Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-19

ed never will SO far forget, the rights of
other nations, and so far disregard the laws
ofnatioI in general, as thus wantoag, to
abuse their power.
It's of consequence that there should be
principles among nations, as well as indlvl-
EQUALS and not only that there should be
principles, but that they should be strictly
adhered 10 BIZ all nations. It is of equal
importance that there shouldbe laws among
them, and that those laws should noe bevio-
lated by every nation for whose interest it
| is so to do. If, according to the laws and
| established principles OF nations, British
ships of war, duly commissioned by their
government, have a rightto visit and search
neutral merchant vessels; and if, accord
ing to the laws of Great Britain, they have
Alright to impress English seamen into the
service of their country, wherever they
find them, it is no violation of the neutral
rights of this country for them to search
our merchant vessels, and finding British
seamen on board of them, to impress them
;nto such service. That being the case,
however contrary it may be to the interest
of American merchants, and however dis
cordant it may be to the feelings ofAmeri-
can citizens, they are bound to submit to it.
But these principles are denied. 1t is
contended by many, that, by the laws ofna-
tons, British ships of war are not autho-
rized even to stop American merchant yes
sells. That the mere acts of stopping, vi
sting, and searching them. are abuses of
qower, as unjustihable and wanton as can
be committed by nations. Thatit is OF no
| consequence, whether seamen on board A.
| merican vessels'are British subjects, or A
merican citizens. That having shipped
! themselves onboard American vessels, they
have placed themselves under the protection
of the American flag; which, asit regards all
! othernations,h has the magic power of imme-
tliately transformingthem into American ci-
| tizens; and that all American or neutral ves-
| sells, sailing under the-American or neutral
| flag, are sacred from the inspection of all bel
I ligerent nations. That they have no right
| to stop them, to enquire whether they are
neutral or not, whether their cargoes are
| composed of neutral property or the pro-
perty of an enemy; or whether they are ma
vigated by native Americans, by their own
| seamen, or by those of their enemies.
If the mt,e act Of 6siaisg tie .4uerieax fig
has this wonderful effect, not only of rendering
every tlirg .imerrau, but every thing sae,ed, It
! becomes unnecessary TO make any enquiry, Ell
ther lnro the right the English possess of claim
| ing tteir own seamen, who may have shipped them
selves OH board American vessels, into the et-
| iciercy OF ds.friean protet7iaas; because it can
| neither be asccrtained that such persons are
British subi,cts, nor that thy are not provided
I with American projections, nor any thing abour
it. This right of search therefore, ought, and
shall be the first subject of discussion If Il is
found, that such right is inconsistent with rea-
son, justice, and policy, and that is NOT rccognz-
ed by tile laws Of nations, there is an end to the
! question. But if, on the contrary, i, is found
that such light does exist, and that it mas al
| ways been considered one of the most important
and Rrmly established principles in the codes q the
maritime nations of Europe, by all writer's emf.
| nent Tor their learning upon thar subject; and
| thai il is RICH. founded not only upon justice
and policy, bot upon the principles of self defence
and self preservation; the is will become ncces.
ssry to pursue tle subject; and to enquire how
Tar the English, after having visited American
vessels, and found their seamcn on board of item
! have riSht to examine them, and 20 impress
them into their service, particularly when equip.
| ped with American predictions.
! The right OF Oi.aing and ssartbiag neutral
| merchant vessels. has long been SUBJECT OF dis
pute among the maritime nations of Europe; but
| at the same time it is right, which has been
constantly exercised by some nations. Those ma
tons who had the mast powerful fleets, and the
{ greatest controul over the seas advocated, su8.
ported, and exercised it; and those nations WHO
lad tie most commerce, with the least naval force
| 10 project it, opposed il, but without suceess.-
But, generally speaking, nations only advocated
] and supp ,rted Il zOl lie aa1uerE1t aud only con