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.1 A Oari are tht, plans offrf A'tlfg&ifalPesee,' 44 Uawarpi by party ra',tollvUk Bfothcra. r j FRIDAY; FEBRUARY .12, 1813. '"x-rmnnT ' ' r.-.' -' i . - t m . ' f7T"..;- I. " x: . - , FjRIDAY; FEBRUARY i2, 1813. t FOREIGN RELATIONS. c ivminlitee to whom wai referred to Kd" Kowen.6r;lul l reUte lo 1 ' V -1 . --1 v ff-r The vrons Which ihe U cL, had received; frcm that po,v-r, 7 . se;:e$ cf,years, have already i iir &.uv'T - w ' la;d be Tore the puL'ic, flnd ncdi j, be enumerated, thi-y'were V.-on peFI. . P OrfCeU State. ' .-enpd in the vrar Ur the sole posecf Tin.Ucating'lheir rights and -or th rr.ntive alone should animjte .' 'to i s close. It becomes a free J iirtu-us people Jtb Rive aji useful cx- 'rtprestiuative government, to render fit hful account pf its conduct to its JcrVitucnt. A jut acnsihility to great ..u! un:rovkrd wropps and indKnuics 9 !lius ify' appeal. to arms, an nonor lye rei araiion bould restore the bles vVesof peiee ; every itep ivhich they ,b?idJ bc Su'f bJ a atrcd rc jstdtorrintiplr.'- . To form a correct estimate cl, the j -uts which the United Slates hare to pTrfarm, it " r.ectssiry to teke a view cr the ccniCQur.'jations, which have risfd between the Executive of the I. . J mnr lh III h ITOVCn. .;nrc the declaration oi :;.-, r.c iadiiicnsaule cci?ra biira-l iv a on ths t.d Siatts to mamiain Yn:r crr.r.I'.trc has seen with much u-iific ion, ?b at the invimnt of the ct J-rUon of war, the attention cf the ttcoiivr w2 n3ed in at: etTort to rnni: i'- to a prtdy and honai-aMe ter itinitijn. As early as the twenty-sixth ot June las', ths Cnari;e dca Affairs of the U. States at LonCon was instructed toproi-osf to the UriiKh govemment arn-iitijc, to tkkc immediate tffect. cn fiJi lns 'ucli it is be!:evcd th. ! 1irpniil .,M!d (dl. consider safr, bo- tof.b'c nd adan!j;cou3 tou. Drita n. TUt were few in igniter and timlted to jxiuivf wrongs dtly practiced. That the orders jn couiuil shoi!d br rcpttlid, end that cur fig should pro tett cur scimcn, ?erc the only indis Ir8.h!f er nduiens ins stcd on. O her treats, however great, fcr xtponcd f.T zaiicab'.e nrg.uioru As cn i - ccemtnt to the British government toj i:rDtar thce wr.ng, it was proposed ta rrpcel he non irnporiaii'jo law and to ptchibil the employment cf British ..amen, in the public and private ves- Jtsof the U' ited States ; particular cire wai uken that ihtse propositions saodd bc made in a form as ccnciliato TJt is they wrrc -raicib!e i.i subanc'. Ytur commhtce csnaot vtid exptcs i:$ astonishinew ut the manner h lch they were rcceivtd. Ii was no scient to rejtct the proposed arm.i. f"Cr ; terms cf peculiar ri::uach and insult w?re ad.ptcd to luzY.c llxc icjcc aatn". rsivc. Ithapp ntd. hat almost rn the same J, hi uh'uh the Untied S:atc?, a(Ttr hin b.en worn out with accumulat tc wrongs had resorted to the bst ahd tT7 rc-aasn ng honorable tlternativein .'c.pcrt of their rights, the Bittisb so rrimtr.: had repeticd, condi ionally, O'ders in council. Tint measure ,a untxpected, heause every apphca u 'R f-r i: had failed, although repeated J.'f er7 moment it was, decided on. iUonal i5 (1S Tpr3l Vrai it was iutfd to have riinoved a great ob :i!e tccommottation. ac n-her only remained t the prac- It was proposed r.ple equiraicnt The substitute atd wsliHiacd,iandof a charac r toroprtheuive,'ai to have femo tJif ,as vai presumed,, every possibly fi JcU'ru 10 a accommodition.; Tfie J.?9uj btfcrj made to excluds Bn fini:n from out service vras cn U i1'10" to comprehend Jill native a. ' h suljjsrts no( already naturalized ha. J 10 l,MurK"tion undci'.thc J I lhc U- b:alc lhi w like- our Th-t in rresenliOS lo inc iiou c 2 view cf cur rtlaliohs with ll1 . ii ;tift. it iacScemcd unnecessary nit ch the committee ! pcrsu--j ahev virgin ctly the exiting? i i --ii'r-.vr'V btvcen the two! 1 11 liMM 4 . 