The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-09

AS all our complaints against Crcat-Eri-
tam may be compehendcd under the inn
pressment OF our seamen, or the interrupt
on OF our trade, let US examine these subjects
and see how far her claims are warranted
by The principles oflaw and common sense.
ne sailors who are impressed by the Bri-
tiSl trem on board our vessels are either Bri
hSn subjects whom we have naturalized, or
native American Citizens. As to the first.
nave heard all my ife that "once British
subject and always q British subject" This
rs lard down as law in all those English wr
tcrS whom we every day consult to inform
us what is right and what is wrong The
principle is founded in nature, isrecognized
by all enlightened nations, and is peculiarly
sanctioned by the usages OF this country. for
example, when one of our negroes runs away
ana enters into another mans employ. the
master is not bound by the CONTRACT, on the
contrary, he can claim the slave wherever
ne Ihas nm, and Hofens UoienS, carry him
nome. i Will give still stronger illustrate
on, which moreover has the advantage of be-
ing founded on fact. Last summer a pentle-
man In my neighbourhood, not having sufIi-
gent employment for his slaves, with whom
ne was rather overstocked, suffered them to
roam about the country and get living as
tney could. But haviag occasion for them To
raise his mill dam, which an Approaching
lnundation threatened to carry away. he
went in search of them, and found them with
a farmer who had hired them to get in his
harvest. 1t was i'll vain the farmer urged
that the owner should have his slaves at
hone; that it they had not offered them
selves TO do his work, he could have procured
others, perhaps have found means within
himself; and that If his grain was left ex-
posed iii the field, it would infalliblv he snoilt
The owner of the negroes contentcd himself
with saying IN answer to all this, that they
were MS property and he was not bound bv
their contracts. The farmer still resisted
but the other had taken the precaution 20
BRING constable with him, who Immediate
~ took them into custody and carried them
OH. This conceive, Sir, 20 be a case nre-
clSely parallel, and it is brought home to G.
very mans business and his bosom, as ord
Bacon says With what proprietv then can
we refuse to deliver up the British subjects
we may have employed when their master
demands them! If shadow of doubt upon
TINS SUBJECT remains on the mind of anv one
OF your readers, refer him to the mastery
and convincing arguments in the Kings late
proclamation.
But some people who admit that the Eng
llsh nave right to take their subjects wher-
ever they ind them, and that il is hipblv
censurable in us TO harbour o., empIay Them
complain that under the pretext of takinp
their own men, they often take ours. Seveo
raj answers may be given to this charge. If
Is prlnclpie OF law, Sir, that if one throws
ms gold into another mans crucible he loses
IT, both as punishment for his folly, and to
guard against the fraud of claiming more
than had belonged to him. But believe that
the captains of men of war seldom avail
themselves of the advantages which This ,.,,Ie
OF law gives them. They generously wave
1t and aim only at taking their own fellow
SUBJECTS OF whom they may every where
rlghttully possess themselves But in doinp
inns they must necessarily sometimes COM
NIT mistakes They are guided bv certain
national characteristics which THOUGH in orc
neralt to be relied on, now and then nisleod
Ii sailor has a big belly and rosy face, they
nationally lnfer him to be an EneIishman. If
red halr and high cheek bones, Scotchman
thlck legs, an Irishman And since Mr.
Moore published his last book of poems and
notes, they usually examine mans mouth
ana II he has not lost more than half his teeth
before he is five and. twenty, they know him
10 De an European. This seemed at first To
anofu the most certain criterion of the place
OF birth, but some of our Yankee sailors who
happened to have teeth like Europeans. were
detected Ill pulling them out to save them
selves from impressment since which to
prevent the fraud from spreading amou,~
1helr own subjects, they require authenti1
Gated certlhcates of when and how a sailor
has lost his grinders Thus have ouf cnn-
mng Yankees outwitted themselves. Those
VINO lose their liberty for having the distin-
gushing marks of an European must throw
the blame on nature, and not on those who
are honestly misled by her; though to saw
the truth, when man hangs out false colors
and as 1t were, bellies his own country he
Justly deserves to love its protection. Again.
suppose man born of white parents was by-
| some Whim OF nature, to have the hair, fca-
lures and complexion Of a negro. Most as
surediy he would be liable to all the disabi,i-
ties OF negro. Hewouid neitherbe eliqibIe
tothe legislature, or allowed to give testino-
ny against white man. From all of which
1T appears Sir, that this charge, SO far az If
is warranted by facts, may be either excused
on the plea Of necessity, or justified on the
principles of law
Let us now see if their interdictions of our
! trade arc a whit more righteous. 1t is ac-
khowIcdgcd, Sir, that neutral has no irht
10 furnish beIligcrent with the means of
carrying on the war. If he does, he f,rkaite
his ncGtral character, and is liable to re
deelt with as party. But the author of that
profound work called, '.NVar in dispnise ;,
has demonstrated that it is to this very trade
that b6hapate owes his ability and inclinati-
on 20 continue the war, and that by carry
ing him the products ofthe West Indies we re
his most efficient 9u,,ilia,.;,c iii