The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-25
NEUTRAL RIGHTS.

We have faid, that the queition of peace or
war is not to be determined, by any decifion on
our claim to protect all perfons falling under
our nag; the two qushions are diiipiiar and
independent of each other. In reply it has been
shfwered, that we fear difcuiiion of this claim
let up but the fact is the reverfc-our Object
mas been to thew, that even if Britain had the
r'ent 10 iearch our i''ips, and take therefrom
perions claimed % f,Ijesfe --l--,and f,r
reparntTon for the attack on the Cb-iapeaEc
would Till exit in all its force. IT, indeed, the
demand for reparation is TO be at all affected
by dec'hons, as TO our right to protect by our
nag all falling under it, it will be ftierg,hened
and upheld.
But let us enquire, what thore, WHO sccufe
us of Trimming difcuiIion, have to advance in
tuPPort of the Briti1, Claim to irsrch and take
from our Hips pertons alIcdged to lie fubiects
OF England One might fuppofe from the tone
in which they bid Defiance that they could
maintain the claim by fome law of nations,
tome right by compact treaty, or even by
the law of precedent j.: but we have no luch ar
guments. We are told that we NUT not pro-
tect by our flag thoie falling under H., becaufe
what do you fuppofe readers ? " in her prerent
extreme circumstances, it is demanding what
Britain cannot grant ;" and why can fle not
" becaufe ihe wants as many feamen as her
dom'nIons can fupply to protect them againft
France"
In thefe two petitions, frange as it NAV fem,
arccomPrehendeds all the arguments produced by
Brtiih emiiiaries themteves to fuitain the claim
TO tearch and take from our hps thofe under
the protection of cur flag. Ore of the fupid
writers on this fubjeet, in the Bottom CentineI
has The impudence to fay, that The right is net
ehentIai to our ioyereignty-this, like all the
other aliertioDs, is begging the queGion, NOT
importing 1t but how is the faet Every fur
render OF an undonbted right is an infringe
nent OF foVereignty, every fubmifion to force
invites further aggreilion. The right 10 proteH
by our flag all falling under it is indifputabe in
Itie't, there is no ground on which it can he
coniroVsrted then if we abandon this rieht To-
protect perions in our Giips, we invite and finc-
ton begerent to land on our flores and take
away fuch as it may cbufr to pronounce ito
fu' ieGs.
1t was in this way that Britain began all her
uiurPa'ions-no belgerent had, originally, the
right to fearch neutral on any pretence: il
was at lait ufurped by force, and became a
right by content: if we give the example oe
lubmitting TO have orr fhips iearched and their
/ hands taken away, where will the evil ltoo
IT Will become common To- all heIligerents, and
there will be no fafety on the ocean. Bells
London Weekly MeHenger, one of the mott in
telligent prints in England, and certainly not
one OF the leait attached to every thing Brtifh,
ipeaking of the attack upon Pierce's yeGel b.
WbItby, contains fome excellent remarks uoon
neutral rights, which will bc found in fuc-
ceeding column. IL expressly pronounces the
right OF iearch, even for contraband goods, an
Wt0P 0iio1, the TN infringement Of fbe fl,dq.
mental principle Of commercial fteedon.-Nor
does the right of fcarch, even as tolerated by
cutom, now legally extend to actual fearchins
neutral hip; it has been uniformly confined
by Compact to an examination of the f1ip's pa
Pers. Yet, the Britilh ufurpsd the further right
ct perionil examination, Of breakipg ooen
trunks and packages. The ufurpation is now
exercifed, and defended 10 our hearing, OF TAX
ing from ON board our fIips fuch perfons az the
arbitrary pleaiure or fancy of Bfulh officer
may point out TO his gang: there is no exami-
nation, no trial, bat initaut imprisonment, nn-
Ieis the perions leiZsd ihall he At the rnonient
prepared to prove their birth.rght or citizen
!hip-the declaration Of the captain that hs
men are citizens, the certificate from cuhom.
hoUte, or protection from The fecretary Of aate.
were totally dhregarded, and the men foreibly
put ON board ihip OF war. Yet our tory prints
call this no grievance, 10 Infringement Of riehts.
The Tag of this country ought to proteet
thoie falling under it, or il is mere mockery Of