'rr.prcsrntut. - ; rsnush goTernment to open an xtc;Si negociAtion to provide a sub lJ t;t it, which Amild be consfdered Your. committee have sought vtith anxiety some proof of a disposition in the British c6vernment, to accommo date on any Ut copduioni the. import-' relative to impreseraent, but they have sought in vain ; none is to -be found ei Iher in thebmmunications of the Bri tish ministirtq the American Charge des'Aflairs at"1' London, or tn those of i iho commander of "the British naval forces at lUHfax made by orJtr or his irsvemmentto the Departmtrnt of State. Tiity have seen with regret, that altho j Lord Castlereagh prokssed -a willing- j ness in his government to receive and i discuss amiqaWy any proposi'iori having in view either to, check abuse'. in the practice of impressment or to provide a substitute to it, he not .only declined entering into,(S negociation for the pur pose, but discountenanced the expecta tion that iny substitute could be propo sed, which his government would ac cept. It merits notice also, though it censed to be a ciuse of surpriz-, that in f the communication of Admiral Warren I to the Department of Stale the subject ! of impress'ment was not'evch alluded to. 1 Had the Executive consented to an j armistice oh the repeal of the orders in I council, without a satifactot y provision i against impressment, or a clear and d s tinct understa 'ding with the.British go vernment to that eflVct, in some mode entitled to confidence, ycur committee would not hive hesitated to disapprove it. The impressment of cur seamen be ing deetY-d!y consideitd- a principal j cause cf lhe war, lhi war ought to be I h !iroecuted-until that cause is remo- vcJ. To appeal to arms in" defence of l right 8nd to lay them down without iCwunng i', or a satisfactory evidence j cf a good disposition in the opposite par- j ty to secure ii, would be considered in no othtr. light, than a relinquishmtnl of it. To attempt to negociate afterwards, for the sccUiity of such right, in the expecialion that any of the argument?, which have 'been'urged before the de claration of war and been rejected, would have more weight, after that ex periment had been made in vain, would be an act of folly which would not fail o expose us lo the scorn .and derision of the British nation snd ofnhe world. On a full view therefore of the con duct of the Executive in its trausac ions wiih the British government since the declaration of war, the committee con sider it their duty to express their en tire approbation of it. They perceive in it a firm resolution to support the rights and honor cf their country, with a sincere and commendable disposition to promote peace, on such just and ho ncrable conditions as the XJ. States may with safety accep. It remains therefore for the United States to take their final attitude with G. Britain and to maintain it with con sistency, and with unshaken firmness and constancy. The manner in vrhich the friendly advances and Kberal propositions of the Ex-cU.ive have been received by the B iiish government has in a great mea sure extinguished the hope of amicable uccim mcd.it ion. . It is, howevtr, possi-J Lie that the British government, after instructing Admiral Warren, to com municate to the Department of State the repeal of the orders in council, may have declined the arrangement propo sed by Mr. Ruisel in the expectation hat that . measure would have been sa tisfactory to the U. Stales. I Be this as it may, your committee consider it the : duty ot this House to explain to its con-! st'uuents the remaining cause of contro- j versy, the precise nature of that cause, j and the high obligation which it, im- t poses. From what . has been stated, it ap pear that however great the sensibility to oibcr wrong, the impressment of our seamen, wa that alone, which pre vented an armistice, and in all proba bility an accommodating Had that great interest been arranged in a satisr factory rnannery the President was wil ling to rely, on the Intrinsic justice of o ther claims and the amicable spirit In which the negociation vould have been entered into, for satisfaction in their fa vor, 'j G Britain claims a right to im prets her own seamen apd to exercise) it in American vessels -In the prac tice British cruisers impress American ! citizens, and from the nature 'of things 1115 irnpo33io;r,iaar vnc . aosc anouia not be'earried to great extent.". A kub; altrrn, pr-any other ofbeerof the BK tish navy ought not lo bc the arbiter in American cozens cught not tb depend cn the will of such a partyy; -The British government has.insisted that every American Citizen should car- ry un'nim tue eviaence oi nis cuizerK; ship; and that 'all those not possessed of. it might be impressed.