Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-07-18

dered aS embracing II not the WHoic, the
far greater part OF the improvements, those
E.ot the British subjects, as we'll as Others.
Yet the result. EXHIBITS 2oxs cases only, and
| bf this number. io2 seamen only, detained
a. bsirg British subjects, which is less
Than p Of the number Impressed. and i42
] discharged, or ordered TO be SO, as not
being British subjects, whichis more 1aaa
half the whole number, leaving sos tor far-
ihcr proof, with the strongest prrsnmpton
that The greater part. IS os ,hs Whole, were
Americans or other aliens, whose preoIot
ei,izsn.hip had been lost or destroyed, or
whose situation would account for the dit.
fcuI,ies and delays 10 producing IT, Sc
that il ia certain. that for all the British
seamen gained by,his violent proceeding,
more than an equal number, who were nor
SO, wereths victims: tits highly probable
that for every British seaman SO gained. 2
numbertof others, not less than To- for I,
mus, have been The victims; andi even
possible thar this number may nave exceed
ed the proportion of 90 tot.
1t cannot therefore be doubted. that the
acquisition Of British seamenLy these i'm
pressmen!s, whatever may bcitsadsan'sge,
IS lost ia the wrong done to Americans, lg.
noran.'y or w'Ifully mistaken fer Bfi:ish
subjects, ia ths jealousy and ill.wiIl esci,ed
amopg all maritime fnations by al adhef
ence,o such q practice, and 10 the particn.
lar proveca,ion 20 measures Of redress on
the part Of the u. S. not less disagr eeable
to them than embarrassing TO Great Bfi
tain. and which may threaten the good 10
sderstsndlng which oughs to be faithfully
cultivated BY both. The copy Of a bill
bropgh5 into congress under the influence
OF violations conmlssed OF our flag, gives
force 10 this laaer consideration. Vine
lher It will pass into law, and at The pre-
sen: session, is more than can yetbe. said
AS there is every reason to believe tha. it
has been proposed with reluctance, il will
probably rot be pursued ipjo effect. if any
hope eau be supported of rsmsdy, by ar,
.amieab!e arrangement between the two IA
tlous.
There is. further consideration which
oreh' 20 have weight 10 this question. Al.
though the British seamsn employed ID
carrying on American commerce, be in
some respects lost 20 their own nation, YET
such IS the in.inste and extensive connec.
ZION OF this comrnsrce, direct and circui
tous. with the commerce, the manufae.
lures. the revenue and the general resourc.
es OF the British nation, ,hst in OTTER re.
spects its mariners, 90 board american
vessels, may truly be said TO be rendering
it Inc most valusbie services. II would GOT
be ex'rayssant TO make i, aauestisu, whe.
Their Great Britain would not suffer more
by Withdrawing her seanen from the mer-
chant vessels OF the y S. than her enc.
mieswould suffer fro IN the addition Of them
to the crews OF her ships Of war aud cruis
ers.
Shosld any difficulty be started concern.
ing seaman 5orn within the British do
tnin'oos, aud naiaralizrd by the United
States, siace the srea'y of 1888, you may
remove it by observing; Frs, that very
few it any such natuialfsatioos caa take
place, the law here requiring preparatory
residence OF FIVE years, WIKI no,ice of tbs
'otentlon to become q citizen entered on 1
sscord TWO years before the last neee ssa.y 4
Formally, besides a regular proof IF good
and moral character, conditions little likely
% be complied with by ordinary seafaring
persons. Secondly, that diseen,inuance
Of impressmeoss on the high seas will
preclude an actual collision between he in.
offering Claims. Within tie jurisdictions
,t each natioo. and in thsir respective
essels on the high seas. each will enforce
the allegiance which it claims. In Other
situations the individuals dopbly claimed,
will be wi,hin jurisdiction independent
Of both nations.
Secondly. The British professions TO