Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-04-12

rirhts and irnnunitles due to them. lin the
! course OF their navigation even on the high
seas, the document should have the effect OF
rcpelling wrongs of any sort, 1t is an Incl
dental advantage only OF which they avail
themselves, and is by no means to be mlscon-
strued into right to exact such proof, or to
make anysdisadvantageou inference from the
want OF AZ.
Were it even admitted that certificates tor
protection might be justly required In time OF
war from American seamen, they could only
be required in cases where the lapse OF time
from its commencement had given an opPor-
tunity for the American seamen to provide
themselves with such document, ct Il Is
certain that in a variety OF Instances, seamen
have been impressed from American vessels,
on the plea that they had not this proof OF cl-
tizenship, when the dates and places OF the
impressment, demonstrated the impossibllity
of their knowing, In time to provide the
proof, that state Of war had rendered 1t ne
Cessary.
Whether, therefore, we consult the law OF
nations, the tenor of treaties or the dictates OF
reason and Justice, no warrant. no pretext
can be found for the British practice OF max.
the high seas.
Great Britain has the less to say in excuse
for this practice, as it is in direct contradiction
to the principles On which she proceeds In
other cases. Whilst she claims and SEXES on
the high seas, her own subject Voluntarily
serving in American vessels, she has con-
stantly given, when she could give as reason
for not discharging from her service Amem-
can citizens that they had voluntarily engaged
in it. May more, whilst she inpresses her
own subjects from the American service, al
though they may have been settled and mar
ried and even naturalizedin the United States,
she constantly refuses to release from hers,
American citizens impressed into It, when
ever she can give for a reason that they were
either settled or married within her donllnl-
ons. Thus, when the voluntary consent of
the individual favors her pretensions, she
pleads the validity of that consent.-W hen
the voluntary consent Of the individual stands
in the way OF her pretenslons, 1t goes TOR no.
thing! When marriage or residence can be
pleaded in her favor, she ayails herself OF the
plea. When marriage and residence, and e.
ven naturiliz alton are against her, no respect
whatever is paid to either? She takes by
force her own subjects voluntarily serving in
our vessels. She keeps by force American
citizens Involuntary serving in hers More
fragrant inconsistencies cannot be imagined.
Notwithstanding the powerful motives
which ought to be felt by the British govern
lncnt to reinquish practice which exposes it
to so many reproaches, it is foreseen that OBJ
iections Of different sorts will be pressed OH
you. You will be told first Of the great NUM-
Der of British seamen in the American trade,
and of the necessity OF their services intime OF
war and danger, Secondly, OF The right and
the prejudice of the British nation with re-
spect to what are called the British or narrow
soas, where its domain would be abandoned
by the general sti,)ulation required. l hirdly,
of the use which would be made of such a
sanctuary as that of American vessels for de-
sertions and traitorous communications to her
enemies, especially across the channel to
France.
1ss. With respec, to The British seamen
serving 10 our trade, it Enay be remarked
first, that the number, shough considerable,
is probably less han may be supposed -
Secondly, tina, what is wrong 10 itself can
not be made right by considerations of
expedieocy or advantage. Thirdly, that
ii is proved by the fact, that lac nunb.r OF
real fitish subjects gained by The practice
in question, is Of inconsdersble import
ance, even IN the scale of advap:age. The
annexed report TO congress on the suhiec.
Of impressmec,s, with the addition Of such
cases as may be 10 the hands of Mr. Erv-
ing, will verify the remark 10 IT'S applicant.
Gu to the present war. The statement
made by his predecessor during the last
war, and which is alsorannexed, is 10 the
same view sill more conclusive. The
statement compreheuds NOT ouly all the ap,
pica,lons made by aim 10 the first instance