- -This'cTitejrion, if not otherwise Qbjectionable, would bc so, as the document migbe lost; .qe stroyed or taktq from the party to whom it was granted, nor might it in all cases be entitled to respect, as it might be counterfeited, transferred; or granted to tmproper persons. . . But this rule is liable to other and much stronger objections. On, what principle des the British government claim of the United S aies p eat and shameful a degra dation ? Ought the free citizens of an independent powrr to carry with them on the main ocean, and in; their own vessels, the evidence of heir freedom ? And are all to be considered British H subjects and liable to impressment who do not bear with hem th3t badge I Is it not more consistent with every idea both of public as well as of private right, that the party' setting up a claim to any interest, whether it be to persons or property, should prove his right? What would be the conduct of G. Britain un der similar circumstances ? Would she permit the public ship of any other pow er, cfsfegarding the rights of their flag, to enter on hord her merchant vessels, take from them such part cf their crt w , as the boarding officers thought fit, of ten her own subjects, exposing by means thereof their vessels to destruc tion ? Would she suffer such an usur- pa'ion to derive 3r.y sanction from her pativn forbearance? With the British cteim to, impress Brit sh seaman, the U. States hv; no riht to interfere, provided it be in Bri tish r:sels or in any o htr than thos? of the U. States, That American citi zens should be exempted from its.ope-4 ration, is all that they uemanJ, Expe rience has shewn that this cannot b se cured otherwise, than by the vessel in which they sail, Ttke from American citizens this barriery which ought to be held sacred, and there isnothing to pro- Ucl them against the rapacious grasp ! of the British navy. This then is the exen. of :hV demand of the Ui States, j a dementi so jut in itself, so consistent and inseparable iiom their rights, as sn intlei'tndent riationAhat it has been a cau".e cf ostontshmentj.that it should e ver ha.e been called in quesfion. The f jundalion of the British claim is. that Bri.ish seamen find employment iu the service of the United States t .".this is re presented as an evil affeting essentially the great interests of ihe.Biitish nation. This compUint would have more weight if sanctioned by the Brjtrsh txarople. It is kn wn on the contrary that it is: in direct repugnance to it, Geat Britain does n?r scruple to receive into hefserr vide all who enter into it voluntarily. If she confined herself within that li mit, the preVent contrl versy' would not exist. Heretofore the subjects of, even the moit -"despotic powers have been, left at liberty to pursue their 6wn hap piness, by honest industry, wherever iheir inclination led them. ThevBri tish government refuses to its seamen that privilege. Let not this, then, be a ground of controversy with that na tion. Let it be distinctly understood, that in case an arrangement should. be made between the two nations, where by each should exclude from its service the citizens and subjects of the other, on the principles. and conditions above stated, that this House will be prepared, so fir as depends on it, to give it effect, and for that purpose to enact laws with such regulations and penalties as will be adeqle. WUh this" piedge, it is not perceived on what ground the Bri tish government can persist in its claim ? If British s?amn are -excluded from tiie service cif- the U. State, as may be effectually done, the foundation of tjie claim most cese. vVheh it is known that, not one British seaman could be found on board American vessels it would be . absurd to urge that fact as a motive for suchjmpressrnent. , In declaring a willingness lo giveef fect to the proposed arrangement, ydur Committee consider it "equally the duty of t he ; Hoiise to declare? ' in lermsVh' most decisive, that should thqBrUjb government still declihs itand-perse.; rg. iri . the- pfactice. oflmpres5merjvt from "American vessels, rthe ' U-States wjll never' iKCjuiescj! in that practice bat will resist it ;-jieasingly witb'!Jill-' thair force.' It is not necessary now to encruirer what the course, wduld havei been wfth respect to impressment,yin case the orders in council had ben Te pealed before the declaration (f war how; long -th.e practice, of impressment, wouldhavebeen borKs, in the hope that that Repeal would have beenfillbwed