read from availing himself of his means they will enable him, to retain those points which the valor of British arms may have plac ed in bis power, because they happen to be situ ated withiu tLe territories allotted Liider former treaties to the government of the United States ? . Such a principle of negotiation was never a vowed at any period antecedent to Ahat of the revolutionary government of France. If the policy of the United States had been essentially pacific, as the American plenipoten tiaries assert it ought to be, from their political institutions, from the habits of their, citizens, and from the physical situation, it might not have been necessary to propose the precaution ary provisions now under discussion. That, of late years at least, the, American government have been influenced by a very different policy ; by a spirit of aggrandizement not necessary to their own sectiriiy, but increasing with the ex- - tent of their empire, has bfen too clearly mani fested by their progressive occupation of the Indian ierritories ; oy the acqusition of Loui siana by the more recent attempt to wrest bv force ot arms trom a nation in amity, the two question is actually unoccupied The undersigned- are persuaded that an ar rangement on this point might bo easily made, if entered into with the spirit of conciliation, without any prejudice to the interests of the district in question. A the necessity for .fixing some boundary tm . a .a -' Mi . for tli north western frontier has been i utual- sal for a discussion on oonsidered as, a demand; tor a cession oi territory, unless the U. S. are prepared to, assert that there is no limit to their territories in that direct ion, and that, availing themselves of the geographical error upon which that part of the .treaty of t : 8J was founded, they will acknow ledge no boundary whatever, then unquestionably any proposition to fix one, be it what'it may, must be considered as demanding a large cession oftTrritory frofci the-U. S. -- Is fhe American government prepared to asr srt suchan unlimited right, so contrary to the evident intention of the treaty itself? Or is his majesty's .government to undersiand that the A? mericau plenipotcniiaries are willing to ac knowledge the boundary from the Luke of the Woods to the Mississippi (the arrangement made by a convention in 1803, but not ratified) as that by which their government is ready to abide? ' . . The British plenipotentiaries are instructed to accept favorably such a proposition, or to discuss any other line of boundary when may be submitted for consideration. ftjs with casual astonishment and reeret the juudersigned find that the American plenipotew jtiaries have not declined signing any provision of nermanently annexioe the Canadas to theU.lal a"10 oy which the Indian, nations who m ; w j Floridas : and. lastlv. hv thi atuu-piI intpntlau : -i States. .have taken part with (jr. Britain in the present If, thenj the security of the British Ndrtli rontest may be ,nc,udeU n e jivace, aud mav CJ 7 ...v- have arrange, in the most amicable manner, with Spam, the questions respecting the boundaries of Louisiana and Florida, and that of indemni ties acknowledged by Spain due to American citizens. How the peaceable aequisitionSf Louisiana or the purchase of lands within thP acknowledged territory of the United Sitc ;f both made- ly .fair, and voluatttry; treat jes' for satisfactory eoirilentJ.! Can he ascribed 'to a spirit of conquest 4sron to their nerghbouii the undersigned are altogether at a loss to un derstands. Nor has the eonqnest of Canada and its per manent annexation to the United States, been the declared object of their government. From the commencement of the war to the present time, the American government hasXheen aU ways willing to make jieaee', .without obtaining any cession of territory, and on the sole eon dition that the maritime question might be sa tisfactorily arranged Such was their dUpo sitien in the month of July 1812, when ther instructed Mr. Rnssell to make the Dronosal of an armistice j in the month jf Oct. of the same year, when Mr. Monroe answered Adniitv that treaty without remarking how inconsistent the present pre tentions of the American governmeut are, with its preamble and provisions. The bouudary line between the lands of the IT. Slates and those of the Indian nations, is therein expressly deiiueJ. The general character of the treaty, is that of a treaty w ith independent nations t and the very stipulation which the American plenipotentiaries refer to, that the Indian na tions should sell their lands only to the U. Stales, tends to prove that, but for that stipu lation, the Indians had a general right to dis pose of them. - if The American government has now for' the:' Warren's proposal to the same effect t in A- first time, in effect, declared that all lndiai!1 na- p"n ' 1813, when instructions were given to tions within its line of demarcation are ! its -three of the undersigned, then appointed to subjects, living there upon sufferance, on lands treat of peace, under the mediation ofHussiaV which it also claims the exclusive right of ac- and in January 1814, when the instructions un quiring, thereby menacing the final extinction der w hich the undersigned are now acting were of those nations.. prepared. , Against such a system, the undersigned must, The proposition of the British -PIenipoten formally protest. The undersigned repeat, tiaries is, that, in order to secure the frontier of that terms on which the proposition has been Canada against attack, the United States made for assigning- to