The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-01
FROM THE AMERICAN CITIZEN.
n THOUGHT.
me GeUernment Of England. }
VS.. iASU T.

me Government Of England. } ,ss1lr.
The Government Of the U. S. JOINED
The King of England, advocate for the 90
vernment of England, declares he will not
CIV up the right of search for British sea-
men. ~
The President of the u States, advocate
tor the government of the people of the u.
olates' oenes the right of search for British
seamen on board of American vessels.
=. On motion, Resolved, that the cause be re-
ferred to the British ,Consuls in every port.
with whom an American shall be associated
to settle the dispute.-Principle laid down
as guide for their decision. The British go
vernment shall not search American vessels
: Tor seamenI leitizens being an infringement
OF the sovereignty and independence of the
government of the. United States. The A.
merican government by their flag shall moi
harbor, conceal & withhold from the British
goVernmenther seafaring subjects, being es-
sentially necessary for the defence of the in
dependence and sovereignty ofGreat- Britain
at TINS momentous crisis. To settle the diff
Guilty between the two nations, the Britt Sin
consul and the American representative in
every port of the U. States shall examine e.
very ships crew before departure, and give
their JOINT certificate, and after cleared
the said certificate shall be conclusive evil
dehce Oh her crew being Americans without
search. AN AMERICAN
NOTE.
But who are citisenS d? zoho are americans p
This is animportant point in the great contest now
at Issue between the two nations. II is to be la
mented, that this clear and simple exposition of
TINS great question should not have touched on
TINS al-lmportant point-Who are citizens in a
maritime point of view Are they native born
citizens of the United States alone, or ,,,ust the
term necessarily comprize those WHO shall be
naturalized by our laws
g. Britain contends, that the natural allegiance
OF her subjects is tie " which cannot be for
feited, cancelled or altered, by any change of
Time, place.. or circumstance, nor by any Thing
nut the united concurrence Of the legislature,' -
that Z" an Englshman who removes TO France
or to China, owes the same allegiance to the
King of England there as at home and t,yentv
years hence as well as now :" for that " it is a
principle OF universal law, that the natural born
SUBJECT OF one prince cannot, by any act Of his
own, no, not by swearing allegiance to another rut
oil or discharge his natural allegiance 20 the for
mer." fuckers 81 vol /, $50 II is now use
less to expose the absurdlties of the Gothic and
ieudai principle, on which this pretension is rails
ed-Such IS the absurd inference, drawn from IL
by G. B-Tbe u. S. on the contrary, contend
tnat they have right to naturalist foreigners
VINO have natural right 70 select the place OF
their own abode.
How are these seemingly contrariant pret,n.
SONS to be reconciled For SO long as tney ex.
lSt, IT would seem at fyst sight that no com.
promise ON the subject Of seanen was To- h.
expected. Great Britain asserts, that sbc
"lil enter into no arrangement about seanen
winch does not secure to herselfthe services nj
her own seaiaring subjects Now, if the ~ s
INSIST on extending ell the rigl,.s of Native. born
citizens to naturazed Aliens The two nations ar.
directly atissue. Must this be so, is these no mode
OF accommodating then conteisaps interests,