hy a Satisfactory arrangexnent with respect to impressment. s ; War having Keep declared,' and "thej case df imcsment biinc neces&arily ! included as on? of ihe m st important causes, it is "evident that it must be pro vided f r in the pacification The. o mission of it in ?. t e4iy peace, would not leave it on its 'former ground; jt, would-iri effeci . be an -absolute relink qtjishmenr, an idea at which the ieel irtgs every Americaji tgusrevolf.r-i jj l he seamen ot the United states have a claim cn their, country for projection, nd they must be projected If a'sjn gle ship is taken at sea, and the pro perty of ai, American ckizen 'arrested from him uh justly, it rouses the indig nation of the country."1 How mUQh more deeply Linen ought we to be ex cited, when we beholcj:so many of thiafj gailani and highly mtri:orkus cl.,ss of our fellow-cisizins snatched fnrh:tie bosoms of their families and of heir country, and. carried io"o a ertel and afilictfng bondage. Ii i an evil vhtch ought hot, w.Tijh cavttot be longer tole rated. Without dwelling oil the s'-ir.i-ings cf thj victims;, or on ' jhi.t w' dc scene of distress whiciflt yrelin's anor.? their relatives throjgi '.thtL c unt'.y, thf practice is ir iiseJf in the highest de rre.e. defradinf' ;o the-1 T. Sints as a i r o ",. ," ' nalion. It js incompatible wilii their sovereignty' it is subversive x-of the main pilhrs of their tauxpendence.--The fotbsarance of the Untied S ates tinder it has been mistaken for pusil lanimity. . The 'British pretension was maturing fast into a right. I tad resistance teen longer delayed, it might have become ont . Every adminis ration remonstrat ed against it, in a tone" which-bespoke the growing indignation of the countryi Their remonstrances produced no tf fect. It was worthy the illustrious lea der of bur armies, when carried by the voice of his country to ilie head of the' government, to pause, rath, r than to recommend toiis fellow-citizens. a new war, beforethey. had recovered from the calamities of the late one. It was worthy, hi immediate successors to fol low his trample. In pace olir f;eer system of Government would gain strength, and our hippy Union becomel consolidated. But at the fast session, the period had arrived when forbear-' ance could -be no longer justified. T was the duty' of Congress to take up this subject in connexion, with lhe other gyeatwf ongsof ivhicli they complained, aa&tolseek redress in the. only mode which became the representatives of a free peoplei They have done so by ap , pealing to arms,' and that appeal will be su ppor ted by t heif, consiitue n ts.r 1 Your committee are aware lhat an : it:- teresting crisis hasarriVcdSin the U.h States, bu Lt h ey h a ve" nof painful, appre hension of its consequences. TOe course Deiore tnemis-Ofect. it is pointeuootfe tqually 'by a regard to i he honor, the rights and the- imerctts of the nation. If we pursue it with fi muess andig or, relying on the aid of H atenf cur success is inevitable.,, Ourjres .urces are atrundant ; the people are' brave and virtuous, and their spirit unbroken.- fvThe gallantry of out .'infant navy be- speaks our growing greatness on, mat element, and thai pur troops wh?ri led to action inspires full contiqence ot wnat pmaybe expected fiorothtm when their brganization is comp!cte. Ouc Union is always most strong wbeft menaced by.fordign dangers. The people of A meric are never io mucli one family as when their liberties are invaded. The report concludes by recommend ing lhe passage of a bill .' far thegregu- htion of s ea m en On bo a rd ,t h e pub he vessels and in the merchant service of the U. States." ' v ' ' ":' - The pbjecrpf this bill is, to prohibit after the tonclusioo of the. prc;'sen( war, the employment of-any seamen in ves-i sels of the United States, other than cj- Vzens, native "or naturalized, provided this stipulation shall extend only tp Such nations as salJbiVcnteredmtb7siIli lar stipulaiions not to employ- American iibo,' however,, is nbtoreclude the J Executive of the U. Stateslrdm stTpu feting by treaty wubapy foreign pawr' seame n ana- not4, to ciaira uexercise the'lpreenderJi Vight b impress Lfrohi y'esstls bf ,tbe Ui; States. pvovi' ?f, forLrecipr&c seamen of tacn Ration by the olber R RITIS H IMPR M RTCTfi. In the coarse of thj? Debate' on- tb6 Bill fop, 14 1 rising 20,000 auuatTttAAi 