The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09
From. csss.s,. p.li.iccal Segii.eer gf or. q.
EXPLANATION.


NV correspondent, S. ". whose letter upon the
ex2atriation ofBritish subjects, answered inc
Register of the 10th Instant. has made reply,
which will be found at page 4lO, IN the las, Re
gister He now agrees with me that an oecesion.
al allegiance and ahenage would be mischievous
and he does not insist upon his former construc-
ton of the lass Of England touching tins subject
but, in support of his principle, he makes use OF
an illustration and quotes the opinions OF Wicque-
fort and Vattel. As these opinions, have ne
Yer apbealcd to them, hold them to be srroRe.
Gus, and oppose my argument TO thein as wen
rs 10 the doctrines OF y. V. endeavorcu TO
show ,iat it right, that every man should, all
his life long, be held to owe allegiance 10 the
country, in which ne was born and reared up 10
manhood. There would be exception, OF
course, to such as were born OF alien parents
and left undecided the point, whether, IN ex-
trcp,c cases, such as that ct our revolution, the
subject might not withdraw himself from u'e au-
thority of his king 2oStr5ntert. INSISTED that
every man, during his infancy and youth, contract
ed an obligation with the nation f; that the nation
we're not only prevented from killing HIM, or icav-
iirg him to starve with hunger, CIR perish with
cold or from want of care, but that they were
compelled 10 nurse. cherish, support and defend
him and that, therefore, 1t would be UNJUST Ill
the extreme, for him to have the night to say,
when he was grown up to manhood, VIII now
not only carry my talents and strength else where
but when it suits inc, employ them Tor the nau-
on's destruction. In reply to this b V. says
- 1t Stems to YOU to be the very acme OF ingrat-
tude, because when l arrive al manhood desert
the services of my nurse, who may, IN my infancy,
have attended me because, truly, have hccn
IN the nurses arms, fed, administered tn, and un-
remittantly attended by her, it is ingrahtutle IN
NE, that do not, all my lifetime, continue IN
my nurses arms. Nowreallv Mr.. Cobbett, when
do arrive nj manhood, am to be followed BY
my nurse, is she to continue these kind offices to
me AT a period when they are no longer nscesSa-
~, and, if do not submit to these tender kind
resscs, am to be charged with Sin ten tunes
worsc than the sin Of witchcraftl Have not,
without liability to the charge of iRgrattude,
right TO run away, Gas you term cxpauiauon) at
the age OF manhood from my nurse Surely her
power ceases, when ara able TO select my place
OF residence, justin the same manner as docs the
power OF tire Court OF Chancery, the guardian
protector of Infants Had not S. v. mentioned
the Court of ChaIiccry, whose proceedings are.
wellc;Icul;ted to awaken in ones mind the aw-
ful idea of eternity, i should have thought him,
IN lest for il is almost incredible that man
clever, &c evidently is, sould in sober earnest,
have had recourse To such sophisrn. For an IL
Illustrative argument tc haze any force, there must
be no question upon the score OF the analogy /;
and, what analogy is there here. What rcsem-
blance is there between the nation and the nu,e
@!t regard IL the circumstances and effects
der consideration The nurse is, i'll due time
and manner rewarded for her serviccsto the child
TO mans estate, and has indeed, used his talents
or his strength The nurse comes voluntarily to
his aid; bit the nation are, some or other of them,
ooanlrlleof to support and defend him. The nurse,
if lac die i'll his youth, isoses nshins by him, (and
the Same may be said of his Parcnts) but the ma
ton lose al the food raiment and labour that has
been bestowed upon him.-The nurse can when
ever she pleases, withdraw, all her from the
child but the nation never can withdraw its
Cares that is say the protection, the rights and
lrainunities, sf the subject. s. V. complains, that
would not pc NIT him TO ferego the kind duties
OF his nurse; whereas objectto the withdraw
ing of his duties from his country. My argument,
above referred to, requires, think, better an
swer than this ! and, until it receive better,
shall be conrented to leave the discussion where
it's
fmust. however, Just notice, that the proclA-
fnatjon above spoken OF, has, IN an incidental wst,
made the declaration which S.V. was so anxious
to obtain In the shape OF 4 lasr or treaty. 1t
seems 10 talk Of nothing but ssdytne,S and sea-
E,ying me. words of very indefinite signifcation)
but by the word Others, introduced afterwards,
IN. warning and declaration extends to all Byi-
.frb sub;acty, who may shave been induced 10 &C
cent of letters of naturalization, or certificates Of
s;sisensk:t, from foreign States" and Nencomes
Mi, declaration Sc that such letters certif-
cates do OF an in any manner diycst our natural
born subjects of their allegiance, or in any deS1se,
.ber the duty which they Owe 10 us" This isyc-
nv right, and very proper to be said at this time
Int. trhy not have placed the word Others in the
Srst part ofthe sentence as well a. IN the last Is
itpot notorious, diat where one mariner has &C
cen,cd of certificates of citizenship, there are
rn. hundred at least, Of merchants, Inanufactur-
ers. land iobbers, and find-holdcis, who have
1sr.de such acceptance The declaration is, how
ever. AS to it's effect upon legal decisions, cou~
plefe and, therefore, hope we shall never a.
cain hear of cargo being released, 10 our courts
Sf admiralty upon the ground, that the owner
IA British subject cxpatriated) is become citi
gen of the American States, which cargo would
have been condemned, if the owner had been re-
cyardcd as a British subject For instance, an A
nerican ship is taken by one Of our men of war,
having on board cargo Of wine, going from
france, the property of the house OF 1urncoat
and Co residing at Philadelphia, but native sub
jects OF England and, as all British subjects
nre forbidden 10 trade with the enemy, the cargo
81 good prize but, in come the advocates OF
,rufrcoat and Co. and plead, that their clients
are become citizens Of Ms american States, and
thst therefore, their cargo is not good prize. If
decisions have upon such plea, taken place i'll
favor of the captured, hope we shall nou hear
no more Of them and, if our naval officers, up
onthe American station, look out sharp, and make
good use Of the intelligence whck may be easily
obtained M those resorts of rascsity the ports
Of America, they Wiii.in pccmiiary point OF
view, not have to regret Being placed upon that
station.