the Indian nations some should leave their own without defence ; and boundary, manifest no unwillingness to discuss it seems to be forgotten, that if their superior any other proposition directed to the same ob- population, and the proximity of iheir resour- jeet, or even a modification, of that which is ces give jhem any advantage in that quarter offered. Ureat Britain is ready to enter into the i balanced hy the great difference' between same engagement with respect to the Indians the milita.ry ejtabJishments of the twminilrligi livingvithin her line of demarkation, as that No sudden invasion of Canada by the United whiehis proposed to the United Statesi It i States could be made without leaving on their can, therefore, only be from a complete misap-! Atlantic shores and on the oeean exposed to prehension of the proposition, that it can be I the great superiority of the British force amass represented as being not reciprocal. Neither! of American property far more valuable than can it, with ahy-truthrbe repreaented-as eoni Canada. In her- relative snperior forcerTo tra'y to the acknowledged principles of public j that ot tne United States in every other quar law, as derogatory to the honor, or inconsist-, tcr, Great Britain may. find a pledge much American dominion rennirps an, unorifioci nn!''a the part of the United States, they must be as-i180 thought proper to express surprize at any f. . cribfd to the declared policy of that government! ProPosltMn on "ie subjcl having been ad van-. ' ent with the rfehls of the American govern- more efficatious for the safety of a Kindle, vut. nieiit, nor as a demand, required to be aduiittedMerable point, than in stipulations ruinous without discussion. . j the interests1 and degrading lb the honor of Atter this lull exposition of the sentiments of ; America. The best security for the possess- in making the war not one of self-defence, hor for the redress of grievances, real or pretended, hut a part of a system of conquest and aggran dizement. The British government, in its present situa tion, is nouua in utity to endeavor to secure its Ja o r tb-A me r ie an-tJ omin 1 b n s " aisja i ris t"lKose tempts at conquest, whieh the American gov ernment! have avowed te be a principle of t heir policy, and which as such w ill undoubtedly be renewed, whenever any succeeding war between the two countries shall afford a prospect of re-4 Hewing them with success. ; The British plenipotentiaries proposed that ihe military, possession of the lakes, fron; lake ntario to lake superior, should be secured to Great Britain, because the command of those lakes wouldTafford to the American government the mans of commencing a war in the heart of Jeanada, and because .the command of them; on tns psn-t e.f Great .Britain, has been shewn by 'Jhis majesty 's goveriiment on the points '.above jons of both countries will, -however be fuujid j stated, it will be for the Ameiican plenipolen- in an equal and solid peace; in a mutual rcs- The American plenipotentiaries state, that ' " . " 1" .V:""1 " 1 n,- ,f n onier, ana in t;,r their government could not have expected snch"' r """'"" ".e neguunuona , wnemer u ey ; hu...d inenuiy nnnersianu.ng between a discussion and annear rdn'lvpfl i '. uir.s,:u u, icier 10 uitir government lor , mem. n mere ne any 'Source or jealousy in JetctaiTpouw t!furtl,cr instructions:, or, lastly; whether they j relation to Catiada itself, it will he found to cx- SEJl &ffil undue interference of traders ; ."""""ft nrettKina i.lt the negotiation-aftftgetherr The undcrsigued re ones I the Americai eo-frtiretisle tantamount to a cession of one third of the territorial dominions of the UStates, and required to be admitted without discussion.' . The proposition which is thus represented is, that the Indian nations'which have hn during the war in alliance w ilk fireat Britain, should at, its termTnation he included in the pacification i and, with a view to their per manent tranquility and security, that" the Bri tish governmenlis willing to take as a basis of an article on the subject of a hutindary .for those nations, Jhe stipulations which the A merican government contracted in 1793, subject howerer, to msdificatiens. - tentiaries to accept the assurance of their hitrh consideration. : ... ... : No. iv- - :". The American to th$ British Cumruission,ers. "r . ' A;bjn, Septemlx r 9ih, 181-i- -The undersigned have had the honor to receive the note of his Britannic majesty's Plenipoten t:aries, dated the 4t h taslT If in the tone or sub stance f the former note of the uudersigned, the British Commissioners have perceived little proof of any disposition onjthe part of the Ame rican government, for a discussion of-'sdrae of the propositions advanced in the first note, Ty Licit the undersigned had the houor ofrceciy- ajid agentrrw. h ic!nMayoa8riyrcm6Ved bT- I proper restraint!, f The only American forts on the Lakpi known to have been, at the commencement of the Negotiation, held by British forcp, were Michiiimaekinae and Niagara. As the U. States' were at the same time jn - possesfsiou of Amhersthurg and the adjacent country, it is net conceived that the mere occupation of thse ' two forts could give any claim to his Britanic majesty to large cessions of territory, fetinded upon the fight of eonquest and the under signed may be permitted to add, that even if the chances of war shoold yield to the British arras a momentarjpossMsionof other jarU jf , '4, (Set fourth jjngt.) - I . ii - I II la 1
Dec. 23, 1814, edition 1
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