Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-05-10

American si,ixensxaayh voluntarily en-.
..e,ced IN British employment, by land ana
SEA. and British subjects may DC ans VA
onss,louabE are, voluntarily employed oa
bo.rd our vessels. in cur shops and nc our
fs,yn. That in a kind OF Intercourse
r,b,cn ;x,not forbidden. Ii is eommon a.
rno,g Nations and cannot bs . just cause OF
oseec. or of imprsssmen, by way OF rstall-
alton. Ia.
Gsa,lcmen, aaa afraid, have imeloes
unreasonable preiuaicss against cur sea-
men Some ct them undoubtedly are pro-
aigases aud renegado.s. Such characters
sre fouad amoog all professions and demo
limitations. Bu,, in, general. eur sailors
are hardy, hoaest, brave, generous, tho
improviden, race of men. Many of sheln
are Young .aaeu from respectable families IN
the svapor,s aud inland towns. Others
have famllles Of their own, as dependent On
them, and as dear to them, as ours arc TO
US. Its true, they are not generally opu-
lent. Ifthey were they would be aoexe
she necessity of venturing on the stormy
elenen, for livelihood. 1t is admitted
= ia At they are poor but, is their poverty
~sosicien, reason for putting them cut OF
the national guardianship? Their eccu.
nation is indeed humble, q hazardous
enc; butt, is as lawful and as honest as
.tha, of the farmer 10 our field or the me
chanic 10 his shop. They are our fellow
citizsns, and have as fair claim for public
projection, .as we ourselves can have.
On a late occasion, whea two orshree
hrndsed Of thee. fell Toto the haads at the
Tnpsli;aas, the sensibihsy Of the nation
was touched in every nerve. all branches
sof the government partook OF the national
spirit. Extra expences were lmRed Iately
occurred ON ihsir aceonat. Xes, sir; you.
laid a new tax, an addition Of two &a half
per cent. TO the impose on ail-artieies charg.
led with ad valorem duties. That additi'
onaliax was.cbeerfully paid by our fellow,
cuizens, for the purpose ofredeeming their
,bre,hren from captivity. An exraordina.
zYy naval armament was seat TO the Medl-
terranean. The services of our heroes, BY
sea.and by land, were exerted; and their
exrrliops were crowned with sUccess. j he
captives were reasoned, and returned,
with tears of joy ard gratitude, to their
coantrv, their families, heir friends and
.tne,r business. The whole nation rel iced
a, he event Is there any member Of this
committee, who did not participate IN the
general ioy? Is there any American, who
does 40. feel proud Of this spirited inter-
position Of our government What, let
me ask. was the occasion! The captivity
al three hundred ct oar ssamen. And
shslf vre. then be passive, and. do noehlpg,
wher ten times that number. OF the same
cla4s of our fe.lcw citizeas, engaged IN
The same occupation, are forced 1nto q
worse tAsa African bondagef Sir, ] have
no personal knowledge of any OF these suf-
ieiers or their connections, living remote
from the usual places of their habsatioa
and tesort. Probably most of us, frem
our situaucns in kfe, are nnconnected aRd
~asacquain,ed with them, and have not,
therefore. very lively sympathy for their
suilerings. But 90 bring their case home,
letevery one suppose he bad, among rhrna
asou, brother, fflead or nsighbor,
aKuddenly seized, while pursuing his lawful
employ ment, interrupted in his plans of
business, ruined in his affairs, not only
prevented from returning but eseu f,oa
writing 10 his friends. confined lie floating
.pr,son, obliged TO labor without hope OF
reward, subjected 10 discipline naturally
rigorous, and rendered more intolerablc
thv his reluctance TO submit, treated Fer.
haps with daily iusult, liable TO the klsws
and lsshes Of an vuafeelng boatswAin, and
VIVA, IS worse, il, possible, compelled to
expose his limbs and his life in battle, TO
hgh, for his oPpressor, against nations
wlth wEesn neither he nor ms country has
any Cause OF war, remembering, 10 his in
lervais OF relaxation, remembering. with
painful contrast, The freedom of his native
land aud the endearm-n,s and delights q