Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-03-12

Of this truth prec!udes the necessity of a
reference to any particular documens 70
prove the correctness Of the statement.
Was such a reference necessary might
point TO report from the department. OF
STATE made at the last session OF congress.
ia that report we find, tina. at thar tine
ff.seu hundred and thirsy-eight persons
claiming to be American citizens had bsen
able to extend their application for relief TO
their own government; and though Great
Britain claimed some Of these as her sub
iects, agreeablv 10 her doctrine of non es-
batriasion, the great mass was acknowledge
ed to be Americans, for whose detention
no other cause could be assigned, but be.
cause she stood in need of their service.
And is it not fair presumption that this
number was BIZ, small proportion OF thoss
who were actually Impressed Changed
from ship to ship, and the vessels in which
they are frequently changing their station,
guarded with the most scrupuleus attentfan
II is almost impossible for them to find any
opportunity of applying to their own 60
vernment, or any of Its officers for relief.
This open, this aagrant violation of our
rights as men, and as citizens OF an lpde-
pendent nation, certainly demands rhe IN
terpositlon Of government. 10 what cause
are we to ascribe the neglect with which
these unfortunate men have been treated!
A few wears ago when some of cur people
had the misfortune to be made prisoners
by the Algerines, and at later period
when some others fell into the hands Of the
Tripolitans, the feelings Of the govern
nens and ct the whole country were alive.
All voices united in requiring the energy
Of the government to be cxered and its
purse 90 bs opened, so that no means to
obtain the liberty of the capt!ves nigh! be
left untrIed. Success has crowned these
endeavors, and those who were unferiu.
nately slaves, are now enjoying their free
dom. In wha. respecs, would ask, does
the situation of those who have been Ina.
pressed from ON board their own vessels,
and who are forcisly detained on board
British ships Of war. differ from that OF
the Aigerine aud Tripolitan prisoners. So
far as respects the government, the III.
Engagement of IFS rights are greater IN the
former thau ia the latter case. The sltua-
ton Of the individual is, nc better. "A
wound inflicted by British cas of nine
tails, is not less severely felt than it it had
proceeded from the lash of an Algerine.
Fhe patient submission with which we
have SO long injured this Ragrant outrage
on the feelings OF humanity and on the
honor OF our country, must have excited
the astonishment of The whole world /; but
it nust also have impressed them very for
clb!y with an idea of the moderation Oh
our government, and of It's strong predi-
lection for peace. I trust, however, we
will now shew them, thar there is a point
beyond which, we will not suffer; that even
although we may not think il adyisesbie TO
make reprisais, we will at least withdraw
our friendly intercourse from that govern
ment, whose whole syatem of conduct TO.
wards us has been that Of distress and de-
graduation; aud that as the business is now
takrn up it will be pursued with zeal and
srdor, until relief is extended to this IN.
happy class Of sufferers, and security OBJ
taaed agains. similar aggressions on their
persons in fu u, 6, by such arrangements as
ought 10 be deemsd satisfactory.
Mr.. Gregg's Speech to be continued.l
Fran, the York Recorder.