Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-19

The spYosl4iee or tbs nanaeachirs Of Brit.
tain. or any ofahe British domlnioas; not
10 prevent Briiainorhrr dependencies from
receiving supplies OF provisions, raw. ma
.rerials, &c. from us. H. does not. go te
prohibit exploration, butScyenttiis should
no, be done without very sufscies earse.
Two causes are assigned in the Pr eamble
10 the resolution. First, the imprcssment
Of our seamen: Second, commercial az
grsssions.
Mr.. F. asked, was it ever known be.
fore in the history of independent nations
.tha. aHy one nation impressedthe cHIzens
or subjects of another nation into their
sRsets to fight against a NATION friendly 70
that from which they had been impressed,
and 10 receive no wages or ssnolument un.
less they would enlist, which few OF .hem
ever do, except under. the lash OF The boat.
swain; which is dcue if they appear re-.
Iuc,ant to do the meanest drudgery, and
who must of pecessity hate the nation for
which they. fought. Nc, sir, this cannot
be sherD The British government has
long been in the habit of impresslfg their
eva citizens for seamen. In France, we
have been lately told 10 this house, that
conscsipts are forced TO the army. Fer.
haps the conscripts of France are the
same tha; we have been accustomed 10 call
the classes of militia Ia this country; but
it is Of their own citlZens; imPressments
to the navy are very different thing. 1t
US such an exercise of tyranny that II Is
hoped will never be exercised IN this ceun-
5 wy; vet s,iH; except in:the case OF our
sesN~n. j. is their own oi,izens; they DO
no,inpress Swedes, Danes, or Prussiaas.
a. man impressed is condemned TO
slsery OF the worst kind, Slavery for a
! United time is suitable punishment for
crimes, bu, the sentence with US, and In
alnailons civilized or savage, is decided
bI known and responsible judges. Tor
! I'll. breach of some known law. But, By
/ whom is the sentence of condemnation to
saveyv passed on, our citizens, sailiug'under
she protection of our own flag, chargeable
With no. crime T. Net by court OF justice
j. any form not by even an officer OF high
responsibility, but by some young subat.
esrn Of man of war, which is universally
! admitted to subject stosthe most arbitrary
speciesof geyernmenieSisting. No other
crime lie ailedged, Ito justify the condem-
nation, but tina, he speaks the English Ian.
guage. or has become an A merican citizen,
ard 40 other judge but lieutenant or a
rlidsh;nman selected for this exertion OF
We hare act lons since expressed >
Just adherence Of slavery by very uaa-
nimous vote Of this house. We have sx-
pressed very .comncudablc sympathy tor
the uututosed sons of Africa. of different
color from ourselves, stolen or forced from
their families and ali that is dear to the m,
and shall we make 40 exertions to protect
our citizens froWl The worst kind of, sla.
very. If the planters of S. Carolina or
any other state, where slaves are employed
should forcibly take our sons from TIE
plough OF ether lawful and necessary &C
cppatl0n, and set them to work with other |
slaves, in raising cotton or rice the outrage
would be horrid indeed, bat not equal to
the imprisonment of our citizens. The !
slave TO the planter must labor, but he is |
not obliged TO kill those who have given |
himlno provocation, or to be killed. himself
and ne may be found and redeemed
Money redeemed our captves fromthe
,Bafbafy coast. aud we. felr for them and |
advanced the price.
( there is sir, unesher point Of view pre-.
sentea in the impressInent of our seamen,
which ought 20 address our attention. 1t
IS admitted that several thousands of our
Impressed citizens are on b. ard the British
men OF val fighting agains France these
II IS believed are sufficient to man FIVE
ships Of the line. If BY our silence We con.
niye at this, or by the. wilful neglect of