1tfr( Gfeir1 ty; f?pm-'-Tennase?f j(Ke Chairman of - ? ','-4 H v mmitteepf Jireijgpi Relations), ea, m support ot the t?ourse pursuea, by - 7;- e lesehtAdmTn1stratbn for obtaining - ' v Kcnei in regard to me impres sment or our passages trom ms ppq Vv6n s mebf these subjects in conv i Seameii by the Sritish the opinions pfjjfce? C:C-"S Secretarks of State Tbefowin are " 'ifM eca ; , . -fwv . ; A jtriiversy, fir instance that ofUmjltrfss- K'i ree;negociation had beengtried tinsiic. v V; "i cessiuiiv lor iwentv vearsi as tl will r--w s buevr ociore i .su aowM.irom me dudiig records of the coutry-ni others it had been .tried for a sohciiiAtti-' last Session of Conress j when eveiy- -hope f obtMning; juSttcc.n;alyr';'b'th way wasjost, the Umted jStalfeSecIar-' edAVurl. nal ta nronirft airpneal nf f ht Orders in Council pnlybut to obtaiiv . -3. redress; Sr ther unjust spfdiaifons whicli" , 4f nau oeen committea joxi tne property.t i ; ? Americiin citizlns, and tocajQse Create ; .'u Bt iiain iOt cea?e.4he practice of imprejis V men:.: Other causes oriiiatioa;exist ? p oi m vyur. ii.iiisy Qeajeq asjrant- ' ; :.;' t d, in thi-d iscussi oti t K at those odrs 1 X are revoedi notwhhst&ndinkthe pbjec- .-'!'.& tronabitt manner frj the reyoatiov Yoil ti are now asked to lay dan i theswbwlj w before voii have obtained afa v of lhe nh- ; iects oCthe war. extent the ahoHtinn oF tj tuese oonoxious orders. ; 1 request cren- . :.' uemen ta reriecr, wnetner tmsis not; in point of fact anaband oh merit of the oth :e pomts'm dispute ? Squ youijbtVby ceasing to prsecuetVWiiichl-jsl already cmmenc-edi'' cleclar :;th' strongest pbsiibfe terms I thatyou will hot m.kt war for the ihjaries whict re- main unredn-ssH TVP.an qnoman ' Can any man per suade himself, that you will bbtainhat bv nesociatiom for Whirh vnn havWVTi-: termined you wi npAand thatUobiS 1 frm agnation a alltrimes disposed ta 1 depress this growing; country I -s That fl i politician must have a very imperfect ' r ipl: knowledge bf4hbLconstderabift'w ledge of-the considerimorfs whicb influence all cabinetj, who does not know that the strongest inducement which can.be brought to operate in favorVofari? . ;. i)jured nation, is the apprehension iof ', retauattpp or leat of war, entertained by thabther nariv- Tnm-if ii.Vi'rf -1 ' - tablish this ntrr 'rlii 'J U - .'vlv': l J , U il ti b U y way than by . recilrring tb,tbe hiibryf : a transaction which took i black belwectr' ' Vvlll f 4 nc wuiLcu, a:a;es' ana- ureatUntairu- .fcJ Immcdiatelyafier the atracV b lhftJ 1 Chesapeake, triis gvernmbntdemaiided reparatjon. , The terms proposed wre reasonablej, and uch, as a, nation inclin ed to act justly would, promptly;, hive : acceded ipA Ipi- fiveyearspr mofedid , the B i lish gov erp me n rtfise or rather fail to mukp that arras semen t. which ry djustment bnthatsubj?ci,V:M sir was justice so ibngvldeliyeXahd w'vKlt'-' why ;was-it ;at last, obtajhedlK! The Bri;fe tbhlninister disepvercdia terminat6ih0B muiigress cq.-suomitnp ionger.;.T riet friendly relations beVwsebbe'tWdxbun-- tries iimst rmmeatateiy ceases ,ne saw; . . . i that 'public sentiment calledVso T loudlj. foKarl opoituniry of pbtjtining that jus- tice bv yrce which had beeb refnsed ri-fe iairaigument,- jmat ht granted lis that , reasobabje saUsfaction whicb had beeil so lohg withheld , ;3n-, had henbtseeri the appfoaching;storm, I iq atonement ; 6r that wantbn-jbrutrage obour national sovereignty had ye: been made. If you nbvv say, you. wiU nbt pro$ecute;the 'yf&rf the enemy must vie w-it as a 'deciaibq r pronounced by this government ti)ar-shau not be waged by the Aniefi can nation for the . impressment of- her' citizens, or for deireMtivQs: cofrim.jed on comm erce. It migt as wellbe batd to plain intelli wvwau io m wc auuijupntsu uy me people of the Uhited Stales except so'far a' depends on tlipiwill of GreaVBrifatn-.-- mm pIfMth1hep;rcr ject; tolierdtspbsalr'ybti tease'.POsV'" M thelibenyCpro agatastjthat' batbn -pf 3vttcbv Lpare express a noupt. -. l am ; ior assmr 1 5 mg; it until tneLCject is aiwmec w";C abiiityof this natloa 'feiliftbeyittcr 'TrldtC i Lit is pretended, thaUbis gpvernmntf fi is:- i5: 'V's iii Mm If.1: i re W ' '5 : ''' i ?" n 4 "' ' 1 m.;-v- jxtm . 4 .A. it, 1.
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Feb. 12, 1813, edition 1
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