Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-02-22
l:othemby the solemnity Of a constitution

deT1yedF from the PSopiS, sauu - ioo
led IN compact only, and intended Tor the
good of the whole, g that protectionsaud
allegiance are reciprocal obligations, each
so important, thas in all governments, IN
tall ages, they have been secured ny the So
Ilsmnity of an oath.
ask then, is not the conducsof Britain
a violation of the rights OF our seamen I!
Are they not secured In these rights by the
constitution, and are we not bound by the
most solemn obligatlonto Pfotecs them TO
the u,most.of our power? By the law ot
nations [Var 2a1. sec. T.. whatsoever
uses citizen il! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the state
which ought TO prosecs. their citizens, and
his sovereign should revenge the Injuries,
punish the aggressor, and it possible obhge
him to make entire satisfaction, since other
wise the citizen would not obtain the great
end of the civil association, which is sale
~.
Lfcanno, then permit myself for asmo-
ment to suppose that a right so imPort-
ant, secured By ties sosotsmn, aud 80 pal.
,pably iolated, villa not be protected, 10
the utmost of the power of the congress OF
the United States, by all the Legislative
/. means they possess, consistent with the
sound principles OF legislation, and, good
government.
| BY the constitution congress are to de-,
| Gne and punish piracy In defining plra,
(, CIV, Wish them not to- exercise a w.ia pa;
Illegal discretion, which IS itself dehned,
Is 10 discern b. law what ls just | will
therefore calltheil attenuon 10 sl:e subject
, as IL has been considered by the law OF
nations, the common and statute law OF
4 Great Britain. By the law of nations,
Mol. d. m. IS aThe attacking a.ship
at sea and taking away come of tie
men TO make them slaves is piracy
49, BY the common law, Riac. Com, 72.
5. lust. 1o9. piracy consists in COM
hitting those acts of robbery and depre-
dasion upon the high seas which if com.
mis.ed upon land would be feiooy.
i a. Bic. c.71] Every community have
right to inAict that punishment, upon a
pirate by the rules of self defence which
IAN individual In stale of nature would
nave been otherwise entitled TO for any
lnvaslon of his person or property BY
the statute Of Elizabeth, Al. Eliz.] 1t is
enacted that whoever shall hereafter with
out lawful authority take any OF her malcs,
i';y's subjects against gtheir~Will & de.aiatnem
with force, rso make prey or spoil OF
his person or goods upon deadly tsud,
or othcruvise, should be adiudged ndtakrn.
70 be afelon, aud should suffer the pairs Of
death, withourbeneht OF clergy.
This statute was predicated upon state
fof things in that country not more intole-.
rabIe than the present state Of American
seamen nor can it be considered yas an
incorrect exercise Of tie discretion of CON.
gress in defining piracy, to declare the i'm.
pressment OF cur seamen, and consign ne
them to so abject slavery as they are
subject to on board British ships of~@ar,
piracy--,shen by the law of nations, the
common law, and the statute Of 81 aabeth
we discover ourselves perfectly justified in
so doing. And trast we can aeysr>fnd
| ourselves less disposed to,protect our citi-
sens than Britain ihas been TO protect hey
subjects, nor declaring thai &C, piracy eom-
| miiled upon the high sea, that Britain con-
slders felony Of dessh cemmisted on
land. Nor can We feel any difficulty in
imposing the pains of death ou.the oRrEder
for piracy on personal liberty, when we
Impose it,in all cases of piracy on properly
and when we consider, that ills the pun
ishment imposed by all nations in every
lease ofpirscy.--fhis brings me to the
second section of the bill, which justihes
the !repciliue force by force, aud gives "a
fprem,um for destroying the pirate, whom
all writers dcnounce IS outlaws anaene
mics of the human race and hold il .awfal
to detroy. Sir Edward Coke 8 last. 1lsI
says pirate, TO usehls own words Is
J" Hosts hnmsni Generis," which IS an e.
Enemy 10 the human race. Merr. C.a4,s.