Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-02-25

NOT oe extravagant 10 make question,
whether Great Britain would not suffer
more by Withdrawing her ssamen from
the merchant vessels of the Y. ). than
her enemies would suffer from the add.
ton oil them TO the crews Of her Ships of
war and cruizers.
Should any difficulty be started con
corning seamen born within the British
dominions, and naturalizcd by the u. S.
since the treaty of 1888, you may re-
move it by observing: First, that very
lew II any such naturalization can take
place, the law here requiring preparato-
ry residence of FIVE years, with notice of
the intention TO become a citizen entered
on record two years before the las, ncces.
sary formality, besides regular proof of
good moral character, conditions liule
likely TO be complied with by ordinary sea
tarlng persons. Secondly, that discon-
tinuance of Improvements on the high
seas will preclude an actual coalition be
tween the interfering claims. Within
the jurisdiction sfeach nation, and their
respective vessels on the high seas, each
will enforce the allegiance which it claims.
In other situations the individuals doubly
claimed. will be- within Jurisdiction in
dependent Of both nations.
Secondly, The British pretensions to
domain over the narrow seas are SO obso.
iete and so indefensibls, that they never
would have occurred as probable obicc-
ton in this case, If they had not actually
frustrated an arrangement settled by Mr..
King with the British ministry on the
subject Of imprcssments from American
vessels on the high seas. A, the mo-
ment when the articles were expected 10
be signed, and an exception of tho mar.
row seas was urged and insisted on by
;pFd *. Vincent; and being utterly mad
missioie on our part, the negotiation was
The objection in itselfhas certainly net
The slightest foundation. The time has
been, indeed, when England not only
Claimed, but exercised pre,ensions scarce
~ inferior to full sovereignty ever the
seas surrounding the British isles, and G.
ven as far as Caps FiniSlerre TO the south,
and Van Staten, in Norway, to the north.
It was time, however, when reason had
little share in determining the law, and
the intercourse of nations; when mower
alone decided questions Of right, snt,
when the ignorance and want of concsr,
among other maritime countries facilta,-
cd such an usurpatioD. The progress of
civill2 ion and information has produced
change IN al! those respects, and no
principle in The code of public law is at
present better established, than the com.
mon freedom ef tho seas beyond very
UNITED distance from the territories wash
ed by them. This distance is not, indeed.
hxed with absolute precision. 1t is vari-
ed in small degree by written au,hor;.
ties, and perhaps it may be reasonably
varied in some degree by local peculi.
sriiies. But the greatest distance which
would now be listened to any where,
would make small proportion of the mar.
rowsst part of the narrowest seas in cues.
ton.
What are, in fact, the preroga.ives
claimed and exercised by Great Britain
over these seas If they were really
part OF her domain, her authority weuld
be the same there, as within her
other domain. Foreign vessels would
be subject TO all the laws and reou.
iallens framed for them, as much as if !
they were within the harbors or rivers of |
The country. Nothing of this sor, is ORE.
tended. Nothing of this sort would be |
tolerated. The only instances in WHICH !
'nsse seas are distinguished from other |
seas, or lii which Great Britain enjoy,
within them, any distinction over other
nations, are first, the compliment paid By
other flags IL hers. Secendly, the exten. |
SION OF her territorial jurisdiction in cer.l
tain cases 10 the distance of fouy leagues |
from the coast.-This first is a relic of |
ancient usurpa,ion, which has thus lonp |
escaped the correction which modern and |
more enlightened times have applied to
other usurpaIions. The prerogatiyc bas
been often contested, however, even a,
the expense of bloody wars, and is still
borne with i'll will and impotence by her
neiShbors. Al the last treaty of peace
at Amiens, the abolition of it was repeat.
edly and strongly pressed by France and
II Is not improbable that al no remote dav
1t will follow the fate Of the title of " Kin~
OF France" SO long worn by the British
monarchs, and at length so properly sa.
ciihced TO the lessons of maenanimous
wisdom As TAR as this homage TO the
British flag has any foundation at pre.
SENT 1t rests merely on long usage and
long acquaintance, which are construed,
as IN lew other cases of maritime
claims INTO the effect of general though